Grammar (Foundation): Number, quantity, dates and time
This topic covers the grammatical requirements for Foundation Tier students regarding the use of numbers, quantities, dates, and time, including the specific usage of 'seit' with the present tense.
Topic Overview
This topic covers how to express number, quantity, dates, and time in German, which is essential for both spoken and written communication at GCSE level. You will learn cardinal and ordinal numbers, how to form dates (including days, months, and years), and how to tell the time using both the 12-hour and 24-hour clocks. Understanding these elements allows you to talk about schedules, appointments, historical events, and everyday routines accurately.
Mastering number, quantity, dates, and time is crucial for achieving high marks in the AQA German GCSE, as these concepts appear in listening, reading, speaking, and writing exams. For example, you might need to understand a timetable in a listening task, write about your daily routine in a writing task, or ask for the price of an item in a speaking role-play. Without a solid grasp of these basics, you risk losing marks on otherwise straightforward questions.
This topic also builds a foundation for more advanced grammar, such as using ordinal numbers in dates (e.g., 'der erste Mai') and understanding time prepositions (e.g., 'um', 'am', 'im'). It integrates with vocabulary on hobbies, school subjects, and travel, making it a versatile tool for constructing sentences about your life and interests. Practice regularly with real-life examples, such as reading train timetables or writing your birthday in German, to reinforce your learning.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Cardinal numbers (e.g., eins, zwei, drei) and ordinal numbers (e.g., erste, zweite, dritte) – ordinals usually add '-te' or '-ste' and agree with the noun in gender and case.
- →Forming dates: day (ordinal) + month + year (e.g., der 3. März 2024 – read as 'der dritte März zweitausendvierundzwanzig'). Use 'am' for specific dates (e.g., am 3. März).
- →Telling time: use 'Es ist...' with either the 12-hour clock (e.g., 'Es ist drei Uhr') or 24-hour clock (e.g., 'Es ist fünfzehn Uhr'). For minutes past/to, use 'nach' (past) and 'vor' (to), e.g., 'Es ist fünf nach drei' (3:05) or 'Es ist Viertel vor vier' (3:45).
- →Expressing quantity: use 'viel' (much/many) with uncountable nouns, 'viele' with countable plurals, and 'einige' or 'manche' for 'some'. For specific amounts, use numbers with nouns (e.g., 'zwei Äpfel').
- →Time prepositions: 'um' for specific times (e.g., um 8 Uhr), 'am' for days/dates (e.g., am Montag), 'im' for months/seasons (e.g., im Januar), and 'von...bis' for durations (e.g., von 9 bis 5 Uhr).
What You Need to Demonstrate
Key skills and knowledge for this topic
- Correct formation and use of cardinal numbers 0-1,000
- Correct formation and use of ordinal numbers (first-tenth)
- Accurate use of 'seit' with the present tense to indicate duration
- Correct expression of time (e.g., using 'Uhr', 'halb', 'Viertel')
- Accurate use of dates (e.g., ordinal numbers in dates)
Marking Points
Key points examiners look for in your answers
- Correct formation and use of cardinal numbers 0-1,000
- Correct formation and use of ordinal numbers (first-tenth)
- Accurate use of 'seit' with the present tense to indicate duration
- Correct expression of time (e.g., using 'Uhr', 'halb', 'Viertel')
- Accurate use of dates (e.g., ordinal numbers in dates)
Examiner Tips
Expert advice for maximising your marks
- 💡Practice writing out dates and times in full as they often appear in listening and reading tasks
- 💡Remember that 'seit' + present tense is used for actions that started in the past and are still continuing
- 💡Ensure you can distinguish between 'um wie viel Uhr' (at what time) and 'wie spät ist es' (what time is it)
- 💡In listening exams, pay attention to whether the time is given in 12-hour or 24-hour format. The 24-hour clock is common in official contexts (e.g., train times), so practice converting quickly. For example, '15:30' is 'halb vier' in spoken German.
- 💡When writing dates, always use a full stop after the ordinal number (e.g., 3. März) and remember that years are read as hundreds: 1998 is 'neunzehnhundertachtundneunzig', not 'eintausendneunhundertachtundneunzig'.
- 💡In speaking tasks, use time phrases naturally to add detail. For example, instead of just saying 'Ich stehe auf', say 'Ich stehe um halb sieben auf' to show you can use time correctly. This impresses examiners and boosts your mark for complexity.
Common Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers
- Confusing cardinal and ordinal numbers
- Incorrect word order when expressing time
- Misusing 'seit' with the present tense by translating literally from English (e.g., using present tense instead of 'seit' + present)
- Errors in spelling numbers, particularly teens and multiples of ten
- Confusing 'viel' and 'viele': 'viel' is used with singular uncountable nouns (e.g., viel Wasser), while 'viele' is used with plural countable nouns (e.g., viele Bücher). Using 'viel' with a plural noun is incorrect.
- Misplacing 'vor' and 'nach' in time: For times past the half-hour, German uses 'vor' (to) the next hour, not 'nach' (past). For example, 5:40 is 'zwanzig vor sechs' (20 to 6), not 'vierzig nach fünf'.
- Forgetting ordinal number endings: Ordinal numbers must agree with the noun in gender, case, and number. For example, 'der erste Mai' (masculine nominative) but 'am ersten Mai' (masculine dative). Dropping the ending is a common error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •Basic German greetings and introductions to form simple sentences.
- •Understanding of the present tense of common verbs (e.g., sein, haben, and regular verbs) to describe routines and schedules.
- •Familiarity with the German alphabet and pronunciation to correctly say numbers and times.
Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- Transactional exchanges: Purchasing items using currency (Euro), specifying weights (Gramm, Kilo), and volumes (Liter) - 'Das macht zusammen...'
- Chronological scheduling: Arranging meetings and social events using temporal prepositions 'um' for time, 'am' for days/dates, and 'im' for months/seasons - 'Wann hast du Zeit?'
- Duration and continuity: Expressing how long an action has been occurring using 'seit' with the present tense to denote ongoing states - 'Ich lerne seit zwei Jahren Deutsch.'
Likely Command Words
How questions on this topic are typically asked
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