Verbs (H) (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
GCSE German Vocabulary - Verbs (H)
Introduction
This revision guide covers essential higher-level German verbs for your GCSE exam. These verbs will help you express complex ideas and actions in your speaking and writing tasks. Many of these verbs are commonly used in everyday German conversation and formal writing.
Understanding these advanced verbs is crucial for achieving higher grades as they demonstrate sophisticated language skills and allow for more nuanced expression in both written and spoken German.
Essential German verbs
Communication and thinking verbs
Understanding how to express thoughts, communication, and mental processes is crucial for advanced German conversation. These verbs form the foundation of sophisticated discourse.
beweisen - to prove, demonstrate
bieten - to offer, provide
danken - to thank
einschlafen - to fall asleep
enthalten - to contain
entstehen - to originate, develop
enttäuschen - to disappoint
entwickeln - to develop
erfahren - to experience, find out
erhöhen - to raise, increase
erschrecken - to frighten
erwarten - to expect
Pay special attention to entwickeln (to develop) and erfahren (to experience, find out) - these are frequently tested verbs that appear in many GCSE contexts, from technology topics to personal experiences.
fordern - to demand, claim
führen - to lead, guide
gelten - to be valid
geschehen - to happen, occur, take place
handeln; sich handeln um + noun - to deal, trade; to be about
informieren; sich acc. informieren über + noun - to inform; to find out about
klingen - to sound, ring
kritisieren - to criticise
legen; sich legen - to lay, put; to lie down
liefern - to deliver, supply
lösen - to solve, loosen
Notice how sich handeln um and sich informieren über require specific prepositions. These prepositional constructions are essential for accurate German expression.
melden; sich acc. melden - to report, register; to volunteer, enlist, introduce oneself, get in touch
merken; sich dat. merken - to notice; to remember
nachdenken - to think about, reflect
probieren - to try, sample
prüfen - to examine, check
Action and movement verbs
These verbs describe physical actions and changes that are essential for describing events and activities. They frequently appear in narrative and descriptive writing tasks.
abgeben - to hand in, submit
abholen - to fetch, pick up
anbieten - to offer
ändern - to change, alter
annehmen - to accept, assume
aufbauen - to construct
aufhören - to stop
aufmachen - to open
aufpassen - to pay attention, take care
behandeln - to treat
bemerken - to notice
beobachten - to observe, watch
Separable verbs like aufhören, aufmachen, and abholen are particularly important. Remember that in the present tense, the prefix separates and moves to the end of the clause!
beschließen - to decide
besitzen - to own, have
bestehen (auf dat. + noun); bestehen (aus + noun) - to exist, pass (an exam), insist; consist (of + noun)
bummeln - to stroll
gründen - to establish, found
gucken, kucken - to look, watch
halten; halten ... für + noun - to stop, hold; think of someone/something
hängen - to hang
kämpfen - to fight, struggle
reichen - to reach, be enough
rufen - to call, shout
schaffen - to create, manage, accomplish
setzen; sich acc. setzen - to set, place, put; to sit down
sich acc. verhalten - to behave, act
Schaffen is a versatile and frequently used verb that can mean create, manage, or accomplish depending on context. It's particularly useful for expressing achievement and success.
Reflexive and connecting verbs
Many German verbs are reflexive (used with sich) or require specific grammatical constructions. These forms are essential for natural-sounding German.
stehlen - to steal
stören - to disturb, bother
überlegen - to consider, think about
überzeugen - to convince, persuade
verbinden; sich acc. verbinden - to connect, link, unite; to bandage
vergleichen - to compare
verhindern - to prevent
verlangen - to request, demand
verstecken - to hide
verwenden - to use
vorhaben - to intend
wechseln - to change, exchange (money)
zählen - to count
ziehen - to pull, move
zwingen - to force, compel
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Reflexive verbs
Many German verbs use reflexive pronouns (sich). These can take either the accusative or dative case:
- sich acc. = accusative reflexive (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich)
- sich dat. = dative reflexive (mir, dir, sich, uns, euch, sich)
Common mistake: Students often confuse when to use accusative vs. dative reflexive pronouns. Learn each verb's requirements individually!
Separable verbs
Verbs like aufhören, aufmachen, abholen are separable. In the present tense, the prefix moves to the end:
- Ich höre auf = I stop
- Wir holen dich ab = We'll pick you up
This is essential for sentence structure and a common area where marks are lost in exams.
Case requirements
Some verbs require specific cases:
- + acc. = takes accusative object
- + dat. = takes dative object
- + noun = requires a noun object
Understanding these requirements is crucial for grammatical accuracy in your written and spoken German.
Example sentences
Worked Examples: Using Higher-level Verbs
Present tense:
- Ich beweise meine Theorie mit diesem Experiment. (I prove my theory with this experiment.)
- Sie entwickelt eine neue App für Studenten. (She is developing a new app for students.)
Perfect tense:
- Wir haben die Prüfung bestanden! (We passed the exam!)
- Er hat sich über das Angebot gefreut. (He was pleased about the offer.)
With reflexive pronouns:
- Ich informiere mich über die neuen Regeln. (I'm finding out about the new rules.)
- Du musst dich entscheiden. (You have to decide.)
Translation exercises
Translation Practice
German to English:
- Sie möchte ihre Deutschkenntnisse verbessern.
- Wir beobachten die Vögel im Park.
English to German:
3. I want to convince my parents.
4. They are developing a new product.
Answers:
- She wants to improve her German skills.
- We observe/watch the birds in the park.
- Ich möchte meine Eltern überzeugen.
- Sie entwickeln ein neues Produkt.
Key Points to Remember:
- Many advanced German verbs are reflexive - pay attention to whether they use accusative or dative reflexive pronouns
- Separable verbs split in the present tense, with the prefix moving to the end of the clause
- These higher-level verbs will help you express complex ideas and earn top marks in your GCSE exam
- Practice using these verbs in different tenses - perfect tense is especially important for past actions
- Learn the case requirements (accusative/dative) for each verb to use them correctly in sentences