Lesson 4 - Reisen
This lesson focuses on travel and a new tense - the conversational past tense. Finally, we are learning the vocabulary necessary to navigate travel from one destination to the next. There are some very important words we are focusing on in this section, take particular note. It is also very likely that you will use this vocabulary at some point in your journey through the German language.
In German there are two different forms of the past tense. The conversational past tense is the first form we will focus on. As far as this tense is concerned, it is used during conversations. It is also know as the Perfekt. In English, we call this form the present perfect and it is used in every day language. Further explination is listed in the second activity. There is a lot of memorization necessary with this grammatical form, so pay close attention.
Objectives:
1. Students will discuss various means of transportation and describe how to get from one point to another.
2. Students will retell events using the conversational past tense.
In German there are two different forms of the past tense. The conversational past tense is the first form we will focus on. As far as this tense is concerned, it is used during conversations. It is also know as the Perfekt. In English, we call this form the present perfect and it is used in every day language. Further explination is listed in the second activity. There is a lot of memorization necessary with this grammatical form, so pay close attention.
Objectives:
1. Students will discuss various means of transportation and describe how to get from one point to another.
2. Students will retell events using the conversational past tense.
Activity 1 - Reisen
Learning tavel vocbulary is extremely important for any second language speaker. Most frequently, those who learn a second language will, at some point, travel to a country that they studied. Part of this year focuses on these important words, so that you can navigate your way around Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. One thing to note, many of these verbs in this section are separable prefix verbs. If they fall into this category, after the prefix you will see °. So abbiegen is listed as ab°biegen to remind you that the prefix will come off.
With the listed modes of transportation, you will use the preposition mit and a dative article. To say to ride the subway, you would say: Ich fahre mit der U-Bahn. To say you go by plane, you would say: Ich fliege mit dem Flugzeug. Walking take a different dative preposition, you literally say I go by foot: Ich gehe zu Fuß.
With the listed modes of transportation, you will use the preposition mit and a dative article. To say to ride the subway, you would say: Ich fahre mit der U-Bahn. To say you go by plane, you would say: Ich fliege mit dem Flugzeug. Walking take a different dative preposition, you literally say I go by foot: Ich gehe zu Fuß.
Nouns
die Abfahrt, -en - departure due Ankunft, -ü e - arrival die Auskunft, -ü e - information der Automat, -en - automat, (vending machine) der Besuch, - e - visit das Boot, - e - boat das Café, -s - café die Fahrkarte, -n - ticket das Flugzeug, -e - airplane das Gepäck - luggage, baggage das Gleis, -e - track, platform der Koffer, - - suitcase der Kofferkuli, -s - luggage cart das Motorrad, -ä er - motorcycle das Museum, -Museen - museum die Post - post office die Postkarte, -n - post card die Reise, -n - trip der Schalter, - - (ticket) counter das Schiff, -e - ship die Stadtmitte - center of city, downtown die Straßenbahn, -en - street car die U-Bahn, -en - subway das Verkehrsmittel, - - means of transportation der Zug, -ü e - train |
Verbs
ab°beigen - to turn (to) ab°fahren - to depart, leave an°kommen - to arrive aus°steigen - to get off ein°steigen - to get in/ on board entschuldigen: Entschuldigen Sie! - Excuse me! erzählen - to tell fliegen - to fly fragen to ask zu Fuß gehen - to walk mit°nehmen - to take along nach°sehen - to check planen - to plan reisen - to travel schaffen - to mangage Das haben wir geschafft. - We made it. um°steigen - to transfer vorbei°gehen - to go past Adjectives and Adverbs fremd - foreign, strange geradeaus - straight ahead klein - little, small links - left rechts - right |
Activity 1 - Assignment
Wie kommt man am besten dorthin?
For this activity, you will need to create a Google Doc. Be sure to title the assignment and include your name. For each given situation, describe what means of transportation should be used. Include the entire phrase such as mit dem Bus. Each scenario is worth 1 point each, for a total of 10 points.
