When I was younger (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
When I was younger
Understanding the imperfect tense
The imperfect tense is essential when talking about your childhood and past experiences. This tense helps you describe what life was like when you were younger, including habits, repeated actions, and ongoing situations from the past.
The imperfect tense differs from other past tenses because it focuses on how things used to be rather than completed actions. When sharing childhood memories or describing past routines, this tense creates a sense of looking back at a different time in your life.
The imperfect tense is often called the "storytelling tense" in German because it's perfect for setting scenes and describing background information in narratives about the past.
Key vocabulary
| German | English | Pronunciation tip |
|---|---|---|
| jünger | younger | YUN-ger |
| Angst haben | to be scared | ANGST HAH-ben |
| Schule | school | SHOO-le |
| alleine | alone | ah-LY-ne |
| schwimmen | to swim | SHVIM-men |
| Lehrerin | teacher (female) | LAY-rer-in |
| Probleme | problems | pro-BLAY-me |
| Grundschule | primary school | GROUND-shoo-le |
| Hausaufgaben | homework | HOUSE-owf-gah-ben |
| Fische | fish | FISH-e |
| Katze | cat | KAT-se |
| Kindersendungen | children's programmes | KIN-der-zen-dung-en |
| glücklich | happy | GLUK-likh |
| schwierig | difficult | SHVEE-rikh |
| kompliziert | complicated | kom-pli-TSIERT |
Focus on the pronunciation tips provided - German pronunciation is quite regular once you learn the patterns. Practice saying these words out loud to build your confidence with German sounds.
The imperfect tense conjugation
Here are the key imperfect tense forms you need to know:
- ich spielte - I played / I used to play
- ich wohnte - I lived / I used to live
- ich hatte - I had
- ich war - I was
- ich konnte - I was able to / I could
- ich musste - I had to
- ich wollte - I wanted to
- es gab - there was / there were
The imperfect tense is particularly useful because it allows you to paint a picture of your past life. Notice how the verb endings change from the present tense, and remember that this tense often translates to "used to" in English.
Pay special attention to the irregular verbs like war (was), hatte (had), and konnte (could). These don't follow the regular -te ending pattern and must be memorised separately.
Example sentences with translations
Practice Examples: Using the Imperfect Tense
Als ich jünger war, hatte ich keine Probleme.
When I was younger, I had no problems.
Ich war in einer kleinen Grundschule.
I was at a small primary school.
Mit acht Jahren konnte ich schwimmen.
At eight years old, I could swim.
Sie wollte Lehrerin werden.
She wanted to become a teacher.
Mein Leben war nicht so kompliziert, als ich jünger war.
My life was not so complicated when I was younger.
Grammar focus: 'Als' vs 'wenn' in past contexts
When talking about past events, choosing between 'als' and 'wenn' is crucial:
Critical Grammar Rule: 'Als' vs 'Wenn'
Use 'als' when referring to a specific time in the past or a one-time event:
- Als ich jünger war, wohnte ich in London.
When I was younger, I lived in London.
Use 'wenn' when talking about repeated past actions or saying "whenever":
- Wenn es warm war, spielten wir immer Tennis.
Whenever it was warm, we always played tennis.
Remember that 'als' and 'wenn' both send the main verb to the end of their clause, and the verb in the next clause comes immediately after the comma.
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Essential Tips for Mastering the Imperfect Tense
-
Imperfect endings: Regular verbs add -te to the stem (spielen → spielte), while irregular verbs often change their stem completely (sein → war)
-
Word order: When using 'als' or 'wenn', the verb goes to the end of the subordinate clause
-
Pronunciation: The 'ch' sound in 'ich' is soft, like a whispered 'sh' sound
-
Memory aid: Think of the imperfect as the "storytelling tense" - it sets the scene for your childhood memories
Translation practice
Translation Exercise: Test Your Understanding
German to English:
- Als ich ein Kind war, wohnten wir auf dem Land.
- Ich spielte jeden Tag im Garten.
English to German: 3. My life was very simple back then. 4. My brother had a small black dog that he loved.
Answers:
- When I was a child, we lived in the countryside.
- I played in the garden every day.
- Damals war mein Leben sehr einfach.
- Mein Bruder hatte einen kleinen schwarzen Hund, den er liebte.
Key Points to Remember:
- The imperfect tense is perfect for describing childhood memories and past habits
- Use 'als' for specific past events and 'wenn' for repeated past actions
- Regular verbs add -te endings, but many common verbs are irregular (war, hatte, konnte)
- This tense often translates to "used to" in English, helping you paint a picture of the past
- Practice makes perfect - try describing your own childhood using these structures!