Travels and places: present and imperfect modal verbs
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can talk and write about my travels using past and present modal verbs and correct time-manner-place word order.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Use imperfect modal verbs in speech and writing to say what you and others wanted, were able or had to do.
- Use present modal modal verbs to communicate present/future actions, e.g., Ich will in der Zukunft nach Rügen fahren.'.
- Adverbs in a sentence follow the order time, manner, place (TMP); this word order applies in all tenses.
- Details of time, manner and place often co-occur in travel sentences – word order must follow TMP in main clauses.
Keywords
Imperfect modal (verb) - single-word past verb of necessity or possibility (‘had to’, ‘was able’, ‘wanted’) used with a 2nd verb in infinitive, which goes to the end
Time, manner, place (TMP) - order of adverbs in a German sentence - time before manner before place, abbreviated to TMP
Common misconception
The only way to communicate about past events in German is by using the 2-verb perfect tense, e.g., 'Ich bin nach Deutschland gefahren. Ich habe dort einen Strandurlaub gemacht.'.
We also use the single verb imperfect tense - 'war', 'hatte' and 'es gab', and imperfect modal forms - 'musste', 'konnte', 'wollte', with a 2nd (infinitive) verb, to talk about events in the past.
Teacher tip
Places in this lesson include Frankfurt (Germany), Innsbruck and Attersee (Austria), and the islands Helgoland and Rügen in the North Sea. For the final writing task, pupils could research a German-speaking place they have not yet been to, and write about an imagined journey there.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these words has the same vowel sound as 'Leute' does in the middle?
Q2.What is a modal verb?
Q3.Match the German modal verbs to their English meanings.
must, to have to
can, to be able to
should
may, to be allowed to
to want to
to like to
Q4.Order the words below to make a correct sentence. Start with 'ich'.
Q5.Which word in the following sentence describes the manner? 'Jeden Tag bin ich langsam in den Bus gestiegen.'
Q6.Translate the following sentence into German using an imperfect modal verb: 'I had to be on the beach.'
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the German imperfect modal verbs to their English meanings.
had to
was able to, could
wanted to
Q2.Which sentences use an imperfect modal verb?
Q3.Which sentence means 'I want to travel there in the future.'?
Q4.Order the words below to make a correct sentence. Start with 'ich'.
To help you plan your 9 German lesson on: Travels and places: present and imperfect modal verbs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 German lesson on: Travels and places: present and imperfect modal verbs, 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 Places and projects: imperfect modal verbs unit, dive into the full secondary German curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.