Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      An der Universität: present vs future, 'möchte', extended writing (Edexcel)

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe future events using the present and future tense and can use a range of tenses to complete exam-style writing tasks on the topic of education, study and work.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. Future ideas can be expressed in German using the present tense with a future time phrase.
      2. To form the future tense, use the present tense of 'werden' to mean 'will, going to' and an infinitive verb at the end.
      3. 'Möcht-', the conditional of 'mögen', is used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive to express future wishes.
      4. In the 2-verb rule, the 2nd (infnitive) verb is at the end of the sentence; second-last place in subordinate clauses
      5. The BORDER acronym is a useful tool to respond fully and accurately to bullet point writing prompts.

      Keywords

      • Werden - used with a 2nd verb to express the future: 'ich werde arbeiten' - 'I will work'

      • Möcht- - the conditional form of the verb 'mögen', meaning 'would like'

      • 2-verb rule - where the 2nd (infinitive) verb comes at the end of 2-verb sentences

      • BORDER - acronym used to respond fully and accurately to bullet point writing prompts

      Common misconception

      Always use 'werden' and a 2nd verb in the infinitive to express future ideas.

      In German future ideas can be expressed by the present tense with a future time phrase. They can also be expressed by 'werden' plus a 2nd verb, or by 'möcht-' to say what you would like to do in the future.

      Teacher tip

      Learning Cycle 2 could be adapted for higher students to include 'würde gern' and 'würde lieber' to express future wishes. Task C1 is aimed at Foundation students and Task C2 at both Higher and Foundation students. Task C3 has Higher and Foundation versions of exam-style translation tasks.

      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

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which word means 'at all'?

      ab
      Correct answer: gar
      doch
      her
      hin

      Q2.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:allerdings,though, indeed, certainly

      though, indeed, certainly

      Correct Answer:fast,almost

      almost

      Correct Answer:genug,enough

      enough

      Correct Answer:jedoch,however

      however

      Correct Answer:manchmal,sometimes

      sometimes

      Correct Answer:vorher,earlier, beforehand

      earlier, beforehand

      Q3.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:Ich mag Mathe.,I like maths.

      I like maths.

      Correct Answer:Du magst Geschichte.,You like history.

      You like history.

      Correct Answer:Ich mochte Mathe.,I liked maths.

      I liked maths.

      Correct Answer:Du mochtest Geschichte.,You liked history.

      You liked history.

      Correct Answer:Ich lerne gern Mathe.,I like learning maths.

      I like learning maths.

      Correct Answer:Ich lerne lieber Mathe.,I prefer learning maths.

      I prefer learning maths.

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'luckily he did not fall into the water'.

      1 - glücklicherweise
      2 - ist
      3 - er
      4 - nicht
      5 - ins
      6 - Wasser
      7 - gefallen

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'guten Morgen und danke'.

      Correct Answer: good morning and thank you

      Q6.
      Write in German: 'today it is quite cold'.

      Correct Answer: heute ist es ziemlich kalt

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      In which exam(s) would you use the BORDER acronym to help you?

      listening
      speaking
      reading
      Correct answer: writing
      all of the above

      Q2.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:da,beause, since, given that

      beause, since, given that

      Correct Answer:damit,so that

      so that

      Correct Answer:heraus,out, outside

      out, outside

      Correct Answer:hinaus,out, beyond

      out, beyond

      Correct Answer:nun,now

      now

      Q3.
      Which sentences express future ideas?

      Correct answer: Morgen lerne ich Mathe.
      Ich hatte ebenfalls einen guten Musiklehrer.
      Correct answer: Ich werde an der Uni Physik studieren.
      Wir haben den Kurs neulich gemacht.
      Correct answer: Wo möchten Sie unterrichten?

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'in the school where I will work ...'.

      1 - in
      2 - der
      3 - Schule
      4 - wo
      5 - ich
      6 - arbeiten
      7 - werde

      Q5.
      Write in German: 'I would like to write a book'.

      Correct Answer: ich möchte ein Buch schreiben, ich moechte ein Buch schreiben

      To help you plan your 11 German lesson on: An der Universität: present vs future, 'möchte', extended writing (Edexcel), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...