Improve your lifestyle: modal 2-verb structures and pronoun 'man' | German

Starter quiz

Match the German and English.
- Kino (nt)
  
  ⇔
  
  cinema ✓
- Klassenzimmer (nt)
  
  ⇔
  
  classroom ✓
- Konzert (nt)
  
  ⇔
  
  concert ✓
- Krankenhaus (nt)
  
  ⇔
  
  hospital ✓
- Geschäft (nt)
  
  ⇔
  
  shop ✓
- Stadt (f)
  
  ⇔
  
  town, city ✓
Match the German and English.
- Hut (m)
  
  ⇔
  
  hat ✓
- Keks (m)
  
  ⇔
  
  biscuit ✓
- Leute (pl)
  
  ⇔
  
  people ✓
- Lied (nt)
  
  ⇔
  
  song ✓
- Ort (m)
  
  ⇔
  
  place ✓
- Obst (nt)
  
  ⇔
  
  fruit ✓
Match the German and English.
- benutzen
  
  ⇔
  
  to use, using ✓
- bekommen
  
  ⇔
  
  to get, receive ✓
- lesen
  
  ⇔
  
  to read, reading ✓
- nehmen
  
  ⇔
  
  to take, taking ✓
- reden
  
  ⇔
  
  to talk, talking ✓
- springen
  
  ⇔
  
  to jump, jumping ✓
Which of these pronoun means 'you' (in general)?
- du
- man ✓
- ihr
- Sie
Sort the words below into the correct order to form the following sentence: 'Can you play a computer game?'
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  kannst
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  du
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  ein
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Computerspiel
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  spielen
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  ?
Translate the following sentence into English: 'Ich weiß nichts über den Film.'
- 'I know nothing about the film.' ✓

Exit quiz

Which of these words includes a vocal [r] sound?
- Beruf
- hören
- Schwester ✓
- sprechen
- trinken
There are two sets of opposites below. Which word does not have an opposite below?
- gesund
- glücklich
- krank
- ruhig ✓
- traurig
Match the German and English.
- dürfen
  
  ⇔
  
  to be allowed, may ✓
- darfst
  
  ⇔
  
  you are allowed, may ✓
- müssen
  
  ⇔
  
  to have to, must ✓
- musst
  
  ⇔
  
  you have to, must ✓
- wollen
  
  ⇔
  
  to want ✓
- willst
  
  ⇔
  
  you want ✓
Which of these sentences mean 'I can't cook.'?
- Ich darf nicht kochen. ✓
- Ich muss nicht kochen.
- Ich will nicht kochen.
- Ich kann nicht kochen. ✓
- Ich koche nicht.
Translate the following sentence into English: 'Er kann die Karten nicht kaufen.'
- 'He cannot buy the tickets.' ✓
Translate the following sentence into German: 'May I speak?'
- 'Darf ich sprechen?' ✓

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

[r] is consonantal at the start of a syllable, after a consonant or a short vowel, e.g., 'reden'. It is a rolling sound.
[r] is vocalic after a long vowel and in '-er', e.g., 'Markt', 'aber'. It often sounds barely there.
Translate 'can' as in ability with 'können', but use 'dürfen' for permission, i.e., 'may I ... ?'.
'Man' is a pronoun used to refer to people in general and is often translated as 'you' or 'one'.

Common misconception

Always use 'können' to translate 'can' into German.

'Can' is often used with two different meanings in English - ability or permission. Use 'können' to express ability (e.g., 'Kannst du schwimmen?') and 'dürfen' to express permission (e.g., 'Darfst du schwimmen?').

Keywords

[r] - pronounced as in 'reden' or 'Uhr'
Können - modal verb meaning 'to be able to, can', used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, which comes at the end of the sentence
Dürfen - modal verb meaning 'to be allowed to, may', used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, which comes at the end of the sentence
Man - 3rd person singular subject pronoun meaning 'you' or 'one', used to refer to people in general