Junge Deutsche: telling the time, uses of 'es'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can tell the time and use 'es' in different contexts, making meaning more concise when discussing life for young Germans.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- 'Uhr' means 'o'clock'. 'Halb' means 'half to the next hour'.
- 'Es' can be used as a pronoun to replace a neuter noun.
- 'Es' can refer back or forward to a fact or idea, epxressed in a clause or sentence.
- 'Es' can be used with impersonal verbs.
Keywords
Es - a subject and obect pronoun which often translates as 'it' and has a number of functions
Impersonal verb - a verb that doesn't refer to a particular person or thing, and whose subject is most often 'es' (it)
Common misconception
To say 'it' in German, always use 'es'.
As a pronoun, 'es' only replaces a neuter noun. 'Das Buch? Ich lese es gern.' ('A book? I like reading it.'). Use 'ihn' or 'sie' for masculine and feminine nouns. 'Der neue Film? Ich finde ihn (it) toll.'. 'Berlin? Ich besuche sie (it) gern.'.
Teacher tip
It is useful to practise numbers 1-60 before telling the time. Encourage students to tell the current time during lessons and use pair work to convert between the 12 and 24-hour clock. The Task A1 listening file includes slight pauses, but can be paused further or repeated as required.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Some of our videos, including non-English language videos, do not have captions.
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these nouns are neuter?
Q2.Match the German and English.
Q3.Match the German and English.
Q4.'Es fällt mir schwer.'. Choose the correct translation.
Q5.Sort the elements below into the correct order to form the following sentence: 'It is important to learn German.'
Q6.Translate the following sentence into German: 'There are two firms.'
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'Ich habe endlich einen Job gefunden. __________ ist interessant.'. Chose the correct word for 'it'.
Q2.Order the 12-hour clock times from earliest to latest.
Q3.Match the 12-hour and 24-hour clock times.
Q4.Match the uses of 'es' to the correct example sentences.
Q5.' , hier zu arbeiten.' ('I like working here.') Complete the translation with an impersonal verb phrase.
Q6.Translate the following sentence into German: 'The firm? It is big.'
To help you plan your 10 German lesson on: Junge Deutsche: telling the time, uses of 'es', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 German lesson on: Junge Deutsche: telling the time, uses of 'es', 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.