This key facts covers Key rules at a glance within English to German translation: gold structures for GCSE German. Revise English to German translation: gold structures in Writing and Translation into German for GCSE German with 15 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
- Two grids: key messages (meaning) + grammar — convey the meaning first, zero meaning = zero marks for that sentence
- V2 rule: if a time phrase or adverb opens the sentence, the finite verb comes second — before the subject
- Verb bracket: modal or auxiliary (haben/sein) near the start; infinitive or past participle to the END
- Article + case: accusative masculine changes der → den; dative masculine and neuter change der/das → dem
- weil + verb to end: the finite verb goes to the last position in the weil clause
- False friend trap: bekommen = to get/receive; "to become" = werden
- Spell correctly: umlauts (ü, ö, ä) and ß are meaning-bearing in German — schön ≠ schon; Fußball not Fussball
Practice questions for English to German translation: gold structures
In the AQA English-to-German translation, how is the task marked?
Translate this sentence into German: **My sister plays football at the weekend.**
Quick recall flashcards
Ich kann... / Ich muss... / Ich möchte...
I can... / I must / have to... / I would like to...
Modal verbs are frequent in translation passages — always use the verb bracket:
• Ich kann gut schwimmen. (I can swim well.) — schwimmen goes to the END
• Ich muss jetzt gehen. (I must go now.) — gehen goes to the END
• Ich möchte ein Eis kaufen. (I would like to buy an ice cream.) — kaufen goes to the END
möchte is the lexicalised form of mögen used for polite wishes — use it freely at Foundation.
Other modals: darf (may/am allowed to), soll (should/supposed to), will (wants to).
Am Wochenende... / Jeden Tag... / In den Ferien...
At the weekend... / Every day... / In the holidays...
These time phrases are frequent in translation passages — they go FIRST and trigger V2:
• Am Wochenende spiele ich Tennis. (At the weekend I play tennis.)
• Jeden Tag fahre ich mit dem Rad zur Schule. (Every day I cycle to school.)
• In den Ferien fahren wir nach Frankreich. (In the holidays we go to France.)
Remember: when a time phrase opens the sentence, the VERB comes next, then the subject.
Other common openers: Gestern (yesterday), Nächstes Jahr (next year), Im Sommer (in summer).