Hitzefrei: 'müssen' vs 'sollen', 'sollen' vs 'sollte'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use 'müssen' and 'sollen' to discuss necessities and obligations.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Modal verbs express necessity, possibility, expectation or obligation and are used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive.
- 'Müssen' means ‘to have to, must’ and expresses necessity.
- 'Sollen' translates as ‘should’ and conveys strong obligation or command but also expresses probability.
- 'Sollte' expresses a softer style of obligation and may be translated as ‘ought to’.
Keywords
Modal verb - verb of necessity, possibility, expectation or obligation used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive
Müssen - modal verb meaning 'to have to', 'must'
Sollen - modal verb meaning 'should', 'be supposed to', 'ought to'
Sollte - form of 'sollen' expressing obligation in a softer, more polite way
Common misconception
In German, you always use 'müssen' to say what you have to do.
The verb 'sollen' is another way of expressing an obligation, something you have to do. It has several uses, including strong commands (e.g. 'you should ring the doctor straightaway'), which are similar to the 'have to, must' meaning of 'müssen'.
Teacher tip
Learning Cycle 3 ('sollen' vs 'sollte') is aimed at Higher students. The text in Learning Cycle 4 could also be translated into English for extra consolidation. Students could also write and learn their own example sentences to help distinguish modal verb meanings.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the German and English.
to pay, paying
free time
glass
ice, ice cream
bottle
shop
Q2.Match the following nouns to the correct genders.
masculine singular and plural
neuter
feminine singular
plural
Q3.Which modal verb does not change its vowel in any present tense forms?
Q4.Modal verbs usually occur with a verb in the form at the end of the sentence.
Q5.Which of these modal verb sentences are grammatically correct?
Q6.Wir __________ (must) morgen einkaufen gehen! Du __________ (want) am Fest teilnehmen, aber man __________ (is allowed to) keine Jeanshose tragen - __________ (should) ich dir neue Kleidung kaufen?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the English and German.
allein, alleine
draußen
vielleicht
einzeln
überall
Q2.Match the modal verbs to their English meanings.
to be allowed to, may
should, ought to, be supposed to
to want to
to have to , must
to be able to, can
to like, liking
Q3.Which of the young people below would definitely be eligible for 'Hitzefrei' in very hot weather?
Q4.'Man sollte die Umwelt schützen. Man muss weniger oft Auto fahren.'. Which set of translations of the modal verbs in this sentence is correct?
Q5.Which of these is not expressed by the verb 'sollen'?
Q6.Match the moods expressed by modal verbs with the most appropriate German sentence.
Man soll immer die Wahrheit sagen.
Ich soll schnell nach Hause gehen, denn meine Eltern warten auf mich.
Ich muss zum Arzt gehen, denn ich bin krank.
Morgen soll es warm und sonnig sein.
To help you plan your 10 German lesson on: Hitzefrei: 'müssen' vs 'sollen', 'sollen' vs 'sollte', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 German lesson on: Hitzefrei: 'müssen' vs 'sollen', 'sollen' vs 'sollte', 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 4 German lessons from the People and lifestyle: Aufwachsen, Altersgrenzen und Zukunftspläne unit, dive into the full secondary German curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.