Social Issues: Grammar & Phonics (AQA GCSE German): Revision Note
Exam code: 8662
When talking about social issues, you often need to give reasons and express opinions - you can do this by using subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions
A subordinating conjunction connects a main clause to a subordinate clause
The key rule is: the verb goes to the end of the subordinate clause
The most useful subordinating conjunctions for this topic are:
German | English |
|---|---|
weil | because |
dass | that |
obwohl | although |
wenn | when, whenever, if |
German | English |
|---|---|
Ich helfe anderen, weil es wichtig ist. | I help others because it is important. |
Ich glaube, dass freiwillig arbeiten nützlich ist. | I think that working voluntarily is useful. |
Die Regierung tut wenig, obwohl das Problem ernst ist. | The government doesn't do a lot, although the problem is serious. |
Man hat weniger Chancen, wenn man arm ist. | You have fewer opportunities when you are poor. |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When a subordinate clause comes at the start of a sentence, the main clause verb must immediately follow the comma
This triggers the verb, comma, verb rule: Obwohl das Problem ernst ist, tut die Regierung wenig
Higher tier only
At Higher, you also need to use subordinating conjunctions in two-verb structures - for example with modal verbs or the perfect tense in the subordinate clause
The verb-to-end rule still applies, but with two verbs, the infinitive or past participle goes last, with the conjugated verb just before it
German | English |
|---|---|
Ich helfe freiwillig, weil ich anderen helfen möchte. | I volunteer because I want to help others. |
Obwohl sie arm waren, haben sie nie aufgegeben. | Although they were poor, they never gave up. |
Er kämpft für die Umwelt, obwohl es schwierig sein kann. | He fights for the environment, although it can be difficult. |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In a two-verb subordinate clause, the conjugated verb comes second-to-last
The infinitive or past participle goes to the very end: weil er nicht arbeiten kann / weil sie geholfen hat
Man as passive avoidance
Higher tier only
In English, we often use the passive to say what is done without specifying who does it - for example 'the law was changed' or 'more should be done'
In German, we can avoid the passive by using man + active verb instead
German | Literal translation | English equivalent |
|---|---|---|
Man hat das Gesetz geändert. | One has changed the law. | The law was changed. |
Man muss mehr für arme Menschen tun. | One must do more for poor people. | More must be done for poor people. |
Man sollte mehr für die Sicherheit der Bürger tun. | One should do more for the safety of citizens. | More should be done for the safety of citizens. |
Man kann das Problem nicht ignorieren. | One cannot ignore the problem. | The problem cannot be ignored. |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Using man to express passive ideas is a great way to add variety and sophistication to your writing
It avoids repeating ich or wir and adds complexity
Social issues: phonics
Many German nouns end in -ung
This ending is always feminine (die)
Keep the vowel short and sharp:
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