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      Pläne: word order with 'sobald', 'solange' and 'wenn'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use the word order 3 conjunctions 'sobald', 'solange' and 'wenn' to discuss conditions for future plans.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. 'Sobald' means 'as soon as' and 'solange' means 'as long as'.
      2. 'Sobald', 'solange' and 'wenn' are all WO3 conjunctions, sending the verb to the end of the sentence.
      3. Present, future and conditional tenses ('würd-' plus infinitive and 'möchte') can be used to talk about future plans.
      4. Use 'wenn', 'sobald' and 'solange', plus 'würd- gern' and 'würd- lieber', to extend answers.

      Keywords

      • Sobald - conjunction with word order 3 (WO3), meaning ‘as soon as’

      • Solange - conjunction with WO3, meaning ‘as long as’

      • Wenn - conjunction with WO3, meaning ‘if’ or ‘when/whenever’

      Common misconception

      'Solange' and 'sobald' have to be used with 'als' to translate the 'as' in 'as long/soon as'.

      The single word 'solange' is the translation for three English words - 'as long as' - and the same for 'sobald' - 'as soon as'.

      Teacher tip

      Learning Cycle 1 covers Higher grammar with 'sobald' and 'solange'. Learning Cycle 2 covers predominantly Foundation grammar. Learning Cycle 3 is flexible for both tiers, with Higher tier structures as additional options in the speaking exercise.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), 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.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:spüren,to sense, notice, feel

      to sense, notice, feel

      Correct Answer:darstellen,to depict, show, portray

      to depict, show, portray

      Correct Answer:menschlich,human

      human

      Correct Answer:ledig,single

      single

      Correct Answer:verheiratet,married

      married

      Correct Answer:Frau,woman, wife, Mrs

      woman, wife, Mrs

      Q2.
      Which of the words below are in the accusative form?

      Correct answer: jemanden
      beim
      Correct answer: niemanden
      einem
      Ihnen

      Q3.
      'Wenn' is a 'verb __________'. It __________ word order __________. The verb goes to the end of the __________.

      1 - scarer
      2 - triggers
      3 - three
      4 - clause

      Q4.
      Match the verb forms to their meanings.

      Correct Answer:möchte,(I, she, he, it) would like

      (I, she, he, it) would like

      Correct Answer:möchtet,(you all) would like

      (you all) would like

      Correct Answer:möchten,(we, they) would like

      (we, they) would like

      Correct Answer:möchtest,(you) would like

      (you) would like

      Q5.
      'Wenn ich älter bin, werde ich zur Universität gehen.' Choose the correct translation.

      Correct answer: When I'm older, I will go to university.
      When I'm older, I want to go to university.
      When I'm older, I would go to university.
      When I'm older, I would like to go to university.
      When I'm older, I can go to university.

      Q6.
      'Haben' and 'sein' have special forms which express the conditional. Instead of using '__________' with 'haben' to mean 'would have', use '__________'. To say 'would be', use '__________'.

      1 - würde
      2 - hätte
      3 - wäre

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:das Wetter,weather

      weather

      Correct Answer:der Junge,boy

      boy

      Correct Answer:gegenüber,opposite, towards (in relation to someone, something)

      opposite, towards (in relation to someone, something)

      Correct Answer:morgen,tomorrow

      tomorrow

      Correct Answer:jetzt,now

      now

      Correct Answer:das Glück,luck, fortune

      luck, fortune

      Q2.
      Which of these words is not feminine?

      Gruppe
      Lage
      Kraft
      Correct answer: Auto
      Gesellschaft

      Q3.
      Which of these statements apply to 'solange', 'sobald' and 'wenn'?

      Correct answer: they are all conjunctions
      they all trigger worder order 2
      Correct answer: they all trigger word order 3
      they are all only used at the start a sentence

      Q4.
      Sort the words below into the correct order to complete the translation: 'Wenn ich 16 __________, __________ __________ nach Spanien __________'. ('When I'm 16, I would like to travel to Spain.')

      1 - bin
      2 - möchte
      3 - ich
      4 - reisen

      Q5.
      Translate the following sentence into German: 'As long as I have enough money.'

      Correct Answer: Solange ich genug Geld habe.

      Q6.
      Translate the following sentence into German: 'As soon as I have time.'.

      Correct Answer: Sobald ich Zeit habe.

      To help you plan your 10 German lesson on: Pläne: word order with 'sobald', 'solange' and 'wenn', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...