Television (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
Television (Fernsehen)
Essential vocabulary
Learning television-related vocabulary is crucial for discussing your viewing habits and preferences in German. These terms form the foundation of television-related conversations and will help you express your preferences confidently.
Mastering these basic television terms will enable you to participate in everyday conversations about German TV programmes and express your viewing preferences with confidence.
| German | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| die Komödie | comedy | feminine |
| der Krimi | detective story | masculine |
| die Nachrichten | news | feminine (plural) |
| die Seifenoper | soap opera | feminine |
| die Sendung | programme | feminine |
| die Serie | series | feminine |
| die Wahl | choice | feminine |
| die Zuschauer | viewers | masculine (plural) |
| im Fernsehen | on TV | - |
| über | about | - |
| anschauen | to watch | - |
| fernsehen | to watch TV | - |
Asking about television preferences
When discussing television in German, you'll often need to ask and answer questions about viewing preferences. These question patterns are essential for engaging in meaningful conversations about entertainment and media consumption.
Was siehst du gern im Fernsehen? (What do you like watching on TV?)
Was gibt es im Fernsehen? (What's on TV?)
These questions help you engage in conversations about television programmes and discover what others enjoy watching. The key function of these phrases is to open up discussions about entertainment preferences and current programming.
Example conversations
Understanding how to use television vocabulary in context is essential for natural communication. Studies show that contextual learning significantly improves vocabulary retention and practical application.
Practical Usage Examples:
Scenario 1: Discussing tonight's programming
- Heute Abend gibt es eine Sendung über die Arbeit in einem Krankenhaus
- (There's a programme on tonight about work in a hospital)
Scenario 2: Expressing viewing plans
- Um 19 Uhr schaue ich mir die Nachrichten an
- (I'm watching the news at 7 pm)
Scenario 3: Asking about programme types
- Gibt es keine Komödien heute?
- (Aren't there any comedies today?)
Scenario 4: Discussing past viewing
- Hast du den Film über kranke Tiere gesehen?
- (Did you see the film about sick animals?)
These phrases demonstrate how to discuss current programmes, express viewing plans, and ask about programme availability in natural, conversational German.
Understanding the 24-hour clock
German frequently uses the 24-hour clock system, especially in formal contexts like television schedules. This system is essential for understanding German TV listings and schedules accurately.
The 24-hour clock system is widely used in German-speaking countries for all official timetables, including television schedules, train times, and business hours.
For times after midday, you simply continue counting from 13:00 onwards rather than starting again at 1:00. Here are some key examples:
- 15:20 = fünfzehn Uhr zwanzig (3:20 pm)
- 19:55 = neunzehn Uhr fünfundfünfzig (7:55 pm)
- 20:30 = zwanzig Uhr dreißig (8:30 pm)
- 23:00 = dreiundzwanzig Uhr (11:00 pm)
Conversion Method: To convert from 24-hour to 12-hour format for afternoon and evening times, subtract 12 from the hour number. For example, 20:30 becomes 8:30 pm (20 - 12 = 8).
Always remember this conversion when reading German TV schedules!
Common expressions for time
When discussing television schedules, these time-related phrases are particularly useful for expressing when programmes start and what they're about:
- Es geht um... (It's about...)
- Es handelt sich um... (It's about...)
- neun Uhr dreißig (9:30)
- zwölf Uhr fünfundvierzig (12:45)
These expressions are essential for linking programme content with specific times and creating complete sentences about television schedules.
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Understanding the grammatical patterns and pronunciation rules will help you use television vocabulary more accurately and confidently.
Critical Grammar Points:
- Most programme types are feminine nouns (die Komödie, die Serie, die Sendung)
- Exception: "Krimi" is masculine (der Krimi)
- "Zuschauer" (viewers) is masculine plural
- Always use the correct article when referring to programme types
Pronunciation Guidelines:
- "sch" in German sounds like "sh" in English: "anschauen" = "an-SHOW-en"
- "ei" is pronounced like the English word "eye": "Seifenoper"
Translation practice
Practising translation helps reinforce vocabulary and grammatical structures while building confidence in using television-related German.
Translation Exercise:
German to English:
- Ich schaue gern Krimis im Fernsehen an.
- Um zwanzig Uhr gibt es eine interessante Sendung über Tiere.
English to German: 3. What comedy programmes are there today? 4. The news starts at half past seven.
Solutions:
- I like watching detective stories on television.
- At 8 pm there's an interesting programme about animals.
- Welche Komödien gibt es heute?
- Die Nachrichten beginnen um halb acht. / Die Nachrichten fangen um 19:30 Uhr an.
Key Points to Remember:
- Television programme types are mostly feminine nouns in German
- Use the 24-hour clock system for formal time references - subtract 12 from afternoon/evening times to convert to 12-hour format
- "Was siehst du gern im Fernsehen?" is the key question for asking about viewing preferences
- Common verbs for watching are "anschauen" and "fernsehen"
- Practice linking programme types with time expressions using "um" (at) plus the time
- Master the essential vocabulary to discuss viewing habits confidently