What you used to do: perfect tense with 'ihr' (you, familiar pl.) and 'früher'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I know how to form and use the perfect tense in German, including the 'ihr' form, to discuss past events with other people.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Form the perfect tense with the present tense of 'haben' or 'sein', plus a past participle at the end of the statement.
- Form most past participles by adding 'ge-' and '-t' around the verb stem. '-ieren' verbs do not add 'ge-'.
- Verbs with prefixes 'be-', 'ver-', 'er-' don't add 'ge-' to form past participles. Their prefixes are never stressed.
- The subject pronoun 'ihr' means 'you (familiar, plural)'.
- Use the adverb 'früher' to translate 'used to' from English, e.g., 'Ich habe früher getanzt, aber jetzt nicht mehr.'.
Keywords
Perfect tense - verb tense that describes completed actions in the past, e.g.,'I (have) said', 'she (has) played'
Past participle - verb form that forms the perfect tense, together with the auxiliary verbs 'haben' or 'sein'
Ihr - subject pronoun meaning 'you (familiar, plural)'
Früher - adverb meaning 'previously, in former times, in the past'
Common misconception
All past participles are formed the same way.
Weak verbs form their past participles by sandwiching 'ge-' and '-t' around the verb stem. Strong verbs sandwich 'ge-' and '-en' around the verb stem, but verbs with prefixes 'be-', 'ver-', 'er-', or ending '-ieren', do not add 'ge-'.
Teacher tip
Extend Task B2 into a class speaking activity. In groups, students can ask each other the questions and practise using 'ihr' in the perfect tense.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the German and the English
to pay, paying
to expect, expecting
to believe, believing
trip, excursion
free
previously, in former times, in the past
Q2.Match the German and the English.
to spend, spending (time)
to try, trying
brother
time
to swim, swimming
family
Q3.Match the German and the English.
child
Austria
journey
holidays
How are you?
to tell / narrate, telling / narrating
Q4.Choose the correct translation of 'Have you done your homework?'.
Q5.Which of the following words for 'you' means 'you' (singular, familiar), i.e., the word you would use when talking to one friend or family member?
Q6.Which of these verbs has a separable prefix?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Which of the following verbs would need 'ge' adding to the start of the past participle, as in 'gemacht' from 'machen'?
Q2.Which of the following words for 'you' would you use to talk to your two brothers?
Q3.Complete the following sentence using the correct time phrase: 'Ihr seid oft geschwommen.' ('You used to swim often.') You can use 'ue' for 'ü' if needed.
Q4.Fill in the missing word in the following sentence: 'Ihr in die Schule gegangen.' ('You went to school.')
Q5.Which of these past participles of strong verbs does not have a stem vowel change (i.e., a different vowel in the stem from the infinitive)?
To help you plan your 9 German lesson on: What you used to do: perfect tense with 'ihr' (you, familiar pl.) and 'früher', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 German lesson on: What you used to do: perfect tense with 'ihr' (you, familiar pl.) and 'früher', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 German lessons from the Past lives: perfect and imperfect tenses unit, dive into the full secondary German curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.