How do you say 'half a kilo' in German?

You can say 'ein halbes Kilo' or simply 'ein Pfund'. Both are widely understood in Germany to mean 500 grams. If you are using it in a sentence, remember that 'Kilo' is neuter, so it is 'ein halbes Kilo'.

Do I need to use 'von' when talking about measurements?

Generally, no. In German, you place the measurement directly before the item. For example, 'ein Liter Milch' (a litre of milk) or 'eine Packung Nudeln' (a packet of pasta). You only use 'von' in specific contexts, such as 'ein Teil von etwas' (a part of something).

Is 'Kilo' masculine or neuter?

The word 'Kilo' (short for Kilogramm) is neuter: 'das Kilo'. However, because it is a unit of measurement, it does not change its form in the plural when used with numbers, so you say 'drei Kilo'.

What is the difference between 'ein Paar' and 'ein paar'?

This is a common trap! 'Ein Paar' (capital P) means a pair (exactly two, like 'ein Paar Schuhe'), while 'ein paar' (lowercase p) means 'a few' or 'some'. Examiners often use this to test your precision in listening and reading.

How do Germans write decimal numbers?

Germans use a comma where English speakers use a point. For example, 1.5 litres is written as '1,5 Liter' and pronounced 'eins Komma fünf Liter'. This is very important for the Reading and Writing components of the GCSE.

How do I ask for 'a slice of' something?

The word for slice is 'die Scheibe'. To ask for a slice of ham, you would say 'eine Scheibe Schinken'. If you want multiple slices, it becomes 'drei Scheiben Schinken', as 'Scheibe' is feminine and follows standard pluralization rules.

General vocabulary: Weights and measures

AQA

GCSE

This topic covers the general vocabulary related to weights and measures, including units of measurement, physical properties, and quantities.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

Topic Overview

The 'Weights and Measures' topic in AQA GCSE German is a fundamental component of the 'Identity and Culture' and 'Local Area, Holiday and Travel' themes. It moves beyond simple counting to equip students with the linguistic tools needed for real-world interactions, such as shopping at a 'Wochenmarkt' (weekly market), following a German recipe, or understanding dimensions and distances in travel brochures. Mastering this vocabulary is essential for navigating the transactional language requirements of the GCSE course.

This topic covers the metric system, which is used throughout German-speaking countries, including units like 'Gramm', 'Kilogramm', 'Liter', and 'Meter'. It also introduces specific containers and quantity expressions like 'eine Dose' (a tin) or 'eine Packung' (a packet). Understanding these terms is crucial for the Listening and Reading exams, where precise quantities often distinguish a correct answer from a distractor, and for the Speaking exam, where you may need to role-play a shopping scenario.

Key Concepts

Core ideas you must understand for this topic

→Metric Units: Proficiency in using 'Gramm' (g), 'Pfund' (500g), 'Kilo' (kg), 'Milliliter' (ml), and 'Liter' (l) for food and liquids.
→Containers and Quantities: Using nouns like 'eine Flasche' (a bottle), 'ein Glas' (a jar/glass), 'eine Schachtel' (a box), and 'eine Tüte' (a bag) to specify amounts.
→The Zero-Plural Rule: Understanding that masculine and neuter units of measurement (like Gramm, Kilo, Stück) do not take a plural ending when following a number (e.g., 'fünf Kilo Äpfel' instead of 'Kilos').
→Fractions and Decimals: Using 'ein halbes' (a half), 'ein Viertel' (a quarter), and understanding that German uses a comma instead of a decimal point (e.g., 1,5 Liter).

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Correct use of units of measurement (e.g., Pfund, Gramm, Kilo).
Accurate application of quantifiers (e.g., ein bisschen, eine Menge, einige).
Correct usage of adjectives describing physical properties (e.g., breit, dick, dünn, schwer, leicht).
Understanding of measurement verbs (e.g., messen, wiegen).
Correct use of containers and packaging vocabulary (e.g., Dose, Flasche, Karton, Kasten, Päckchen, Packung, Schachtel, Tüte).

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Correct use of units of measurement (e.g., Pfund, Gramm, Kilo).
Accurate application of quantifiers (e.g., ein bisschen, eine Menge, einige).
Correct usage of adjectives describing physical properties (e.g., breit, dick, dünn, schwer, leicht).
Understanding of measurement verbs (e.g., messen, wiegen).
Correct use of containers and packaging vocabulary (e.g., Dose, Flasche, Karton, Kasten, Päckchen, Packung, Schachtel, Tüte).

