Tourist Attractions: Grammar & Phonics (AQA GCSE German): Revision Note
Exam code: 8662
Two grammar points are particularly useful for the topic of 'Tourist Attractions': adjective endings, which allow you to describe places accurately, and the conditional, which lets you say what you would like to do or see
Adjective endings
When an adjective comes before a noun in German, its ending changes depending on the gender, case and article of the noun
There are two sets of endings to learn: after the definite article (der/die/das) and after the indefinite article (ein/eine)
After the definite article (der/die/das)
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nominative | -e | -e | -e | -en |
Accusative | -en | -e | -e | -en |
Dative | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Der alte Markt ist sehr bekannt.
The old market is very well-known. (nominative, masculine)Wir besuchen den historischen Park.
We visit the historical park. (accusative, masculine)Sie wohnen in der kleinen Stadt.
They live in the small town. (dative, feminine)
After the indefinite article (ein/eine)
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
Nominative | -er | -e | -es |
Accusative | -en | -e | -es |
Dative | -en | -en | -en |
Ein bekanntes Schloss liegt in der Nähe.
A well-known castle is nearby. (nominative, neuter)Ich besuche eine schöne Kirche.
I visit a beautiful church. (accusative, feminine)Er kauft eine Karte in einem kleinen Laden.
He buys a ticket in a small shop. (dative, masculine)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The dative case is often used after prepositions such as in, an, mit, bei, von, zu and aus
After these prepositions, adjective endings are usually -en, regardless of gender
So once you can spot a dative preposition, the adjective ending becomes much easier
Superlative adjectives
Higher tier only
This grammar is only required for Higher tier.
Superlatives are used to say something is the most or the -est
There are two forms: one used before a noun (der/die/das + superlative) and one used after a verb (am + superlative ending in -sten)
Adjective | Before a noun | After a verb |
|---|---|---|
schön (beautiful) | das schönste Museum the most beautiful museum | am schönsten most beautiful |
alt (old) | die älteste Kirche the oldest church | am ältesten oldest |
bekannt (well-known) | der bekannteste Markt the most well-known market | am bekanntesten most well-known |
Some common superlatives are and need to be learned separately:
Adjective | Before a noun | After a verb |
|---|---|---|
gut (good) | der/die/das beste the best | am besten best |
groß (big) | der/die/das größte the biggest | am größten biggest |
hoch (high, tall) | der/die/das höchste the highest | am höchsten highest |
nah (near) | der/die/das nächste the nearest | am nächsten nearest |
Das ist das älteste Schloss in der Region.
That is the oldest castle in the region.Die Ausstellung war am interessantesten.
The exhibition was the most interesting.Welches Museum ist am besten?
Which museum is the best?
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Don't confuse the two superlative forms
Use der/die/das + superlative directly before a noun - remember it still needs adjective endings: das schönste Schloss, die schönste Kirche, den schönsten Park
Use am … -sten when the adjective follows a verb and does not come before a noun: Dieser Park ist am schönsten
The conditional: möchte, würde, wäre, hätte
The conditional is used to talk about what you would like to do, have or be
At Foundation tier, the main form to know is möchte
At Higher tier, you also need würde + infinitive and the irregular forms wäre and hätte
Möchte
Möchte is the conditional form of mögen and means 'would like'
It is followed by an infinitive or a noun
Pronoun | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
ich | möchte | Ich möchte das Museum besuchen. I would like to visit the museum. |
du | möchtest | Möchtest du eine Karte kaufen? Would you like to buy a ticket? |
er/sie/es/man | möchte | Er möchte die Kirche sehen. He would like to see the church. |
wir | möchten | Wir möchten den Strand genießen. We would like to enjoy the beach. |
ihr | möchtet | Möchtet ihr die Stadt besuchen? Would you like to visit the city? |
sie/Sie | möchten | Sie möchten auf den Markt gehen. They would like to visit the market. |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Ich möchte and ich will are not the same
Ich will means I want to and can sound blunt
Ich möchte is more polite and means 'I would like to'
Always use möchte in formal writing and speaking tasks
Würde + infinitive, wäre, hätte
At Higher tier, you also need the full conditional using würde + infinitive
The infinitive goes to the end of the clause
Pronoun | würde | Example |
|---|---|---|
ich | würde | Ich würde gern die Hauptstadt besuchen. I would like to visit the capital city. |
du | würdest | Würdest du den Markt empfehlen? Would you recommend the market? |
er/sie/es/man | würde | Man würde die Ausstellung genießen. You would enjoy the exhibition. |
wir | würden | Wir würden die Stadt entdecken. We would discover the city. |
ihr | würdet | Ihr würdet den Strand besuchen. You would visit the beach. |
sie/Sie | würden | Sie würden das Schloss fotografieren. They would photograph the castle. |
Sein and haben have their own irregular conditional forms - wäre and hätte - and do not use würde
Pronoun | sein → wäre | haben → hätte |
|---|---|---|
ich | wäre | hätte |
du | wärst | hättest |
er/sie/es/man | wäre | hätte |
wir | wären | hätten |
ihr | wärt | hättet |
sie/Sie | wären | hätten |
Examples:
Das wäre toll!
That would be great!Es wäre interessant, die Ausstellung zu besuchen.
It would be interesting to visit the exhibition.Ich hätte gern mehr Zeit in der Stadt.
I would like more time in the city.
Travel and tourism: phonics
The 'sh' sound in German can be spelled three different ways: sch, st- and sp-
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