For example:
Heiko will von New York nach London reisen. Die Reise dauert sechs Stunden°. Stunden = hours
mit dem Flugzeug
1. Ich wohne in Amerika und will nach Deutschland gehen. Ich hasse° fliegen und will eine lange Reise machen. hasse = hate
2. Timo musst zur Schule gehen. Er kann nicht fahren und er wohnt 2 Meilen von der Schule entfernt.
3. Wir sind auf dem See°. Wir wollen zur Insel° fahren. See = lake, Insel = insland
4. Frau Steiner möchte zum Café gehen. Es ist nur eine Ecke° von ihrem Haus. Ecke = corner
5. Die Familie Meier wollen von Kearney nach Branson gehen.
6. Marko will nach Chicago gehen, aber er kann nicht ein Auto nicht fahren und er kann nicht fliegen.
7. Heidi wohnt in New York. Sie hat keine Auto und kein Geld für ein Taxi.
8. Franz möchte nach China gehen. Er hat viel Geld.
9. Bruno ist jetzt sechzehn in Amerika. Er muss zur Schule gehen.
10. Tina wohnt in San Francisco. Sie muss zur Stadtmitte fahren, aber sie hat kein Auto.
Wie kommt man am besten dorthin?
For this activity, you will need to create a Google Doc. Be sure to title the assignment and include your name. For each given situation, describe what means of transportation should be used. Include the entire phrase such as mit dem Bus. Each scenario is worth 1 point each, for a total of 10 points.
For example:
Heiko will von New York nach London reisen. Die Reise dauert sechs Stunden°. Stunden = hours
mit dem Flugzeug
1. Ich wohne in Amerika und will nach Deutschland gehen. Ich hasse° fliegen und will eine lange Reise machen. hasse = hate
2. Timo musst zur Schule gehen. Er kann nicht fahren und er wohnt 2 Meilen von der Schule entfernt.
3. Wir sind auf dem See°. Wir wollen zur Insel° fahren. See = lake, Insel = insland
4. Frau Steiner möchte zum Café gehen. Es ist nur eine Ecke° von ihrem Haus. Ecke = corner
5. Die Familie Meier wollen von Kearney nach Branson gehen.
6. Marko will nach Chicago gehen, aber er kann nicht ein Auto nicht fahren und er kann nicht fliegen.
7. Heidi wohnt in New York. Sie hat keine Auto und kein Geld für ein Taxi.
8. Franz möchte nach China gehen. Er hat viel Geld.
9. Bruno ist jetzt sechzehn in Amerika. Er muss zur Schule gehen.
10. Tina wohnt in San Francisco. Sie muss zur Stadtmitte fahren, aber sie hat kein Auto.
Activity 1 - Crossword
Before taking the quiz, attempt the crossword. Remember that there are no special characters. ß is a ss, ä is ae, ö is oe, and ü is ue. Click on the link below to access the crossword. Reisen Kreuzworträtsel |
Activity 1 - Quiz
For the quiz, you will be identifying the meaning of several vocablary words. There are a total of 15 questions, worth 1 point each. Results will be automatically graded and available to you. Reisen Quiz |
Activity 2 - Perfekt of Regular Verbs
It is easiest to begin with regular verbs, when discussing the conversational past tense or present perfect. Germans have two specific forms of the past tense. One is spoken and one is used with writing. The first tense we will cover is the conversational. This tense will look a lot like one in English, however it is not the exact same. For instance: We have learned German. We have written sentences. He has played soccer. This tense implies something has started in the past and is continuing in the present. This is why we call it the present perfect.
Our tense, also know as the Perfekt in German, will use a helping verb in the present tense. Then you will use a past participle. Looking at our example sentences, you will notice that the helping verb used in English is have. The past participles are learned, written, played. Often we add an ed to create these past participles in English. We also have irregular ones like written. For now, we are going to focus on just a regular ending.
Like English, German uses the present tense of the verb haben. This is one of the few cases when you will actually use two verbs in a sentence. The difference with the helping verbs is that German will also use the helping verb sein. Look for the section explaining when to use haben versus sein to demonstrate these differences. For the most part, regular verbs will use haben, so we will focus on that for now.
