KS3 · German · Year 9

Answering the question 'Why?': two-verb structures with 'um ... zu'

Positive experiences: word order and prepositions

Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.

IllumED Slides

IllumED · 1/11

Your learning goal

I can use the structure 'um ... zu' with an infinitive to answer the question 'why' when discussing positive experiences.

1 of 11

Answering the question 'Why?': two-verb structures with 'um ... zu': slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.

Original teaching resources

The original illustrated PowerPoint is available as well as the IllumED text slides. It retains the publisher’s design and credits.

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What you’ll learn

I can use the structure 'um ... zu' with an infinitive to answer the question 'why' when discussing positive experiences.

Key learning points

[v] is pronounced as in 'vor' and [w] as in 'Welt'. The letter f' sounds the same in both languages.
In 2-verb structures, the 2nd verb in the infinitive comes at the end of the sentence.
Some verbs require the addition of 'zu' when combined with a 2nd (infinitive) verb.
Infinitive constructions with 'zu' are separated from other clauses with a comma.
'Um ... zu', meaning 'in order to', is used with an infinitive to answer the question 'why?'.

Words to know

[v]: pronounced as in 'vor'
[w]: pronounced as in 'Welt'
2-verb structure: where the 2nd (infinitive) verb comes at the end of 2-verb sentences
um ... zu: a structure meaning 'in order to' used with an infinitive

Common mistakes

In 2-verb structures, the 2nd infinitive verb is always followed by 'zu'.

When followed by a 2nd verb in the infinitive, modal verbs and 'werden' never take 'zu'. Many other verbs do, for example 'versuchen, etwas zu tun' and 'helfen, etwas zu tun'.

For parents, carers and teachers

Further practice with verbs taking 'zu' plus infinitive and 'um ... zu' can be done with whiteboards and pairwork activities, with pupils jointly developing additional sentences beyond the examples given. The writing task in learning cycle 3 can also be adapted for speaking.