New
New
Year 9

Migration: imperfect modal verbs, word order with two-verb structures

I can use a range of conjunctions with the correct word order when using modal verbs in the imperfect tense.

New
New
Year 9

Migration: imperfect modal verbs, word order with two-verb structures

I can use a range of conjunctions with the correct word order when using modal verbs in the imperfect tense.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Revisit vocabulary often to help it stick in your memory.
  2. Some conjunctions do not affect word order, e.g., 'und, oder, denn'. These are sometimes knows as word order 1 (WO1).
  3. Subordinating conjunctions (word order 3) send the conjugated verb to the end of the clause, e.g., 'weil, obwohl, dass'.
  4. Modal verbs neeed a 2nd verb in the infinitive. In standard word order (WO1) the infinitive is at the end of the clause.
  5. In 2-verb structures with a subordinating conjunction (WO3), the conjugated verb is at the end, after the infinitive.

Keywords

  • Word order one (WO1) - the standard word order in a German sentence: subject - verb - object, e.g., 'Ich lerne Deutsch'

  • Word order three (WO3) - after certain conjunctions, the verb is sent to the end of the sentence or clause; these are subordinating conjunctions

  • Modal verb - verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, which goes to the end of the clause

  • Two-verb structure - a clause containing a conjugated verb and a 2nd verb in the infinitive

Common misconception

Modal verbs require a 'zu' before the infinitive.

Two-verb structures without a modal verb require 'zu' before the infinitive, e.g., 'Ich habe Lust, schwimmen zu gehen.'.


To help you plan your year 9 German lesson on: Migration: imperfect modal verbs, word order with two-verb structures, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Task B2b could be completed as a reading task using the transcript. The conjunctions are replaced by beeps in Task B2b, as in B2a.
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a ‘Moschee’?

a cat
a meal
Correct answer: a mosque
a street

Q2.
Match each modal verb to what it expresses.

Correct Answer:müssen,must, to have to

must, to have to

Correct Answer:wollen,to want to

to want to

Correct Answer:dürfen,to be allowed to, may

to be allowed to, may

Q3.
Put the words below in the correct order to make a sentence using a modal verb. Start with 'meine'.

1 - meine
2 - Mutter
3 - möchte
4 - Deutsch
5 - lernen

Q4.
What does the word ‘statt’ mean?

hot
Correct answer: instead of
building
while
dog

Q5.
What does ‘Lieblingshaustier’ mean?

Correct Answer: favourite pet, favourite animal

Q6.
Change this sentence into the imperfect tense: 'du darfst essen'.

Correct Answer: du durftest essen

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Which of these conjunctions send the verb to the end of the clause?

und
Correct answer: obwohl
oder
Correct answer: weil
denn

Q2.
Which sentence correctly uses a subordinating conjunction and modal verb?

Correct answer: Ich will schwimmen gehen, weil ich schwimmen lernen will.
Ich will gehen schwimmen, weil ich schwimmen lernen will.
Ich will schwimmen gehen, weil ich schwimmen will lernen.

Q3.
Which of these sentences is incorrect?

Ich will Deutsch lernen.
Ich kann Essen kochen.
Correct answer: Ich muss zu schlafen.
Ich darf arbeiten.

Q4.
Put the words below in the correct order to form a sentence.

1 - ich
2 - lerne
3 - gern
4 - Deutsch
5 - weil der Lehrer
6 - lustig
7 - ist

Q5.
Which of these verbs is a modal verb?

wohnen
Correct answer: wollen
sterben
essen

Additional material

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