KS4 · German · Year 10
Kleider machen Leute: definite and indefinite articles, extended speaking
Studying and my future: Das Schulleben
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can use definite and indefinite articles when their German usage is different from English to understand a German text and hold a conversation about school uniforms.
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Kleider machen Leute: definite and indefinite articles, extended speaking: 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.
Download original PowerPoint ↓What you’ll learn
I can use definite and indefinite articles when their German usage is different from English to understand a German text and hold a conversation about school uniforms.
Key learning points
- Some countries and some abstract nouns use the definite article.
- The indefinite article is not used in German for professions or nationalities.
- Use the indefinite article with professsions if there is an adjective before the noun.
- When describing a photo, use the acronym PALM. It stands for People, Action, Location, Mood. Add your own opinions too.
- In conversation, develop answers by adding opinions and reasons, varying the subject, and adding different time frames.
Words to know
- definite article
- the words 'der', 'die', 'das', meaning 'the'
- indefinite article
- the words 'ein', 'eine', 'ein', meaning 'a/an'
- PALM
- an acronym to summarise what to include in a photo description: People, Action, Location, Mood
Common mistakes
Definite and indefiniete articles are used the same way in German as in English.
Differences occur with some country names, some abstract nouns and professions: e.g., 'die Schweiz' (Switzerland), 'die Freiheit' (freedom). It's 'Er ist Arzt' (He is a doctor), but an article is needed before the adjective - 'Er ist ein guter Arzt'.
For parents, carers and teachers
- Encourage pupils to learn the tables for definite and indefinite article to speed up the recall for articles in different cases. When developing conversations in learning cycle 3, the checklist can be applied a wide range of questions. The questions can be adapted and pupils can develop their own.