Das Pfandsystem: word order with 'wenn', inversion, plural nouns | German

Starter quiz

Match the German and English.

dagegen

⇔

against it, them; on the other hand ✓

dadurch

⇔

through it, them; as a result, as a consequence ✓

daran, dran

⇔

on it, at it, in the process of it ✓

darüber, drüber

⇔

above it, about it ✓
These wo-compound words are used to ask questions. Which word also means 'whereas'?

worauf

wogegen ✓

wodurch

worüber

woran
Use __________ compounds to ask questions with verbs that take __________. Unlike English, German does not put prepositions at the __________ of questions. ‘Wo-’ becomes ‘__________’ before a vowel.

1

⇔

wo

2

⇔

prepositions

3

⇔

end

4

⇔

wor
Which conjunctions send the verb to the end of the sentence (word order 3)?

weil ✓

wenn ✓

denn

aber

dass ✓
The standard German word order 1 is __________, verb, __________. In word order 2, the subject and __________ swap places. This is called __________ and happens in __________ too.

1

⇔

subject

2

⇔

object

3

⇔

verb

4

⇔

inversion

5

⇔

questions
Which nouns can be either singular or plural?

Ordnung (f)

Keller (m) ✓

Pullover (m) ✓

Tätowierung (f)

Socke (f)

Exit quiz

Match the English and German.

(a) while

⇔

Weile ✓

by and large, in general

⇔

im Großen und Ganzen ✓

at least

⇔

zumindest ✓

to charge, charging

⇔

aufladen ✓

to be valid, being valid

⇔

gelten ✓

to prevent, preventing

⇔

verhindern ✓
Match the plural noun to its plural rule number.

Geschäfte

⇔

add 'e' or 'umlaut + e' to (m) and (nt) nouns (rule 1) ✓

Schüler

⇔

no change to words ending in 'en', 'el', 'er' (rule 2) ✓

Schülerinnen

⇔

add 'n' or 'en' to most feminine nouns (rule 3) ✓

Gläser

⇔

add 'er' to (m) and (nt) nouns, with an umlaut if possible (rule 4) ✓

Interviews

⇔

add 's' to nouns borrowed from other languages (rule 5) ✓
Which features would you expect to see in a sentence beginning with 'wenn'?

Word order 3 (verb to the end) in the first clause ✓

Word order 3 (verb to the end) in the second clause

Word order 2 (inversion) in the second clause ✓

a comma after 'wenn'

verb - comma - verb in the middle of the sentence ✓
Which statement about the German 'Pfandsystem' is false?

You pay a small deposit on every bottle, jar and can that you buy.

Many supermarkets have deposit machines for customers to return deposit items.

The deposit is around 25 cents per item.

German consumers can be fined it they don't return their bottles. ✓
'Wenn du keine Flasche zurückbringst, verlierst du das Pfand.' Complete the translation of this sentence into English: '______ the bottle, you lose the deposit.'

'If you don't bring back' ✓
'When I go into town, I normally travel by bus.' Complete the translation of this sentence into German: '______, fahre ich normalerweise mit dem Bus.'

'Wenn ich in die Stadt gehe' ✓

Worksheet

Loading worksheet ...

Presentation

Loading presentation ...

Video

Lesson Details

Key learning points

Word order three conjunctions like 'wenn' send the verb to the end.
The subject and verb are inverted in word order two.
There are many ways to form the plural in German.

Common misconception

All sentences with 'wenn' use word order 3 and send the verb to the end.

Distinguish between a clause and a sentence. 'Wenn' clauses need a second clause to complete a sentence. A clause starting with 'wenn' sends the verb to the end. If the 'wenn' clause is first, the second clause (after the comma) uses inversion.

Keywords

Wenn - conjunction meaning 'if' or 'when' which triggers word order 3
Word order 2 - (WO2) inverts the subject and verb in a sentence
Word order 3 - (WO3) sends the verb to the end of the sentence or clause after certain conjunctions