Plans for next year (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
Plans for next year
When discussing your future plans in German, you need to master several different time frames and expressions. This topic is essential for talking about your aspirations, hopes, and intentions for the coming year.
Future time frames in German
There are several ways to express future plans in German, each with its own specific use and meaning. Understanding these different constructions will help you communicate your intentions clearly and naturally.
German offers more flexibility in expressing future plans than English, allowing speakers to convey different levels of formality, certainty, and politeness through various grammatical constructions.
Future tense with werden
The most formal way to express future plans uses the auxiliary verb "werden" with an infinitive. This construction is similar to "will" in English and is often used for definite plans or predictions.
Grammar Structure: Future with werden
Pattern: ich werde + infinitive
Example:
- Ich werde in die Oberstufe gehen - I will go into the Sixth Form
Future time markers with present tense
German often uses present tense with time markers to express future plans, making the language more immediate and conversational.
Grammar Structure: Present Tense + Time Markers
Pattern: Nächstes Jahr + present tense
Example:
- Nächstes Jahr suche ich einen Job - Next year I'll look for a job
Expressing desires and wishes
Ich möchte + infinitive
This construction expresses what you would like to do, showing polite intention or desire.
Polite Desires with möchte
Structure: Ich möchte + infinitive
- Ich möchte nach Europa reisen - I would like to travel to Europe
Ich will + infinitive
This expresses a strong intention or determination to do something.
Understanding the Difference: möchte vs. will
- möchte = polite, softer intention ("would like to")
- will = strong, direct intention ("want to")
Choose carefully as this affects how polite you sound in German!
Strong Intentions with will
Structure: Ich will + infinitive
- Ich will nächstes Jahr in der Schule bleiben - I want to stay at school next year
Expressing hopes
Ich hoffe + zu + infinitive
This construction shows your hopes or aspirations for the future.
Expressing Hopes
Structure: Ich hoffe + zu + infinitive
- Ich hoffe, in London zu wohnen - I hope to live in London
Expressing hypothetical situations
Ich würde + infinitive
This conditional form expresses what you would do in certain circumstances.
Conditional Expressions
Structure: Ich würde + infinitive
- Ich würde gern nächstes Jahr nach Amerika fliegen - I would like to go to America next year
Es wäre gut / Es würde gut sein + zu + infinitive
These expressions suggest what would be good or beneficial to do.
Suggesting Good Ideas
Structure: Es wäre gut + zu + infinitive
- Es wäre perfekt, an dieser Schule zu bleiben - It would be perfect to stay at this school
Key vocabulary table
Essential Vocabulary for Future Plans
Master these key terms to discuss your future plans confidently in German.
| German | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| die Pläne | plans | Meine Pläne für nächstes Jahr |
| nächstes Jahr | next year | Nächstes Jahr will ich studieren |
| die Oberstufe | Sixth Form | Ich gehe in die Oberstufe |
| der Job | job | Ich suche einen Job |
| reisen | to travel | Nach Europa reisen |
| bleiben | to stay | In der Schule bleiben |
| wohnen | to live | In London wohnen |
| fliegen | to fly | Nach Amerika fliegen |
| lernen | to learn | Sprachen lernen |
| finden | to find | Eine Arbeit finden |
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Word order with "wenn"
Critical Grammar Rule: Word Order with "wenn"
When using "wenn" (when/if) in German, remember the important rule about verb placement. The verb moves to the end of the wenn-clause, and when you continue the sentence, the next verb comes immediately after the comma.
Pattern: wenn + subject + object + verb, verb + subject...
Wenn Clause Word Order
Correct structure:
- Wenn es möglich ist, hoffe ich, nach Europa zu reisen - If it is possible, I hope to travel to Europe
Notice how "ist" goes to the end of the wenn-clause!
Pronunciation notes
Key Pronunciation Guide
- werden - pronounced "VAIR-den" with a rolled 'r'
- möchte - pronounced "MÖKH-te" with a soft 'ch' sound
- würde - pronounced "VÜÜR-de" with an umlaut 'ü' sound
Modal verb positioning
Essential Rule: Modal Verb Word Order
Remember that modal verbs (möchte, will, würde) send the main verb to the end of the clause in its infinitive form.
Example sentences with translations
Practical Examples: Different Tenses and Intentions
Present plans:
- Ich möchte meine Sprachen üben - I would like to practise my languages
- Ich will mit meinen Freunden in dieser Schule bleiben - I want to stay in this school with my friends
Future aspirations:
- Wenn es möglich ist, hoffe ich, nach Europa zu reisen - If it is possible, I hope to travel to Europe
- Dann will ich eine Arbeit finden - Then I want to find a job
Past reference with future impact:
- Letztes Jahr habe ich Deutsch gelernt - Last year I learned German
Translation exercise
Translation Practice: Test Your Understanding
German to English
- Nächstes Jahr will ich in der Schule bleiben.
- Ich möchte Sprachen lernen.
English to German
3. I hope to travel to Europe.
4. I want to find a job.
Answers
- Next year I want to stay at school.
- I would like to learn languages.
- Ich hoffe, nach Europa zu reisen.
- Ich will einen Job finden.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Use different time frames to express various levels of certainty and politeness about your future plans
- Werden + infinitive is the most formal future tense construction
- Möchte is polite and shows desire, while will shows strong intention
- Würde expresses conditional or hypothetical situations
- Pay careful attention to word order, especially with wenn clauses where the verb moves to the end
- Practice using time markers like nächstes Jahr with present tense for natural-sounding German