Role Models: Grammar & Phonics (AQA GCSE German): Revision Note
Exam code: 8662
Interrogatives (question words) are essential to ask questions, and also to answer them - you need to understand what is being asked of you
Let's look at them in more detail
Interrogatives
Interrogatives are also known as question words
They are often called W- words in German (wer, was, wann…)
Use interrogatives to ask open questions - questions which require more information in the reply than yes or no
In German, the verb always comes in second position, immediately after the question word:
question word + verb + subject + rest of sentenceWarum ist dein Vorbild so wichtig?
Why is your role model so important?Wer ist dein Vorbild?
Who is your role model?
English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
who | wer | Wer ist dein Vorbild? Who is your role model? |
what | was | Was macht dein Vorbild, um anderen zu helfen? What does your role model do to help others? |
when | wann | Wann ist dein Vorbild berühmt geworden? When did your role model become famous? |
where | wo | Wo wohnt dein Vorbild? Where does your role model live? |
why | warum | Warum magst du dein Vorbild? Why do you like your role model? |
how | wie | Wie hilft dein Vorbild anderen Menschen? How does your role model help other people? |
which | welch- | Welche Person ist ein gutes Vorbild? Which person is a good role model? |
Welch- agrees with the gender of the noun that follows - it works like an adjective:
Welcher Mensch? (m) Which person?
Welche Person? (f) Which person?
Welches Beispiel? (nt) Which example?
Welche Menschen? (pl) Which people?
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In the speaking exam, you need to ask your teacher a question when you see the ? symbol
Use question words from this list to form a natural, accurate question - Wer ist dein Vorbild? or Warum magst du dein Vorbild? are both safe and effective choices
Wer and welch-
This grammar is only required at Higher tier.
Wer (who) changes depending on its role in the sentence - just like nouns change in the dative and accusative cases
Case | Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
nominative | wer | subject of the verb | Wer ist dein Vorbild? Who is your role model? |
accusative | wen | direct object | Wen magst du am meisten? Who do you like most? |
dative | wem | indirect object | Wem vertraust du am meisten? Who do you trust the most? |
The full endings of welch-
At Higher tier you also need to know the accusative and dative forms of welch-:
Gender | Nominative | Accusative | Dative |
|---|---|---|---|
Masculine | welcher | welchen | welchem |
Feminine | welche | welche | welcher |
Neuter | welches | welches | welchem |
Plural | welche | welche | welchen |
Welchen Sänger findest du am kreativsten? accusative masculine
Welche Person magst du am meisten? accusative feminine
Welchem Lehrer vertraust du am meisten? dative masculine
Welcher Person vertraust du am meisten? dative feminine
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Using the correct form of welch- shows confident control of adjective endings
The accusative masculine form welchen is the one most likely to catch students out - remember it follows the same pattern as the definite article: den → welchen
Role models: phonics
The letter v in German is often pronounced [f] - like the f in 'father'
This is different from English, where v is pronounced [v] as in 'victory'
Unlock more, it's free!
Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams
the (exam) results speak for themselves:
Was this revision note helpful?
