Daily routine (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
Daily routine
Learning to talk about your daily routine is essential for describing what you do every day in German. This topic helps you express when you do things, how you do them, and where activities take place.
Mastering daily routine vocabulary is one of the most practical skills in German learning. You'll use these expressions in everyday conversations, making them essential for building confidence in speaking German.
Essential vocabulary
Understanding key daily routine vocabulary will help you describe your everyday activities with confidence. These words form the foundation for talking about what you do from morning until night.
Mein Alltag (My daily routine)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Alltag | daily routine/everyday life |
| das Frühstück | breakfast |
| jeden Tag | every day |
| jeden Morgen | every morning |
| ein bisschen | a little |
| früh | early |
| spät | late |
| um | at (time) |
| während | during |
| zu Fuß | on foot |
| ankommen | to arrive |
| aufstehen | to get up |
| sammeln | to collect/gather |
| sich anziehen | to get dressed |
| verlassen | to leave |
| vorbereiten | to prepare |
Notice that many daily routine verbs are separable verbs (like aufstehen and ankommen). These will be particularly important when forming sentences about your routine.
Telling the time
When describing your daily routine, you need to express specific times. German uses several ways to indicate different times of day.
Time expressions:
- um halb sieben - at half past six
- um sieben Uhr - at seven o'clock
- um Viertel vor neun - at quarter to nine
- um Viertel nach eins - at quarter past one
German time expressions work differently from English. Halb sieben means "half past six," not "half past seven" - think of it as "halfway to seven."
Time Expression Examples:
Ich stehe um sechs Uhr auf. - I get up at 6 am.
Um halb acht verlasse ich das Haus. - I leave the house at half past seven.
Morgens fahre ich mit dem Bus zur Schule. - In the morning, I go to school by bus.
Important grammar points
Separable verbs
Many verbs used in daily routines are separable verbs. These verbs have two parts: the main verb and a prefix. When you use them in a sentence, the prefix separates from the main verb and moves to the end of the sentence.
Critical Rule: The prefix only separates in present and past tense. In future tense or with modal verbs, the verb stays together.
Separable Verb Examples:
aufstehen (to get up) → Ich stehe früh auf. (I get up early)
ankommen (to arrive) → Ich komme um acht an. (I arrive at eight)
aufstehen (to get up) → Ich werde früh aufstehen. (I will get up early - verb stays together)
Word order rule
German follows a specific word order pattern called Time-Manner-Place. This means you should arrange information about when, how, and where something happens in that particular order.
Pattern: Time - Manner - Place
Always follow this sequence when describing activities in German sentences.
Word Order Example:
Morgens fahre ich mit dem Bus zur Schule. (In the morning I go by bus to school)
- Time: Morgens (in the morning)
- Manner: mit dem Bus (by bus)
- Place: zur Schule (to school)
Practice exercises
Translation practice
Translation Practice - German to English:
- Ich stehe jeden Tag früh auf.
- Zuerst ziehe ich mich an und esse das Frühstück.
Translation Practice - English to German:
- I must leave the house at half past seven.
- I always go to school on foot because it is not far.
Answers:
- I get up early every day.
- First, I get dressed and eat breakfast.
- Ich muss um halb acht das Haus verlassen.
- Ich gehe immer zu Fuß zur Schule, denn es ist nicht weit.
Fill in the gaps
Gap-Fill Exercise:
Complete these sentences about Emily and Mika's routines:
- Emily: I always get up _____ and sometimes don't have time to _____.
- Mika: I go to school by _____ and I _____ during the journey.
Answers:
- late, eat
- train, read
Key Points to Remember:
- Separable verbs split apart in present and past tense - the prefix goes to the end of the sentence
- Use the Time-Manner-Place word order to organise information correctly in your sentences
- Learn time expressions like um halb sieben and um Viertel vor neun to describe when you do daily activities
- Practice using zu Fuß gehen (to go on foot) and transport vocabulary like mit dem Bus (by bus)
- Master key daily routine verbs: aufstehen, sich anziehen, verlassen, ankommen