New
New
Year 11
AQA

Arbeiter und Arbeitslose: 'obwohl', 'zu' clauses um...zu, ohne...zu, statt...zu

I can use 'obwohl' with word order 3 and infinitive constructions with 'zu' to understand and discuss rights and support for both workers and unemployed people in Germany.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Arbeiter und Arbeitslose: 'obwohl', 'zu' clauses um...zu, ohne...zu, statt...zu

I can use 'obwohl' with word order 3 and infinitive constructions with 'zu' to understand and discuss rights and support for both workers and unemployed people in Germany.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. The conjunction 'obwohl' triggers word order 3, which sends the verb to the end of the sentence or clause.
  2. When combined with a second verb in the infinitive, some verbs require the addition of 'zu'.
  3. Infinitive constructions are separated from other clauses with a comma.
  4. Use 'um … zu' + infinitive to mean 'in order to, 'statt ... zu' for 'instead of', 'ohne ... zu' for 'without'.

Keywords

  • Word order 3 (WO3) - after certain conjunctions, the verb is sent to the end of the sentence or clause

  • Infinitive - form of the verb giving its general meaning, with no subject or tense

Common misconception

All verbs with a second infinitive need 'zu'.

Although some verbs do need 'zu' when used with a second verb in the infinitive (e.g., 'versuchen', 'planen', 'vergessen', 'hoffen'), modal verbs never use 'zu'.


To help you plan your year 11 German lesson on: Arbeiter und Arbeitslose: 'obwohl', 'zu' clauses um...zu, ohne...zu, statt...zu, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Learning Cycle 1 focuses on the subordinating conjunction ‘obwohl’; subordinate clauses in this cycle use single verbs so are appropriate to both tiers of entry. Learning Cycle 2 focuses on ‘zu’ clauses; suitable for both tiers (with the exception of ‘statt … zu’ which is a Higher-only structure).
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Some of our videos, including non-English language videos, do not have captions.

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word means 'remaining, left, leftover'?
zufrieden
doch
sogennant
bestimmt
Correct answer: übrig
Q2.
Match the German and English.
Correct Answer:Gelegenheit (f),opportunity

opportunity

Correct Answer:Herbst (m),autumn

autumn

Correct Answer:Milch (f),milk

milk

Correct Answer:Schokolade (f),chocolate

chocolate

Correct Answer:Schutz (m),protection

protection

Correct Answer:Zweck (m),purpose

purpose

Q3.
Match the German and English.
Correct Answer:brennen,to burn, burning

to burn, burning

Correct Answer:brauchen,to need, needing

to need, needing

Correct Answer:drohen,to threaten, threatening

to threaten, threatening

Correct Answer:nutzen,to use, using

to use, using

Correct Answer:schaffen,to create, manage

to create, manage

Correct Answer:zahlen,to count, counting

to count, counting

Q4.
Order the words to say: 'The concert began and she disappeared.'
1 - das
2 - Konzert
3 - begann
4 - und
5 - sie
6 - verschwand
Q5.
Write in English: 'Wir nehmen an dem Spiel teil.'
Correct Answer: we take part in the game, we are taking part in the game, we're taking part in the game, we participate in the game
Q6.
Write in English: 'Diese Proteste waren ärgerlich.'
Correct Answer: these protests were annoying, these protests were irritating

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the German and English.
Correct Answer:um ... zu,in order to

in order to

Correct Answer:ohne ... zu,without

without

Correct Answer:statt ... zu,instead of

instead of

Q2.
Which sentences require 'zu' and a comma?
Ich will ins Kino gehen.
Correct answer: Ich versuche Deutsch lernen.
Ich muss Wasser trinken.
Correct answer: Ich plane das Essen kaufen.
Correct answer: Ich hoffe ein Buch lesen.
Q3.
Order the words to form a sentence, starting with 'although'.
1 - obwohl
2 - es
3 - regnet
4 - ,
5 - gehen
6 - wir
7 - aus
Q4.
Write in German: 'although I have no time'.
Correct Answer: obwohl ich keine Zeit habe

Additional material

Download additional material