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      Mein Brückenjahr: preposition 'bei', 'beim' and 'am' with nominalised verbs

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use 'bei' as a simple preposition and 'beim' and 'am' with nominalised verbs in the context of gap years and future adventures.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. 'Bei' means 'at' or 'with' and takes the dative. When used with masculine or neuter nouns, 'bei dem' becomes 'beim'.
      2. To mean ‘whilst’ or ‘in the process of’ doing something, use 'beim' before a nominalised infinitive, e.g., ‘beim Lesen’.
      3. Use 'am' as an alternative to 'beim' to mean ‘in the process of’, but only when a single activity is being done.
      4. The use of 'beim' or 'am' plus the nominalised verb indicates the activity is, or was, ongoing or unfinished.
      5. In conversation, develop answers by adding opinions and reasons, varying the subject, and adding different time frames.

      Keywords

      • Bei - preposition meaning 'at (the)' or 'with (the)', followed by the dative case

      • Dative - case used for the indirect object in a sentence, and after a dative verb or preposition

      • Nominalisation - turning a verb into a noun

      • Beim - preposition meaning 'whilst' or 'in the process of' before a nominalised infinitive

      • Am - alternative preposition meaning 'in the process of' before a nominalised infinitive when a single activity is being done

      Common misconception

      'Bei' always means 'at (the)' or 'with (the)'.

      'Bei' can mean 'at (the)' or 'with (the)' when followed by a noun, but it can also be used to mean 'whilst' or 'in the process of' before a nominalised infinitive.

      Teacher tip

      The use of 'beim' and 'am' plus nominalised infinitives to mean 'whilst' or 'in the process of' doing something is Higher-only grammar, but 'bei' as a preposition and nominalisation of infinitive verbs is relevant to both Foundation and Higher students.

      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

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      'Hier ist viel __________.'. Choose the correct missing word.

      allerdings
      bei
      nicht
      Correct answer: los
      weder

      Q2.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:ansehen,to look at, watch

      to look at, watch

      Correct Answer:feiern,to celebrate, celebrating

      to celebrate, celebrating

      Correct Answer:fliegen,to fly, flying

      to fly, flying

      Correct Answer:lachen,to laugh, laughing

      to laugh, laughing

      Correct Answer:reisen,to travel, travelling

      to travel, travelling

      Correct Answer:telefonieren,to (make, making a telephone) call

      to (make, making a telephone) call

      Q3.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:Brot (nt),bread

      bread

      Correct Answer:Brücke (f),bridge

      bridge

      Correct Answer:Frühstück (nt),breakfast

      breakfast

      Correct Answer:Hähnchen (nt),chicken

      chicken

      Correct Answer:Käse (m),cheese

      cheese

      Correct Answer:Messer (nt),knife

      knife

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'Twice a week I play tennis.'

      1 - zweimal
      2 - in
      3 - der
      4 - Woche
      5 - spiele
      6 - ich
      7 - Tennis

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'Meine Freunde sind Veganer.'

      Correct Answer: my friends are vegan, my friends are vegans

      Q6.
      Write in German: 'I am thirsty.'

      Correct Answer: ich habe Durst

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      'Die Kinder schlafen heute __________ Großeltern.' Choose the correct missing word(s).

      bei
      bei der
      beim
      Correct answer: bei den

      Q2.
      'Beim Lesen höre ich Musik.'. In this sentence, 'beim' means ...

      'at'.
      'with'.
      Correct answer: 'whilst'.
      Correct answer: 'in the process of'.
      'from'.

      Q3.
      'Ich war __________ Schreiben, als sie angekommen ist.'. Which words are correct?

      Correct answer: am
      auf
      bei
      Correct answer: beim
      bei der

      Q4.
      Match the sentence types to the correct example sentences.

      Correct Answer:opinion,Ich möchte im Ausland arbeiten.

      Ich möchte im Ausland arbeiten.

      Correct Answer:opinion and reason,Ich möchte im Ausland arbeiten, denn es wäre interessant.

      Ich möchte im Ausland arbeiten, denn es wäre interessant.

      Correct Answer:varying the subject,Ich werde im Ausland arbeiten, aber mein Bruder wird hier bleiben.

      Ich werde im Ausland arbeiten, aber mein Bruder wird hier bleiben.

      Correct Answer:different time frames,Ich werde im Ausland arbeiten, weil mein Bruder das gemacht hat.

      Ich werde im Ausland arbeiten, weil mein Bruder das gemacht hat.


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