Bertha von Suttner: perfect tense change of state verbs, superlative adjectives
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use change of state verbs with 'sein' in the perfect tense and form superlatives before nouns, in the context of learning about the pacifist Bertha von Suttner.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Form the perfect tense using 'sein' with verbs referring to a change of state, e.g., 'ist eingeschlafen'.
- Form the superlative by adding '-ste' to the end of the adjective if it comes before a noun, e.g., 'billigste'.
- Some superlative forms are irregular, e.g., 'beste', 'höchste', 'meiste'. Others have umlauts as in the comparative.
- In 1905, Bertha von Suttner was the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Keywords
Perfect tense - past tense formed with the present tense of 'sein' or 'haben' and a past participle
Sein - auxiliary verb used to form the perfect tense with some verbs, e.g., change of state verbs
Superlative - a form of adjective or adverb used to express the highest degree of a quality, e.g., 'the tallest', 'the most interesting'
Common misconception
Only verbs expressing a change of state take 'sein' in the perfect tense.
Verbs referring to motion, which don't require a direct object (e.g., 'gehen'), take 'sein' in the perfect tense. Most verbs meaning 'happen' (e.g., 'geschehen', 'passieren') and the verbs 'bleiben' and 'sein' also use 'sein'.
Teacher tip
Task B1 could be used as a running dictation task prior to completing the gap fill exercise.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word means 'whole' or 'entire'?
Q2.Match the German and English.
background
prize
quality
dream
accident
wish
Q3.Match the German and English.
to grow up
to fall asleep
to receive, receiving
to win, winning
to grow, growing
to forbid, ban
Q4.Order the words to say: 'The house is located in the town centre.'
Q5.Write in English: 'die Grenzen waren geschlossen'.
Q6.Write in German: 'my friend (m) is a refugee'.
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Bertha von Suttner won the .
Q2.Which verb does not use 'sein' in the perfect tense?
Q3.Match the pronouns to the correct verb forms.
bin
bist
ist
sind
Q4.Write in German: 'the cheapest apartment'.
Q5.Write in German: 'the highest window'.
To help you plan your 11 German lesson on: Bertha von Suttner: perfect tense change of state verbs, superlative adjectives, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 German lesson on: Bertha von Suttner: perfect tense change of state verbs, superlative adjectives, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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