Future Plans: Studying: Grammar & Phonics (AQA GCSE German): Revision Note
Exam code: 8662
To talk about your future plans for studying, two structures are essential: the future tense and möcht- + infinitive
It is also important to understand how verb-second word order works when you begin a sentence with a time phrase, such as in der Zukunft or nach der Schule
The future tense
In der Zukunft werde ich Medizin studieren. Ich werde hart arbeiten, um gute Noten zu bekommen.
In future, I will study medicine. I will work hard to get good grades.
The future tense in German is formed with the correct form of werden + an infinitive at the end of the clause
It is used to talk about what will happen or what someone plans to do
German | English |
|---|---|
ich werde | I will |
du wirst | you will (informal singular) |
er / sie / es wird | he / she / it will |
wir werden | we will |
ihr werdet | you will (informal plural) |
sie / Sie werden | they will / you will (formal) |
The infinitive always goes to the end of the clause:
Ich werde Biologie studieren. I will study biology.
Sie wird eine Ausbildung machen. She will do an apprenticeship.
Wir werden hart arbeiten. We will work hard.
To make the sentence negative, add nicht before the infinitive, or use kein before a noun:
Er wird nicht zur Universität gehen. He will not go to university.
Ich werde keine Ausbildung machen. I will not do an apprenticeship.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
German also commonly uses the present tense with a time phrase to talk about the future, for example, Nächstes Jahr studiere ich Biologie - Next year I am going to study biology
Both are correct, but using werden clearly signals future meaning to the examiner and demonstrates grammatical range, so try to use it in your writing and speaking
Möcht- + infinitive
In der Zukunft möchte ich Ärztin werden.
In future, I would like to become a doctor.
Möcht- (would like to) is one of the most useful structures for talking about future wishes and plans
It is followed by an infinitive at the end of the clause, in the same position as with werden
German | English |
|---|---|
ich möchte | I would like to |
du möchtest | you would like to (informal singular) |
er / sie / es möchte | he / she / it would like to |
wir möchten | we would like to |
ihr möchtet | you would like to (informal plural) |
sie / Sie möchten | they / you would like to (formal) |
Ich möchte Kunst studieren. I would like to study art.
Er möchte eine gute Arbeit finden. He would like to find a good job.
Wir möchten erfolgreich sein. We would like to be successful.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Möcht- and werden can both be used to talk about plans, but they carry a slightly different meaning
Möcht- expresses a wish or desire - something you would like to happen
Werden expresses a stated intention or prediction - something that will happen
Using both in the same piece of writing shows good range: Ich möchte Ärztin werden, deshalb werde ich Biologie studieren. - I would like to become a doctor, therefore I will study biology
Verb-second word order
In German, the verb must always be the second element in a sentence
When a sentence begins with a time phrase, such as in der Zukunft, später, nach der Schule or eines Tages, the verb and subject swap positions to keep the verb in second place
Starting with subject | Starting with time phrase |
|---|---|
Ich werde Biologie studieren. | In der Zukunft werde ich Biologie studieren. |
Mein Bruder möchte Lehrer werden. | Später möchte mein Bruder Lehrer werden. |
Er macht eine Ausbildung. | Nach der Schule macht er eine Ausbildung. |
Wir hoffen, ein Studium zu machen. | Eines Tages hoffen wir ein Studium zu machen. |
Future plans: Studying: phonics
In most German words, the letter v is pronounced like an English 'f'
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