New
New
Year 11
AQA

Mein Brückenjahr: preposition 'bei', 'beim' and 'am' with nominalised verbs

I can use 'bei' as a simple preposition and 'beim' and 'am' with nominalised verbs in the context of gap years and future adventures.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Mein Brückenjahr: preposition 'bei', 'beim' and 'am' with nominalised verbs

I can use 'bei' as a simple preposition and 'beim' and 'am' with nominalised verbs in the context of gap years and future adventures.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. 'Bei' means 'at' or 'with' and takes the dative. When used with masculine or neuter nouns, 'bei dem' becomes 'beim'.
  2. To mean ‘whilst’ or ‘in the process of’ doing something, use 'beim' before a nominalised infinitive, e.g., ‘beim Lesen’.
  3. Use 'am' as an alternative to 'beim' to mean ‘in the process of’, but only when a single activity is being done.
  4. The use of 'beim' or 'am' plus the nominalised verb indicates the activity is, or was, ongoing or unfinished.
  5. In conversation, develop answers by adding opinions and reasons, varying the subject, and adding different time frames.

Keywords

  • Bei - preposition meaning 'at (the)' or 'with (the)', followed by the dative case

  • Dative - case used for the indirect object in a sentence, and after a dative verb or preposition

  • Nominalisation - turning a verb into a noun

  • Beim - preposition meaning 'whilst' or 'in the process of' before a nominalised infinitive

  • Am - alternative preposition meaning 'in the process of' before a nominalised infinitive when a single activity is being done

Common misconception

'Bei' always means 'at (the)' or 'with (the)'.

'Bei' can mean 'at (the)' or 'with (the)' when followed by a noun, but it can also be used to mean 'whilst' or 'in the process of' before a nominalised infinitive.


To help you plan your year 11 German lesson on: Mein Brückenjahr: preposition 'bei', 'beim' and 'am' with nominalised verbs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The use of 'beim' and 'am' plus nominalised infinitives to mean 'whilst' or 'in the process of' doing something is Higher-only grammar, but 'bei' as a preposition and nominalisation of infinitive verbs is relevant to both Foundation and Higher students.
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Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
'Hier ist viel __________.'. Choose the correct missing word.
allerdings
bei
nicht
Correct answer: los
weder
Q2.
Match the German and English.
Correct Answer:ansehen,to look at, watch

to look at, watch

Correct Answer:feiern,to celebrate, celebrating

to celebrate, celebrating

Correct Answer:fliegen,to fly, flying

to fly, flying

Correct Answer:lachen,to laugh, laughing

to laugh, laughing

Correct Answer:reisen,to travel, travelling

to travel, travelling

Correct Answer:telefonieren,to (make, making a telephone) call

to (make, making a telephone) call

Q3.
Match the German and English.
Correct Answer:Brot (nt),bread

bread

Correct Answer:Brücke (f),bridge

bridge

Correct Answer:Frühstück (nt),breakfast

breakfast

Correct Answer:Hähnchen (nt),chicken

chicken

Correct Answer:Käse (m),cheese

cheese

Correct Answer:Messer (nt),knife

knife

Q4.
Order the words to say: 'Twice a week I play tennis.'
1 - zweimal
2 - in
3 - der
4 - Woche
5 - spiele
6 - ich
7 - Tennis
Q5.
Write in English: 'Meine Freunde sind Veganer.'
Correct Answer: my friends are vegan, my friends are vegans
Q6.
Write in German: 'I am thirsty.'
Correct Answer: ich habe Durst

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
'Die Kinder schlafen heute __________ Großeltern.' Choose the correct missing word(s).
bei
bei der
beim
Correct answer: bei den
Q2.
'Beim Lesen höre ich Musik.'. In this sentence, 'beim' means ...
'at'.
'with'.
Correct answer: 'whilst'.
Correct answer: 'in the process of'.
'from'.
Q3.
'Ich war __________ Schreiben, als sie angekommen ist.'. Which words are correct?
Correct answer: am
auf
bei
Correct answer: beim
bei der
Q4.
Match the sentence types to the correct example sentences.
Correct Answer:opinion,Ich möchte im Ausland arbeiten.

Ich möchte im Ausland arbeiten.

Correct Answer:opinion and reason,Ich möchte im Ausland arbeiten, denn es wäre interessant.

Ich möchte im Ausland arbeiten, denn es wäre interessant.

Correct Answer:varying the subject,Ich werde im Ausland arbeiten, aber mein Bruder wird hier bleiben.

Ich werde im Ausland arbeiten, aber mein Bruder wird hier bleiben.

Correct Answer:different time frames,Ich werde im Ausland arbeiten, weil mein Bruder das gemacht hat.

Ich werde im Ausland arbeiten, weil mein Bruder das gemacht hat.

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