Ich bin Ingenieurin: imperfect modals
Learning outcomes
I can use modal verbs in the imperfect tense to talk about work and studying.
I can recognise, write and pronounce [o] and [ö].
Ich bin Ingenieurin: imperfect modals
Learning outcomes
I can use modal verbs in the imperfect tense to talk about work and studying.
I can recognise, write and pronounce [o] and [ö].
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Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- [o] and [ö] are long when followed by no consonants or only one consonant.
- To form the imperfect of singular modal verbs, remove -en and add -te for ‘ich’, -test for ‘du’, -te for ‘sie/er/es’.
- To form the imperfect of plural modal verbs, remove -en and add -ten for ‘wir’, -tet for ‘ihr’, -ten for ‘sie’.
- In sentences with modal verbs, the second verb is in the infinitive at the end of the sentence.
Keywords
Imperfect tense - verb tense used most often for modal verbs when they describe past events
Modal verb - verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, e.g., must, can, want
Common misconception
Modal verbs must add ge- in the imperfect tense.
Modal verbs are normally used in the imperfect to describe past events. The imperfect is a different tense from the perfect and is formed differently.
Equipment
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
study, studies
bird
personal, personally
employee, co-worker
grandma
to study, studying (at university)
(I, she, he, it) were, would be
school leaving exam, A levels
higher education
speech, talk
to originate, develop
as soon as
to be allowed, may
to be able to, can
to have to, must
to want to
to ought to, be supposed to, should
Exit quiz
6 Questions
to open, opening
to take care of, be concerned about
airport
technology
to solve, solving
employer
salary, pay, earnings, wages
technical
unusual, unusually
(you) were allowed to
(I) had to
(she) wanted to
(you) were supposed to
(you) had to
(I) was supposed to
du
wir
ich
ihr