GM28: Tenses: Future and Conditional
The future (werden + infinitive), conditional (würde + infinitive); expressing plans and wishes
📝 Tenses: Future and Conditional
The future (werden + infinitive), conditional (würde + infinitive); expressing plans and wishes
Key Fact: Grammar accuracy is essential for the writing and speaking papers, where it is worth up to 40% of marks. Always check cases, word order and verb endings.
❓ Practice Questions
Q1: Write 4 sentences in German about tenses: future and conditional.
Q2: Write a paragraph (40-60 words) giving your opinion on tenses: future and conditional.
Q3: Translate into German: "I think tenses: future and conditional is important because..."
✅ Answers
- Four sentences using topic vocabulary with correct case endings, verb position and adjective endings. Include at least two different tenses for Higher tier.
- A structured paragraph: Meiner Meinung nach... (in my opinion), ich finde... weil... (I think... because...), aber/allerdings... (however), zusammenfassend... (in summary). Use connecting words and varied vocabulary.
- "Ich finde, dass tenses: future and conditional wichtig ist, weil..." — ensure correct word order (verb at end after dass), correct case endings, and give a specific reason.
🎯 Exam Tips
- Use a range of tenses (present, past, future) to access higher marks
- Include opinions with reasons (ich finde... weil... / meiner Meinung nach...)
- Check case endings (nominative, accusative, dative) before finishing
- Get word order right: verb-second in main clauses, verb-at-end after dass/weil/wenn
- Use complex structures: subordinate clauses, modal verbs, separable verbs
- Include cultural references to German-speaking countries (DACH)
📝 Exam Technique
German Exam Tips — Tenses: Future and Conditional:
1. For Tenses: Future and Conditional, use a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures to access higher marks
2. Check verb tenses, agreements and word order carefully in your written work
3. In translation tasks, translate meaning rather than word-for-word
4. When writing about Tenses: Future and Conditional, include opinions and justifications, not just descriptions
5. For listening and reading, focus on key words and cognates to extract meaning
1. For Tenses: Future and Conditional, use a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures to access higher marks
2. Check verb tenses, agreements and word order carefully in your written work
3. In translation tasks, translate meaning rather than word-for-word
4. When writing about Tenses: Future and Conditional, include opinions and justifications, not just descriptions
5. For listening and reading, focus on key words and cognates to extract meaning
⚠️ Common Errors
Watch Out!
Students often forget word order in subordinate clauses. Wrong: Weil ich krank bin, ich bleibe zu Hause. Correct: Weil ich krank bin, bleibe ich zu Hause (in the MAIN clause after a subordinate clause, the verb comes FIRST, then the subject).
✍️ Model Answer
Full-Mark Response
Writing task: Write about the future (werden + infinitive), conditional (würde + infinitive); expressing plans and wishes.
A grade 9 answer will: use at least three tenses accurately; include complex structures (subordinate clauses, modal verbs, separable verbs); show precise grammar (cases, word order, adjective endings); express and justify opinions; include cultural knowledge about DACH countries; use a wide range of vocabulary; be well-organised with connecting words (außerdem, jedoch, trotzdem, zusammenfassend).
Mark scheme: Content (relevance and detail) + Quality of language (accuracy and range) = total marks
📊 AO Deep Dive
Assessment Objective Focus: Tenses: Future and Conditional
AO1 — Knowledge: Show understanding of Tenses: Future and Conditional by demonstrating accurate vocabulary and grammatical structures in the target language.
AO2 — Application: Apply your knowledge of Tenses: Future and Conditional to understand and produce language in listening, reading, speaking and writing contexts.
AO3 — Analysis & Evaluation: Analyse and evaluate linguistic features related to Tenses: Future and Conditional, demonstrating critical awareness of meaning, context and cultural references.
Detailed Notes
The Future Tense with Werden
The German future tense (die Zukunft / das Futur) is formed with the present tense of werden + the infinitive at the end of the clause. werden conjugation: ich werde, du wirst, er/sie wird, wir werden, ihr werdet, sie werden. Example: Ich werde nächstes Jahr nach Deutschland reisen (I will travel to Germany next year). The infinitive always goes to the very end of the clause.
An important alternative: German frequently uses the present tense + time phrase to express future meaning. Morgen gehe ich ins Kino (I am going to the cinema tomorrow). Nächste Woche fahre ich nach Berlin (I am going to Berlin next week). This is perfectly acceptable and often more natural. However, for the exam, using werden + infinitive demonstrates explicit knowledge of the future tense and can access higher marks.
In subordinate clauses, werden is conjugated but the infinitive stays at the end: Ich weiß, dass ich nächstes Jahr nach Deutschland reisen werde (I know that I will travel to Germany next year). Note: in subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb goes to the end position, after the infinitive.
Beispiel
Ich werde nächstes Jahr mein Abitur machen. Danach werde ich an der Universität studieren. Vielleicht werde ich auch ein Jahr im Ausland verbringen.
I will do my Abitur next year. After that I will study at university. Perhaps I will also spend a year abroad.
The Conditional (Konjunktiv II)
The conditional (der Konjunktiv II) is used for hypothetical situations, wishes and polite requests. The most common form uses würde + infinitive: Ich würde gern nach Japan reisen (I would like to travel to Japan). Ich würde mehr Sport treiben, wenn ich Zeit hätte (I would do more sport if I had time). This is the form you should use for GCSE.