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Learn the specific vocabulary for containers as these often appear in reading and listening tasks related to shopping or recipes.
💡Practice using quantifiers in different contexts to ensure you understand the difference between countable and uncountable quantities.
💡Pay attention to the gender of nouns like 'Gewicht' and 'Größe' when writing.
💡Use the context of the sentence to determine if a word refers to a measurement or a physical description.
💡Listen for 'ungefähr' and 'etwa': In listening tasks, examiners often use these words (meaning 'approximately') to qualify a measurement. If the question asks for an exact amount, 'etwa 500g' might be a distractor.
💡Watch the Comma: In the Reading paper, remember that '2,500' in German is two and a half, not two thousand five hundred. The comma is the decimal separator.
💡Precision in Role-Plays: When performing a shopping role-play, use specific units. Saying 'Ich möchte Äpfel' is basic; saying 'Ich möchte ein Pfund Äpfel, bitte' demonstrates a higher level of vocabulary control.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing similar-sounding containers (e.g., Schachtel vs. Schacht).
Misusing quantifiers like 'ein paar' (a few) versus 'ein bisschen' (a little).
Incorrectly applying adjectives of size and weight to inappropriate nouns.
Confusing 'wiegen' (to weigh) with 'wie' (how).
Pluralizing Units: Students often incorrectly add an '-e' or '-s' to units like 'Kilo' or 'Gramm'. In German, you say 'zwei Kilo', not 'zwei Kilos'. Only feminine units like 'Tasse' (cup) or 'Portion' (portion) take plural endings.
The meaning of 'ein Pfund': In the UK, a pound is roughly 454g, but in Germany, 'ein Pfund' is colloquially and legally used to mean exactly 500g (half a kilogram).
Using 'von': Students often try to translate 'a kilo of apples' as 'ein Kilo von Äpfeln'. In German, the 'of' is omitted: 'ein Kilo Äpfel'.

Revision Plan

How to revise this topic in 1–2 weeks

1Day 1-3: Memorize the core units and containers using flashcards. Focus specifically on the gender of each container (e.g., die Dose, das Glas, die Schachtel).
2Day 4-5: Practice the 'No Plural' rule by writing out shopping lists for 5 different recipes, ensuring masculine and neuter units remain singular.
3Day 6-7: Use authentic German supermarket websites (like REWE or ALDI Nord) to browse 'Angebote' (offers). Practice saying the weights and prices out loud.
4Day 8-10: Complete past AQA Listening and Reading papers, specifically looking for questions involving quantities, prices, and measurements.

Exam Question Types

How this topic typically appears in the exam

📋Listening (Multiple Choice): You hear a dialogue at a market and must select the correct weight or quantity from a list of options.
📋Reading (Gap Fill): You are given a recipe or a set of instructions and must fill in the missing units of measurement from a word bank.
📋Speaking (Role-Play): You act as a customer at a deli counter and must ask for specific amounts of different items using 'Ich hätte gern...' or 'Ich möchte...'.
📋Writing (Short Translation): Translating sentences from English to German that involve quantities, such as 'I bought two bottles of water and a kilo of tomatoes'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Before You Start

Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

•Cardinal numbers from 1 to 1,000.
•Basic food and drink nouns (Obst, Gemüse, Fleisch, Milch).
•Knowledge of the Accusative case for direct objects.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Transactional exchanges in retail and markets (e.g., 'Ich hätte gern ein Pfund Äpfel') - focus on partitive structures and specific units of mass like 'Gramm' and 'Kilo'.
Culinary and domestic applications - focus on precise measurement in recipes and the use of 'Stück', 'Liter', and 'Prise' within instructional imperatives.
Physical descriptions and spatial awareness - using 'breit', 'hoch', 'tief', and 'schwer' to describe infrastructure, geography, or personal attributes with numerical modifiers.

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Beschreib

Ergänze

Wähle

Schreib

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

General vocabulary: Weights and measures

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Revision Plan

Exam Question Types

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Key Terminology

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in AQA GCSE German

Communication strategies

Communication strategies: Strategies for production

Communication strategies: Strategies for understanding

General vocabulary: Access

How to Revise General vocabulary: Weights and measures — AQA GCSE German

Examiner Tips for General vocabulary: Weights and measures

Common Mistakes in General vocabulary: Weights and measures

Key Marking Points

General vocabulary: Weights and measures

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Revision Plan

Exam Question Types

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say 'half a kilo' in German?

Do I need to use 'von' when talking about measurements?

Is 'Kilo' masculine or neuter?

What is the difference between 'ein Paar' and 'ein paar'?

How do Germans write decimal numbers?

How do I ask for 'a slice of' something?

Before You Start

Key Terminology

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in AQA GCSE German

Communication strategies

Communication strategies: Strategies for production

Communication strategies: Strategies for understanding

General vocabulary: Access