An exchange: present 'haben' and 'sein', 'Sie' (formal) vs 'du'
Learning outcomes
I can use the informal 'du' and formal 'Sie' correctly when talking to friends or adults on an exchange trip.
I can distinguish between long and short [u] and [ü].
An exchange: present 'haben' and 'sein', 'Sie' (formal) vs 'du'
Learning outcomes
I can use the informal 'du' and formal 'Sie' correctly when talking to friends or adults on an exchange trip.
I can distinguish between long and short [u] and [ü].
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Long and short [u] and [ü] need practice and clarity as the umlaut is often added to form plural nouns.
- Certain expressions which use 'haben' (to have) translate differently in English, e.g., 'Ich habe Hunger' - I am hungry.
- Use 'du' (you, sing.) for a friend, family member or person you know well, and 'Sie' for adults you address by surname.
- Verbs with 'Sie' (you, formal) are the same as the infinitive (dictionary) form.
- 'Sie' (you, formal) is written with a capital letter.
Keywords
[u] - pronounced long as in ‘du’ or short as in ‘Punkt’
[ü] - pronounced long as in ‘Tür’ or short as in ‘fünf’
Haben - irregular verb meaning ‘to have, having’
Sein - irregular verb meaning ‘to be, being’
Sie - formal word for ‘you’ used for adults we address by surname
Common misconception
We always use ‘du’ to mean ‘you’ in German.
'Du' is informal 'you'. You should use 'Sie' (formal 'you') when speaking with adults that you address by surname. Use 'du' with friends, family, other people you know very well and other children.
To help you plan your year 8 german lesson on: An exchange: present 'haben' and 'sein', 'Sie' (formal) vs 'du', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 german lesson on: An exchange: present 'haben' and 'sein', 'Sie' (formal) vs 'du', 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 german lessons from the An exchange: present tense, 'haben' and 'sein', formal 'Sie' vs 'du', cases unit, dive into the full secondary german curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Starter quiz
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Exit quiz
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