tenses: future and conditional
4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.
Lesson Overview
Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Learning Objectives
- Explain the key ideas of tenses: future and conditional
- Apply tenses: future and conditional to exam-style questions
- Develop independent study skills
- Build cross-topic connections
Prerequisites
- Read the revision notes for tenses: future and conditional first (GCSE Revise summary)
- Key vocab to pre-teach: key terms from tenses: future and conditional
- Basic skills: reading the summary notes and answering the practice questions there
Materials & Equipment
- Exercise book, coloured pens
- Ruler
- Printed revision notes (link below)
- Internet for videos (see Resources)
Lesson 1: Introduction: tenses: future and conditional
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Write down everything you already know about tenses: future and conditional. Then check against the key terms: key terms from tenses: future and conditional. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from tenses: future and conditional.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from tenses: future and conditional.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: tenses: future and conditional. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of German because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: tenses: future and conditional. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of German because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look
Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: Write 4 sentences in German about tenses: future and conditional.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Check Out
Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about tenses: future and conditional.
Lesson 2: Core Concepts: tenses: future and conditional
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Review Previous Lesson
Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on tenses: future and conditional. Check them against the notes below.
Main Content (35 minutes)
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.
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
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Practice (10 minutes)
Q: Write 4 sentences in German about tenses: future and conditional.
Answer: Four sentences using topic vocabulary with correct case endings, verb position and adjective endings. Include at least two different tenses for Higher tier.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Explain Back
Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.
Lesson 3: Application: tenses: future and conditional
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Recall the key terms: key terms from tenses: future and conditional. Define each in one sentence.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.
Q1: Write 4 sentences in German about tenses: future and conditional.
Answer: Four sentences using topic vocabulary with correct case endings, verb position and adjective endings. Include at least two different tenses for Higher tier.
Q2: Write a paragraph (40-60 words) giving your opinion on tenses: future and conditional.
Answer: 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.
Q3: Translate into German: "I think tenses: future and conditional is important because..."
Answer: "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.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Error Review
Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.
Lesson 4: Exam Practice: tenses: future and conditional
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Command Words
Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).
Main Content (35 minutes)
Extended Answer
Extended question: Full-Mark Response Writing task: Write about the future (werden + infinitive), conditional (würde + infinitive); expressing plans and wishes. <div class="
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
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)
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).
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
- Synoptic links: explain how tenses: future and conditional connects to another German topic you have studied
- Real-world: research one real-world use or example of tenses: future and conditional
- Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in tenses: future and conditional?"
Plenary (5 minutes)
Assessment Criteria
- Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
- Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
- Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2
Homework & Consolidation
- Consolidation: Re-answer any Lesson 3 practice questions answered incorrectly (20 mins)
- Retrieval: Write flashcards for the key terms: key terms from tenses: future and conditional (10 mins)
- Exam practice: One past-paper question on tenses: future and conditional from the board websites (15 mins)
- Extension: Explain tenses: future and conditional to someone else in your own words (10 mins)