German across three time frames
Strong communication moves confidently between what happens, what happened and what will happen.
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Use present, past and future time frames
Key learning points
- • Present and perfect past
- • Future meaning
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 13 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 13
Visual introductionPicture this
German across three time frames
Strong communication moves confidently between what happens, what happened and what will happen.
In a nutshell
Use present, past and future time frames
Explore the idea
Part 2 of 13
Learn
Present and perfect past
Ich spiele describes now or habit. The conversational past often uses haben plus a past participle: Ich habe gespielt.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 13
Learn
Future meaning
German often uses the present with a future time phrase: Morgen spiele ich. You can also use werden plus an infinitive for an explicit future.
Reset break
Part 4 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 5 of 13
Quick check
Part 6 of 13
Quick check
Part 7 of 13
Reset break
Part 8 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 9 of 13
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 10 of 13
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
German often uses the ____ with a future time phrase: Morgen spiele ich.
You can also use werden plus an infinitive for an explicit ____.
Challenge round
Part 11 of 13
Game · Recall cards
What does 'Ich habe gespielt' mean?
Card 1 of 3
Mastery quiz
Part 12 of 13
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: German across three time frames
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. What does 'Ich habe gespielt' mean?
2. How can German show future meaning simply?
3. Which word means tomorrow?
Lesson round-up
Part 13 of 13
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
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Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 13 · Watch & discover