This key facts covers Key rules at a glance within The 90-word task: three time frames, every bullet for GCSE German. Revise The 90-word task: three time frames, every bullet in Writing and Translation into German for GCSE German with 10 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 4 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📌 Key rules at a glance
- Cover EVERY bullet: a missed bullet caps your communication mark — coverage before depth
- Show all THREE time frames: past, present, future — the marker proves which frame you intend
- Past = the perfect: habe/bin + past participle at the END of the clause
- Future = werde + infinitive: Nächstes Jahr werde ich … fahren — infinitive goes to the end
- One time marker per frame: letztes Wochenende / normalerweise / nächstes Jahr
- After weil, verb goes to the END: weil es gesund ist
- Aim for ~90 words: roughly one sentence per bullet, then develop with reasons and connectives
Practice questions for The 90-word task: three time frames, every bullet
How many different time frames must you include in the AQA 90-word writing task to access the full range of marks?
Which sentence correctly describes something you did in the past for the 90-word task?
Quick recall flashcards
deshalb...
Therefore / That is why...
deshalb is an adverb that starts the second clause — it triggers V2, so the verb comes immediately after it:
• Ich liebe Musik. Deshalb spiele ich Gitarre. (I love music. That is why I play guitar.)
• Das Wetter war schlecht. Deshalb sind wir zu Hause geblieben. (The weather was bad. That is why we stayed at home.)
Use deshalb to show cause and effect — it adds variety to your connectives.
weil... / denn...
Both mean because — but they work differently:
weil = subordinating conjunction → verb goes to the END:
• Ich mag Sport, weil er gesund ist. (I like sport because it is healthy.)
denn = coordinating conjunction → verb stays SECOND (like und/aber):
• Ich mag Sport, denn er ist gesund. (I like sport because it is healthy.)
Tip: use weil when you want to show you can handle subordinate-clause word order (more marks for accuracy); use denn if you are unsure.