Some common verbs have their own Konjunktiv II forms that are preferred over würde: sein → wäre (would be), haben → hätte (would have), können → könnte (could), müssen → müsste (would have to), wollen → wollte (would want), dürfen → dürfte (would be allowed to), sollen → sollte (should). Examples: Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich um die Welt reisen (If I were rich, I would travel the world). Ich hätte gern ein neues Handy (I would like a new phone).
For the exam, use wenn + Konjunktiv II clauses to express hypothetical situations. Structure: Wenn ich ... wäre/hätte, würde ich ... (If I were/had..., I would...). Example: Wenn ich Bürgermeister wäre, würde ich mehr Parks bauen (If I were mayor, I would build more parks). This structure accesses the highest marks in writing and speaking.
Beispiel
Wenn ich mehr Geld hätte, würde ich eine Weltreise machen. Ich wäre gern berühmt, aber ich könnte auch ohne Promikultur leben. Ich müsste besser in Mathe sein.
If I had more money, I would travel the world. I would like to be famous, but I could also live without celebrity culture. I should be better at maths.
Using Wenn Clauses with Different Tenses
The conjunction wenn (if/when) is extremely versatile. With the present tense, it describes general conditions: Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause (When it rains, I stay at home). With the future tense: Wenn ich fertig sein werde, werde ich dich anrufen (When I am finished, I will call you — though the present is more natural: Wenn ich fertig bin, rufe ich dich an).
With Konjunktiv II, wenn describes hypothetical situations: Wenn ich du wäre, würde ich mehr lernen (If I were you, I would study more). Wenn ich Deutschlehrer wäre, würde ich mehr Grammatik üben lassen (If I were a German teacher, I would make students practise more grammar). Note the word order: in the wenn clause, the verb goes to the end; in the main clause, the verb comes first when the wenn clause is at the start of the sentence.
Important: wenn can mean both 'if' and 'when' in German. Context determines the meaning. Wenn ich Zeit habe, gehe ich schwimmen = When I have time, I go swimming. Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, würde ich schwimmen gehen = If I had more time, I would go swimming. The Konjunktiv II makes it clear this is hypothetical (if), not real (when).
Beispiel
Wenn ich in Deutschland wohnte, würde ich jeden Tag Brötchen essen. Wenn es morgen regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. Wenn ich die Wahl hätte, würde ich in Wien leben.
If I lived in Germany, I would eat rolls every day. If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home. If I had the choice, I would live in Vienna.
Key Vocabulary
| German | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| werden | to become / will | Ich werde Arzt. |
| das Futur | future tense | Das Futur wird mit 'werden' gebildet. |
| der Konjunktiv II | conditional/subjunctive | Der Konjunktiv II drückt Wünsche aus. |
| würde + Infinitiv | would + infinitive | Ich würde gern nach Italien reisen. |
| wenn | if / when | Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. |
| wäre (sein) | would be | Wenn ich reich wäre... |
| hätte (haben) | would have | Ich hätte gern ein neues Fahrrad. |
| könnte (können) | could | Ich könnte dir helfen, wenn ich Zeit hätte. |
| müsste (müssen) | would have to | Ich müsste mehr lernen. |
| sollte (sollen) | should | Man sollte mehr recyceln. |
| die hypothetische Situation | hypothetical situation | Der Konjunktiv II beschreibt hypothetische Situationen. |
| der Wunsch (die Wünsche) | wish(es) | Ich hätte den Wunsch, nach Japan zu reisen. |
Additional Practice Questions
Q1: Schreibe fünf Sätze über deine Pläne für die Zukunft mit 'werden' und drei Sätze über hypothetische Situationen mit dem Konjunktiv II. (Write five sentences about your future plans with 'werden' and three sentences about hypothetical situations with the conditional.)
Q2: Übersetze ins Deutsche: I will go to Germany next year. If I had more money, I would travel to Japan. If I were the teacher, I would give less homework.
Model Answers
- Meine Zukunftspläne: Ich werde nächstes Jahr mein Abitur machen. Ich werde an der Universität in München studieren. Ich werde ein Praktikum im Krankenhaus machen. Ich werde in einer WG wohnen. Ich werde Deutsch und Englisch studieren. Hypothetische Situationen: Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich um die Welt reisen. Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, würde ich ein Instrument lernen. Wenn ich in Österreich wohnte, würde ich jeden Tag wandern gehen.
(My future plans: I will do my Abitur next year. I will study at the university in Munich. I will do an internship at the hospital. I will live in a shared flat. I will study German and English. Hypothetical situations: If I were rich, I would travel the world. If I had more time, I would learn an instrument. If I lived in Austria, I would go hiking every day.) - Ich werde nächstes Jahr nach Deutschland fahren. Wenn ich mehr Geld hätte, würde ich nach Japan reisen. Wenn ich der Lehrer wäre, würde ich weniger Hausaufgaben geben.
📝 Exam Questions by Topic
- AQA Past Papers - Topic Questions -- AQA
- Edexcel Past Papers - Topic Questions -- Edexcel
- Eduqas Past Papers - Topic Questions -- Eduqas
- CCEA Past Papers - Topic Questions -- CCEA
🎬 Video Resources
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