Films on the internet (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
Films on the internet
Key streaming vocabulary
Streaming has become a major part of how we watch films and entertainment. Understanding these terms is essential for discussing modern media in German conversations.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| streamen | to stream |
| streaming | streaming |
| die Streaming-Plattform | streaming platform |
| der Streaming-Service | streaming service |
| legal | legal |
| illegal | illegal |
| der Film | film |
| der Actionfilm | action film |
| die Liebesgeschichte | love story |
| günstig | good value/cheap |
These streaming terms are used frequently in modern German, especially among younger speakers. Many are borrowed from English but follow German grammar rules when used in sentences.
Example sentences in context:
- Ich schaue gern Filme online. (I like watching films online.)
- Netflix ist eine beliebte Streaming-Plattform. (Netflix is a popular streaming platform.)
- Streaming ist heute sehr populär. (Streaming is very popular today.)
Expressing preferences with gern, lieber, am liebsten
This is a crucial grammar pattern for talking about what you like watching. The preference system works on three levels of intensity:
- gern = like (♥)
- lieber = prefer (♥♥)
- am liebsten = like most of all (♥♥♥)
Key Grammar Rule: These preference words are placed directly after the verb you're describing, not at the beginning or end of the sentence.
The pattern works by placing these words after the verb you're describing:
- Ich schaue gern Filme. (I like watching films.)
- Ich schaue lieber Actionfilme als Liebesgeschichten. (I prefer action films to love stories.)
- Ich schaue am liebsten traurige Filme. (I like watching sad films most of all.)
Worked Example: Building Preference Sentences
Step 1: Start with the basic verb "Ich schaue Filme" (I watch films)
Step 2: Add your preference level after the verb
- gern: "Ich schaue gern Filme" (I like watching films)
- lieber: "Ich schaue lieber Komödien" (I prefer comedies)
- am liebsten: "Ich schaue am liebsten Actionfilme" (I like action films most of all)
Practice translation exercise:
German → English:
- Ich höre gern Musik, aber am liebsten schaue ich Filme.
- Er spielt lieber Videospiele als Filme zu schauen.
English → German:
- I like watching comedies most of all.
- She prefers action films to romantic films.
Answers:
- I like listening to music, but I like watching films most of all. / She prefers playing video games to watching films.
- Ich schaue am liebsten Komödien. / Sie schaut lieber Actionfilme als romantische Filme.
Popular streaming platforms in Germany
Understanding the German streaming market provides valuable cultural context for language learners. The digital entertainment landscape in Germany mirrors many global trends while maintaining some unique characteristics.
- Netflix - The most popular platform, costs around €7.99 per month
- Amazon Prime - Includes other services beyond streaming
- Sky - Offers premium content but more expensive
- Apple TV - Growing platform with original content
- WOW - Popular for sports content
- YouTube - Free platform, popular with musicians and content creators
Legal streaming services require subscriptions, whilst illegal streaming is not recommended and can have legal consequences in Germany. Always choose legitimate platforms to support content creators.
Talking about prices in euros
When discussing streaming costs, you need to know how to express monetary values correctly in German. This follows different conventions than English pricing.
- € means Euro (pronounced like "oyro")
- State the number of euros first, then add "Euro"
- For cents, use a comma (not a full stop like in English)
Worked Example: Expressing Euro Prices
= zehn Euro fünfundzwanzig (ten euros twenty-five cents) = neunzig Euro siebzig (ninety euros seventy cents)
Critical Difference: In German, euros and cents are separated by a comma, not a decimal point. This is the opposite of English convention.
Useful price vocabulary:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| kostet | costs |
| Euro | euro |
| günstig | good value |
| teuer | expensive |
| das Angebot | offer/deal |
| pro Monat | per month |
Describing viewing habits
When talking about your streaming preferences, descriptive language helps create natural, flowing conversations. These phrases form the building blocks of discussing your entertainment choices.
- Ich schaue = I watch
- Filme schauen = to watch films
- online schauen = to watch online
- am Computer = on the computer
- zu Hause = at home
Sample Description: Personal Viewing Habits
Ich schaue gern Filme zu Hause am Computer. Netflix ist meine liebste Streaming-Plattform, aber YouTube schaue ich auch oft. Am liebsten schaue ich Actionfilme, aber manchmal schaue ich auch Liebesgeschichten.
(I like watching films at home on the computer. Netflix is my favourite streaming platform, but I also watch YouTube often. I like action films most of all, but sometimes I also watch love stories.)
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- gern/lieber/am liebsten express increasing levels of preference - use them after the main verb
- Streaming vocabulary is essential for discussing modern media consumption in German
- Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube are the same names in German - pronunciation may vary slightly
- Euro prices use commas instead of decimal points ( not )
- Legal streaming requires paid subscriptions - illegal streaming is not recommended