Conjugation of haben
ich - habe wir - haben
du - hast ihr - habt
er, sie, es - hat sie, Sie - haben
Haben will go into the standard second position in sentences. It will be conjugated based on the subject.
Past Participle
Creating the past participle is a little different. Like adding ed in English, for regular verbs there is a standard change. There is a prefix of ge and a suffix of t. The past participle must go to the end of the sentence. Unlike in English when verbs are placed together, only 1 conjugated verb is used in the sentence in the standard second position. Any other verbs are placed at the end of the sentence. Below are the specific steps for changing a verb to the past participle.
1. Remove the (e)n from the verb
2. Add ge to the beginning of the verb
3. Add t to the end of the verb
4. Place the past participle at the end of the sentence.
Let's take the verb machen and practice
1. machen - en = mach
2. mach + ge = gemach
3. gemach + t = gemacht *special note: as we have learned before, you cannot add just a t if the stem ends in a d or t. Therefore, you will need to add an extra e before the t ending (reden = geredet).
4. Ich habe Hausaufgaben gemacht.
Exceptions
As with any language there are exceptions to the general rules. With regular verbs there are 3 categories of verbs to pay attention to. These categories are separable prefix verb, inseparable prefix verbs, and the ieren verbs.
1. Separable Prefix Verbs
The prefix will separate from the verb but will remain attached to the past participle. So let's take the verb mitmachen. The prefix is mit. So the past participle is mitgemacht. Machen goes to gemacht, mit is just added to the front of the verb changing is from make to participate.
Er hat mitgemacht. - He participated.
2. Inseparable Prefix Verbs
This time the prefix will not separate. Since the prefix cannot be removed from the verb, no ge is added. Look at the verb reisen. Its past participle is gereist. When you change the verb to verreisen (to go on a journey), ver cannot be removed. Instead the past participle is verreist. No ge is added. Inseparable prefixes are be and ver.
3. Ieren Verbs
The suffix ieren are a group of verbs from French. They, like inseparable prefix verbs, will not take the ge prefix and instead just add a t ending. Look at the end of the verb for the suffix ieren. If it is present, do not add a ge. For example: fotografieren = fotografiert
For help with figuring out what is regular and irregular, you will be provided a list of verbs. For now, use these lists to help you determine which type of verb you are working with.
Last Point
Again, this is the past tense. If I say, he played soccer, in German that is: Er hat Fußball gespielt.
Our tense, also know as the Perfekt in German, will use a helping verb in the present tense. Then you will use a past participle. Looking at our example sentences, you will notice that the helping verb used in English is have. The past participles are learned, written, played. Often we add an ed to create these past participles in English. We also have irregular ones like written. For now, we are going to focus on just a regular ending.
Like English, German uses the present tense of the verb haben. This is one of the few cases when you will actually use two verbs in a sentence. The difference with the helping verbs is that German will also use the helping verb sein. Look for the section explaining when to use haben versus sein to demonstrate these differences. For the most part, regular verbs will use haben, so we will focus on that for now.
Conjugation of haben
ich - habe wir - haben
du - hast ihr - habt
er, sie, es - hat sie, Sie - haben
Haben will go into the standard second position in sentences. It will be conjugated based on the subject.
Past Participle
Creating the past participle is a little different. Like adding ed in English, for regular verbs there is a standard change. There is a prefix of ge and a suffix of t. The past participle must go to the end of the sentence. Unlike in English when verbs are placed together, only 1 conjugated verb is used in the sentence in the standard second position. Any other verbs are placed at the end of the sentence. Below are the specific steps for changing a verb to the past participle.
1. Remove the (e)n from the verb
2. Add ge to the beginning of the verb
3. Add t to the end of the verb
4. Place the past participle at the end of the sentence.
Let's take the verb machen and practice
1. machen - en = mach
2. mach + ge = gemach
3. gemach + t = gemacht *special note: as we have learned before, you cannot add just a t if the stem ends in a d or t. Therefore, you will need to add an extra e before the t ending (reden = geredet).
4. Ich habe Hausaufgaben gemacht.
Exceptions
As with any language there are exceptions to the general rules. With regular verbs there are 3 categories of verbs to pay attention to. These categories are separable prefix verb, inseparable prefix verbs, and the ieren verbs.
