Eine neue Sprache lernen: plural rules 4 - 6
Learning outcomes
I can use plural rules to form plural nouns.
I can use my knowledge of long and short German vowels to read aloud and transcribe German.
Eine neue Sprache lernen: plural rules 4 - 6
Learning outcomes
I can use plural rules to form plural nouns.
I can use my knowledge of long and short German vowels to read aloud and transcribe German.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Some masculine and neuter nouns add '-er' with an umlaut, where possible, to form the plural.
- Nouns borrowed from other langauges usually add '-s' to form the plural.
- Female person nouns add '-nen' to form the plural.
- The German short [a] sounds like the 'a' in 'Blatt'. The short [ä] is as in the plural 'Blätter'.
- The German short [u] sounds like the 'u' in 'Unterschied'; the long [u] is as in 'Uhr'.
Keywords
Plural rule 4 - add ‘-er’ to some masculine and neuter nouns, with an umlaut where possible; for example, 'Blätter'.
Plural rule 5 - add -s to nouns borrowed from other languages; for example, 'Interviews'.
Plural rule 6 - add -nen to all female person nouns; for example, 'Lehrerinnen'.
Common misconception
All German nouns form their plural by adding 's'.
Plural rules in German are complex and need to be learnt. Pronunciation is also important, as umlauts [ä], [ö] and [ü] can change meaning; for example, Vater, Väter. Accurate pronounciation can help with vocabulary, reading aloud and transcription.
Equipment
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
to answer, answering
to sound, sounding
to teach, teaching
different, differently
different, diverse
mistake
nouns
verbs
adjectives
Exit quiz
6 Questions
term, expression
to repeat, repeating
wall
foreign, strange
task, job
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plural rule 4
plural rule 5
plural rule 6