What You Do at Home (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
What You Do at Home
Understanding how to talk about daily activities and home life is essential for German conversation. This topic covers everything from morning routines to household chores, helping you express what happens in your daily life at home.
Daily activities
These fundamental verbs describe your basic daily routine at home. Learning these allows you to talk about your typical day from morning until evening.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| aufstehen | to get up |
| frühstücken | to have breakfast |
| Hausaufgaben machen | to do homework |
| fernsehen | to watch TV |
| schlafen gehen | to go to sleep |
| duschen | to shower |
| sich anziehen | to get dressed |
| das Bett machen | to make the bed |
Example sentences:
- Ich stehe jeden Morgen um sieben Uhr auf. → I get up every morning at seven o'clock.
- Wir frühstücken zusammen in der Küche. → We have breakfast together in the kitchen.
- Nach der Schule mache ich meine Hausaufgaben. → After school I do my homework.
- Abends sehe ich gern fern. → In the evening I like to watch TV.
Pronunciation tip: frühstücken is pronounced "FROO-shtük-en" - the 'ü' sound is like saying 'ee' with rounded lips.
Household chores and helping out
Talking about helping with household tasks shows responsibility and family involvement. These verbs are commonly used when describing your role in maintaining the home.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| kochen | to cook |
| abwaschen | to wash up |
| aufräumen | to tidy up |
| den Tisch decken | to set the table |
| Staub saugen | to vacuum |
| den Müll rausbringen | to take out the rubbish |
| Wäsche waschen | to do the laundry |
| sich um Haustiere kümmern | to look after pets |
Example sentences:
- Ich koche manchmal das Abendessen für meine Familie. → I sometimes cook dinner for my family.
- Nach dem Essen wasche ich das Geschirr ab. → After eating I wash up the dishes.
- Am Samstag räume ich mein Zimmer auf. → On Saturday I tidy up my room.
- Mein Bruder deckt jeden Abend den Tisch. → My brother sets the table every evening.
Leisure activities at home
These activities describe how you spend your free time when you're at home. They're particularly useful for describing weekend activities or evening relaxation.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| lesen | to read |
| Musik hören | to listen to music |
| Videospiele spielen | to play video games |
| im Internet surfen | to surf the internet |
| Freunde anrufen | to call friends |
| malen | to paint |
| basteln | to do crafts |
Example sentences:
- Ich lese gerne Bücher in meinem Zimmer. → I like reading books in my room.
- Am Wochenende höre ich oft Musik. → At the weekend I often listen to music.
- Meine Schwester spielt jeden Abend Videospiele. → My sister plays video games every evening.
- Ich surfe gern im Internet, um Informationen zu finden. → I like surfing the internet to find information.
Expressing frequency
These time expressions help you explain how often you do various activities at home. They make your German more natural and descriptive.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| jeden Tag | every day |
| manchmal | sometimes |
| oft | often |
| nie | never |
| immer | always |
| selten | rarely |
| normalerweise | usually |
Example sentences:
- Ich mache jeden Tag mein Bett. → I make my bed every day.
- Manchmal helfe ich in der Küche. → Sometimes I help in the kitchen.
- Ich räume oft mein Zimmer auf. → I often tidy up my room.
- Ich wasche nie das Auto. → I never wash the car.
Separable verbs - a key grammar point
Many German verbs that describe home activities are separable verbs. Understanding how these work is crucial for correct German sentence structure.
Key Rule for Separable Verbs: The prefix separates from the main verb and goes to the end of the sentence in simple present and past tenses.
Examples:
- aufstehen → Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.
- aufräumen → Ich räume mein Zimmer auf.
- fernsehen → Wir sehen abends fern.
The prefix moves to the end in simple present and past tenses, but stays attached in infinitive form and with modal verbs.
Worked Example: Using Separable Verbs
Step 1: Start with the separable verb in infinitive form
- aufstehen (to get up)
Step 2: Identify the prefix and main verb
- Prefix: auf-
- Main verb: -stehen
Step 3: Place the main verb in position 2, prefix at the end
- Correct: Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.
- Incorrect: Ich aufstehe um sieben Uhr.
Sample dialogue
Dialogue Practice: Weekend Activities at Home
Anna: Was machst du normalerweise zu Hause am Wochenende? Tom: Am Samstag stehe ich spät auf und frühstücke mit meiner Familie. Dann räume ich mein Zimmer auf. Anna: Hilfst du auch im Haushalt? Tom: Ja, ich sauge manchmal Staub und bringe den Müll raus. Am Abend spiele ich oft Videospiele oder höre Musik. Anna: Das klingt entspannend!
Translation: Anna: What do you usually do at home at the weekend? Tom: On Saturday I get up late and have breakfast with my family. Then I tidy up my room. Anna: Do you also help with household tasks? Tom: Yes, I sometimes vacuum and take out the rubbish. In the evening I often play video games or listen to music. Anna: That sounds relaxing!
Common Mistakes and Tips
Separable verbs: Remember that the prefix goes to the end of the sentence. Don't say "Ich aufstehe um sieben Uhr" - it should be "Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf."
Word order with time: In German, time expressions usually come before place. Say "Ich koche abends in der Küche" (I cook in the evening in the kitchen).
Frequency words: These typically come after the subject but before the main verb: "Ich helfe manchmal zu Hause" (I sometimes help at home).
Key Points to Remember:
- Learn separable verbs carefully - the prefix goes to the end in simple sentences
- Use frequency expressions (jeden Tag, manchmal, oft, nie) to make your German more natural
- Combine daily activities with time expressions to describe your routine clearly
- Practice household vocabulary as it's commonly tested in listening and reading exercises
- Remember that many home activities use separable verbs, so watch the word order