1. Separable Prefix Verbs
The prefix will separate from the verb but will remain attached to the past participle. So let's take the verb mitmachen. The prefix is mit. So the past participle is mitgemacht. Machen goes to gemacht, mit is just added to the front of the verb changing is from make to participate.
Er hat mitgemacht. - He participated.
2. Inseparable Prefix Verbs
This time the prefix will not separate. Since the prefix cannot be removed from the verb, no ge is added. Look at the verb reisen. Its past participle is gereist. When you change the verb to verreisen (to go on a journey), ver cannot be removed. Instead the past participle is verreist. No ge is added. Inseparable prefixes are be and ver.
3. Ieren Verbs
The suffix ieren are a group of verbs from French. They, like inseparable prefix verbs, will not take the ge prefix and instead just add a t ending. Look at the end of the verb for the suffix ieren. If it is present, do not add a ge. For example: fotografieren = fotografiert
For help with figuring out what is regular and irregular, you will be provided a list of verbs. For now, use these lists to help you determine which type of verb you are working with.
Last Point
Again, this is the past tense. If I say, he played soccer, in German that is: Er hat Fußball gespielt.
When to Use Sein
Unlike in English, the present perfect tense in German has two helping verbs. It is easiest to remember when to use sein, because everything else will use haben. Conjugation of Sein ich - bin wir - sind du - bist ihr - seid er, sie, es - ist sie, Sie - sind Using Sein You use sein in the following scenarios: When the past participle is a verb 1. of motion (meaning an object is moving from point a to point b) 2. a change of state (to be born, to die, to fall asleep) 3. an intransitive verb (a verb that cannot take a direct object) The 3 case is not one we will use often or one that I expect you to rattle off the top of your head. I state it here, so that you have a reason why some verbs do not fall into category 1 and 2. For regular verbs, the only 2 verbs we will deal with are wandern (to hike) and reisen (to travel). As you clearly see from their definitions, they are verbs of motion. Look at the example sentences below: Ich bin durch die Alpen gewandert. - I have hiked through the Alps. Wir sind nach Deutschland gereist. - We have traveled to Germany. |
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Regular Verbs Song
to the tune of la cucaracha created by Cynthia Biermann You kick the verb to You kick the verb to You kick the verb onto the end You add a g e Verb stem and T (hold the sound) And don't forget the Ha - ha - haben This little song really helps you to remember how to form the past tense. A great way to remember things is by using songs to spark your memory. |
Activity 2 - Past Participles
For this activity, you will be working with the list of regular verbs. You will need to create the past participle of the verbs. Click on the link to the Google Doc below. It will force you to automatically create a copy of the document. Be sure to type your name onto the document. When finished, please share it with me. Past Participles |
Activity 2 - Past Participles of Regular Verbs Assignment
For this assignment, you will need to create a Google Doc. Be sure to title the assignment and provide your name. Please retype the sentences. At the end of each sentence is a verb listed in the infinitive. Take the verb and change it to the past participle. You will also need to put in your form of haben or sein. Pay close attention to word order. Each sentence is worth 1 point each.
Example: Ich ---- meine Hausaufgaben -----. (machen)
Ich habe meine Hausaufgaben gemacht.
For this assignment, you will need to create a Google Doc. Be sure to title the assignment and provide your name. Please retype the sentences. At the end of each sentence is a verb listed in the infinitive. Take the verb and change it to the past participle. You will also need to put in your form of haben or sein. Pay close attention to word order. Each sentence is worth 1 point each.
Example: Ich ---- meine Hausaufgaben -----. (machen)
Ich habe meine Hausaufgaben gemacht.
