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      Salzburg, Österreich: modal verbs present vs imperfect, role-play (Edexcel)

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use the present and imperfect tenses of modal verbs and can take part in a role-play scenario.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. Modal verbs are always followed by a 2nd infinitive verb which normally comes at the end of the sentence.
      2. Modal verbs are irregular in the first, 2nd and 3rd person singular, but regular in plural forms.
      3. Modal verbs are mostly used in the imperfect tense when they describe past events. Remove any umlauts in the imperfect.
      4. The imperfect tense endings for modal verbs (-te, -test, -te, -ten, -tet, -ten) are the same as for weak verbs.
      5. When performing a role-play, answers should be a short phrase or sentence. Do not add unnecessary detail.

      Keywords

      • Modal verb - verb of necessity or possibility (must, can, want) used with a 2nd verb in infinitive, which goes to the end

      • Imperfect tense - German single-word past tense used mainly to narrate past events in writing, e.g. 'war', 'hatte', 'gab', 'fand'

      Common misconception

      I should include as much detail as possible in role-play answers.

      When performing a role-play, answers should contain one verb and be concise. You should not add unnecessary detail.

      Teacher tip

      There are two versions of the role-play in Learning Cycle 3. Option 1 is for Higher students and Option 2 is for Foundation 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.
      'Der Film dreht __________ um den Krieg.' Choose the correct missing word.

      ihr
      mir
      Correct answer: sich
      Sie
      wir

      Q2.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:Besuch (m),visit

      visit

      Correct Answer:Flughafen (m),airport

      airport

      Correct Answer:Gegend (f),area, region

      area, region

      Correct Answer:Hochzeit (f),wedding

      wedding

      Correct Answer:Theater (nt),theatre

      theatre

      Correct Answer:Urlaub (m),holiday

      holiday

      Q3.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:dürfen,to be allowed to, may

      to be allowed to, may

      Correct Answer:können,to be able to, can

      to be able to, can

      Correct Answer:müssen,to have to, must

      to have to, must

      Correct Answer:mögen,to like

      to like

      Correct Answer:sollen,to ought to, be supposed to, should

      to ought to, be supposed to, should

      Correct Answer:wollen,to want to

      to want to

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'The visitor found the castle interesting.'

      1 - der
      2 - Besucher
      3 - hat
      4 - das
      5 - Schloss
      6 - interessant
      7 - gefunden

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'ein Ausflug nach Wien'.

      Correct Answer: an excursion to Vienna, a trip to Vienna

      Q6.
      Write in German: 'there was a lot of unemployment'.

      Correct Answer: es gab viel Arbeitslosigkeit

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which statements are incorrect?

      There is always a question in the role-play.
      Correct answer: I should include as much detail as possible in role-play answers.
      Correct answer: One-word answers are sufficient for the role-play.
      I must include a verb in a role-play response.
      Pronunciation is important when taking part in a role-play.

      Q2.
      Match the pronouns and verbs.

      Correct Answer:ich,konnte

      konnte

      Correct Answer:du,konntest

      konntest

      Correct Answer:wir,konnten

      konnten

      Correct Answer:ihr,konntet

      konntet

      Q3.
      Order the words to say: 'The tourist wants to travel through Austria.'

      1 - der
      2 - Tourist
      3 - will
      4 - durch
      5 - Österreich
      6 - reisen

      Q4.
      Write in German: 'I must see the photo'.

      Correct Answer: ich muss das Foto sehen

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