Ab wann darf man wählen? Present and past modal verbs
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use modal verbs in the present and the imperfect tense to discuss important issues and developments.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Modal verbs express necessity or possibility. Use them with a 2nd verb in the infinitive at the end of the sentence.
- 'Dürfen' refers to permission required from another person. 'Können' refers to the ability to do something.
- The stems of modal verbs are irregular, with vowel changes in most singular forms. 'Sollen' is the exception.
- Modal verbs are mostly used in the imperfect tense when they describe past events. Remove any umlauts in the imperfect.
- [w] sounds like 'Welt', [qu] is pronounced the same as [kw] and sounds like 'bequem', and [zw] sounds like 'zwanzig'.
Keywords
Modal verb - verb of necessity or possibility ('must', 'can', 'want') used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive
Imperfect - single-word tense used most often for modal verbs when they describe past events; otherwise used mainly to narrate past events in writing
Common misconception
'Können' and 'dürfen' both mean 'can' in English.
Whilst we often use 'can' to translate both verbs in English, they are different in meaning. 'Dürfen' refers to permission - 'may I/am I allowed to?'. 'Können' refers to the ability to do something - 'can I/am I able to?'.
Teacher tip
Teachers may find it useful to include short starter activities, e.g., using mini whiteboards, to revisit modal verb meanings and forms, to ensure longer term retention of the present and imperfect forms.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word means 'hardly'?
Q2.'Die Stadt baut neue Wege für __________ Menschen.' Choose the correct adjective.
Q3.Match the German and English.
disability
energy
opinion
majority
law
speech
Q4.Match the German and English.
to report, reporting
to burn, burning
to stop, hold, deliver
to trade, deal, act
to reach, be enough
to smile, smiling
Q5.Order the words to say: 'The competition takes place every year.'
Q6.Write in German: 'Recycling is important to me.'
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the words to the correct missing sounds.
[w]
[qu]
[zw]
Q2.Match the German and English.
I was allowed to
I was able to
I ought to
I would like (to)
I wanted to
I had to
Q3.Order the words to say: 'At that time, women were not allowed to vote.'
Q4.Write in German: 'you wanted to go out'.
To help you plan your 11 German lesson on: Ab wann darf man wählen? Present and past modal verbs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 German lesson on: Ab wann darf man wählen? Present and past modal verbs, 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 Media and technology: Die weite Welt unit, dive into the full secondary German curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.