1. ---- du Tennis ----? (spielen)
2. Wie lange ---- der Film ----? (dauern) 3. Es ----- viel -----. (regnen) 4. Wir ---- durch die Bergen ----. (wandern) 5. Ich ---- die Blumen ----. (fotografieren) 6. Tanja ---- nach Bremen ----. (reisen) 7. Bruno und Hans ---- Deutsch ----. (lernen) 8. Der Lehrer ---- ihm nicht ----. (glauben) 9. ---- ihr den Rasen ----? (mähen) 10. Ich ---- das Buch ----. (holen) |
Activity 2 - Quiz
For this quiz, you will be changing sentences from the present tense to the Perfekt. First identify the verb, change it to the past participle. Next, replace the exsiting verb with the helping verb. Finally, place the past participle at the end of the sentence. See the example below for help. Each sentence is worth 2 points each, for a total of 10 points. Click on the link to access the quiz. Example: Er meint das nicht. meint is the verb (remember second position!) meint becomes gemeint Er hat das nicht (helping verb is hat) Er hat das gemeint. Perfekt Quiz |
Activity 3 - Perfekt of Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs have different rules regarding the formation of past participles. The formation of sentences is exactly the same as with regular verbs. The helping verbs of haben or sein will go into the standard second position. The rules regulating helping verbs are the exact same. The past participle will go to the end of the sentence. When forming the past participles, different rules apply.
Forming the Past Participle
For the most part, the past participles will follow the rules listed below. There are some execptions and I will list those in a different section. As far as how to remember what will change, the truth is the only was to learn it is to memorize it. You will notice some specific patterns develop, but when it comes to learning these past participles, you will have to memorize them. These participles will be used in other tenses along with way through German. And as Katja has stated, this is the more important past tense for communication purposes.
1. add ge to the beginning of the verb (unless it is an inseparable prefix)
2. the verb will keep the (e)n ending
3. change the vowel (on most verbs)
For example:
schwimmen
1. ge + schwimm = geschwimm
2. geschwimm + en = geschwimmen
3. i changes to 0 = geschwommen
Ich bin geschwommen. - I swam.
To help with the memorization, I will provide a chart of past participles of irregular verbs. As we move towards the next chapters, I will expect you to add the irregular past participles to the list. The more you use this list, the easier it will be to memorize this group of verbs.
Exceptions
The exceptions are known as mixed verbs. These verbs take both the regular t ending and a vowel change. We will learn only a very small number of these verbs and as a result, they are very easy to memorize.
For example:
kennen
past participle: gekannt
Ich habe den neuen Schüler gekannt.
Before moving on to any practice or games, be sure to visit the list of irregular verbs and their past participles. I strongly suggest you print it off or at least bookmark it, so that you can have easy access to it.
Irregular Verb and Past Participles
Forming the Past Participle
For the most part, the past participles will follow the rules listed below. There are some execptions and I will list those in a different section. As far as how to remember what will change, the truth is the only was to learn it is to memorize it. You will notice some specific patterns develop, but when it comes to learning these past participles, you will have to memorize them. These participles will be used in other tenses along with way through German. And as Katja has stated, this is the more important past tense for communication purposes.
1. add ge to the beginning of the verb (unless it is an inseparable prefix)
2. the verb will keep the (e)n ending
3. change the vowel (on most verbs)
For example:
schwimmen
1. ge + schwimm = geschwimm
2. geschwimm + en = geschwimmen
3. i changes to 0 = geschwommen
Ich bin geschwommen. - I swam.
To help with the memorization, I will provide a chart of past participles of irregular verbs. As we move towards the next chapters, I will expect you to add the irregular past participles to the list. The more you use this list, the easier it will be to memorize this group of verbs.
Exceptions
The exceptions are known as mixed verbs. These verbs take both the regular t ending and a vowel change. We will learn only a very small number of these verbs and as a result, they are very easy to memorize.
For example:
kennen
past participle: gekannt
Ich habe den neuen Schüler gekannt.
Before moving on to any practice or games, be sure to visit the list of irregular verbs and their past participles. I strongly suggest you print it off or at least bookmark it, so that you can have easy access to it.
