New
New
Year 10
AQA

Beziehungen: reflexive and non-reflexive verbs, reciprocal verbs

I can differentiate between reflexive and non-reflexive uses of verbs and use reflexive and reciprocal verbs to talk about relationships.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Beziehungen: reflexive and non-reflexive verbs, reciprocal verbs

I can differentiate between reflexive and non-reflexive uses of verbs and use reflexive and reciprocal verbs to talk about relationships.

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Some verbs are reflexive in German but their English translation does not have a reflexive meaning.
  2. The meaning of a verb can change depending on its reflexive or non-reflexive use.
  3. Reflexive use means the subject (doer) and object (receiver) of the action are the same.
  4. With plural verbs, reflexive pronouns can also mean 'each other', if the action is reciprocal.

Keywords

  • Reflexive - describes an action where the subject and object of the verb are the same

  • Reciprocal - describes an action that is two-way or mutual

Common misconception

Verbs have the same meaning whether they are used reflexively or non-reflexively.

Some verbs have the same or similar meanings when used reflexively and non-reflexively, e.g. nennen, to call, sich nennen, to call oneself. However, some verbs completely change their meaning e.g. anziehen, to attract, sich anziehen, to get dressed.


To help you plan your year 10 german lesson on: Beziehungen: reflexive and non-reflexive verbs, reciprocal verbs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

For Task C3, use mini whiteboards (if available) and strict timings, and encourage pupils to share possible answers.
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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the German and English.
Correct Answer:getrennt,separated

separated

Correct Answer:geschieden,divorced

divorced

Correct Answer:wichtig,important

important

Correct Answer:ähnlich,similar

similar

Correct Answer:fremd,foreign, strange

foreign, strange

Correct Answer:sicher,safe, secure

safe, secure

Q2.
Match the German and English.
Correct Answer:fühlen,to feel, feeling

to feel, feeling

Correct Answer:bekommen,to get, receive

to get, receive

Correct Answer:entscheiden,to decide, deciding

to decide, deciding

Correct Answer:interessieren,to interest, interesting

to interest, interesting

Correct Answer:kennen,to know, knowing

to know, knowing

Correct Answer:nennen,to name, naming

to name, naming

Q3.
Which phrases include a reflexive verb?
Correct answer: Ich ziehe mich an.
Der Film unterhält uns.
Correct answer: Er entscheidet sich für den Norden.
Correct answer: Wir unterhalten uns.
Deutsch interessiert mich.
Q4.
Match the subject pronouns to their reflexive pronouns.
Correct Answer:ich,mich

mich

Correct Answer:du,dich

dich

Correct Answer:er, sie, es,sich

sich

Correct Answer:wir,uns

uns

Correct Answer:ihr,euch

euch

Correct Answer:sie, Sie,sich

sich

Q5.
Fill in the gap to complete the following translation: 'He is .' ('Er interessiert sich für Fußball.')
Correct Answer: interested in football., He's interested in football.
Q6.
Fill in the gap to complete the following translation: 'Er zieht .' ('He gets (himself) dressed'.)
Correct Answer: sich an.

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the German and English.
Correct Answer:der Streit,argument

argument

Correct Answer:der Zwilling,twin

twin

Correct Answer:die Größe,size, height

size, height

Correct Answer:der Vorschlag,suggestion

suggestion

Correct Answer:die Hauptstadt,capital city

capital city

Correct Answer:der Papa,dad

dad

Q2.
Which sentences contain reflexive verbs?
Sie nennt uns Fremde.
Correct answer: Wir nennen uns 'Die Besten'.
Ich stelle das Buch auf den Tisch.
Correct answer: Ich stelle mich an seine Seite.
Q3.
Match the German and English.
Correct Answer:anziehen,to attract, attracting

to attract, attracting

Correct Answer:sich anziehen,to get dressed, getting dressed

to get dressed, getting dressed

Correct Answer:entschuldigen,to excuse, excusing

to excuse, excusing

Correct Answer:sich entschuldigen,to apologise, apologising

to apologise, apologising

Correct Answer:vorstellen,to introduce, introducing

to introduce, introducing

Correct Answer:sich vorstellen,to imagine, imagining

to imagine, imagining

Q4.
Which translation of the following sentence is correct? 'Wir fragen uns, wer er ist.'
We ask who he is.
Correct answer: We wonder who he is.
We ask him who he is.
They ask us who he is.
Q5.
Which of these sentences could be reciprocal in meaning?
Correct answer: Sie lieben sich.
Correct answer: Wir entschuldigen uns.
Er zieht mich an.
Ich entscheide mich für den Süden.
Correct answer: Streitet ihr euch?
Q6.
Translate the following sentence into German: 'They apologise (to each other).'
Correct Answer: Sie entschuldigen sich.

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