Irregular Verb and Past Participles
Irregular Verbs Song
to the tune of Popeye the Sailorman created by Cynthia Biermann I am Popeye the verb that´s strong ge plus en, don´t be wrong With motion use sein Vowel changes are fine No motion use ha-ha-haben Toot! Toot! |
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Activity 3 - Games
Learning all of these different past participles can be difficult. In order to help memorize these different forms, play the various games. It is a fun way to learn! Other ways to help you learn are to create cards, matching the forms together. Irregular Past Participle Games |
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Activity 3 - Past Participles of Irregular Verbs Assignment
For this assignment, you will need to create a Google Doc. Be sure to title the assignment and provide your name. Please retype the sentences. At the end of each sentence is a verb listed in the infinitive. Take the verb and change it to the past participle. You will also need to put in your form of haben or sein. Pay close attention to word order. Each sentence is worth 1 point each.
Example:
Frank ---- ----. (schwimmen)
Frank ist geschwommen.
For this assignment, you will need to create a Google Doc. Be sure to title the assignment and provide your name. Please retype the sentences. At the end of each sentence is a verb listed in the infinitive. Take the verb and change it to the past participle. You will also need to put in your form of haben or sein. Pay close attention to word order. Each sentence is worth 1 point each.
Example:
Frank ---- ----. (schwimmen)
Frank ist geschwommen.
1. Wir ---- ein Buch ----. (lesen)
2. Tina ---- ihre Freundin vor dem Kino ----. (treffen) 3. Ich ---- Bratwurst ----. (essen) 4. Die Eltern ---- in Bremen ----. (umsteigen) 5. Tennis ---- mir gut ----. (gefallen) 6. Der Chor ---- das Lied ----. (singen) 7. Der Zug ---- spät -----. (sein) 8. ---- du das schon ----? (vorschlagen) 9. Die Sonne ---- -----. (scheinen) 10. ---- ihr gestern ----? (laufen) |
Activity 3 - Quiz
For this quiz, you will be changing sentences from the present tense to the Perfekt. First identify the verb, change it to the past participle. Next, replace the exsiting verb with the helping verb. Finally, place the past participle at the end of the sentence. See the example below for help. Each sentence is worth 2 points each, for a total of 10 points. Click on the link to access the quiz.
For example:
Er trägt den Koffer.
trägt is the verb (remember 2nd position)
trägt = getragen
Er hat den Koffer (tragen uses haben as a helping verb)
Er hat den Koffer getragen.
Irregular Perfekt Quiz
For this quiz, you will be changing sentences from the present tense to the Perfekt. First identify the verb, change it to the past participle. Next, replace the exsiting verb with the helping verb. Finally, place the past participle at the end of the sentence. See the example below for help. Each sentence is worth 2 points each, for a total of 10 points. Click on the link to access the quiz.
For example:
Er trägt den Koffer.
trägt is the verb (remember 2nd position)
trägt = getragen
Er hat den Koffer (tragen uses haben as a helping verb)
Er hat den Koffer getragen.
Irregular Perfekt Quiz
Lesson 4 - Summary
This lesson focuses on the new tense - the Perfekt. The Perfekt is used in conversations, when discussing an event in the past tense. Even though it looks like the present pefect in English, the tense is not the same. For this tense, you will need the past participle of the verb. Regular verbs will take a ge prefix and will end with a t. Irregular verbs will also take a ge prefix and will often end with an en. Thes past participle will go to the end of the sentence.
Verb placement is different for this tense. There are two helping verbs: haben and sein. Haben or sein will be conjugated and placed in the standard second position. Sein is used with verbs of motion, change of state, and those without a direct object. All other verbs will take haben.
For vocabulary, we learned about travel words and specifically about modes of transportation. This year will continue with the theme of travel. Our next lesson is perhaps the easiest of all the German 2 lessons. It focuses on the comparative and superlative of adjectives. Wir haben so viel dieses Kapitel gelernt. Ihr seid so gut gewesen!
Verb placement is different for this tense. There are two helping verbs: haben and sein. Haben or sein will be conjugated and placed in the standard second position. Sein is used with verbs of motion, change of state, and those without a direct object. All other verbs will take haben.
For vocabulary, we learned about travel words and specifically about modes of transportation. This year will continue with the theme of travel. Our next lesson is perhaps the easiest of all the German 2 lessons. It focuses on the comparative and superlative of adjectives. Wir haben so viel dieses Kapitel gelernt. Ihr seid so gut gewesen!