Turn German statements into useful questions

The idea

Take one example statement and write both a confirmation question and a question about time or place. Answer each question from the original sentence. Then remove one detail and ask a question whose answer is genuinely unknown.

Patterns to compare

Arbeitsschritt	Beobachtung
Vor dem Üben	Was möchte ich ohne Hilfe sagen?
Beim Üben	Welche Stelle brauche ich noch als Modell?
Nach dem Üben	Kann ich die Information in einem neuen Satz verwenden?

A concrete practice sequence

Take one example statement and write both a confirmation question and a question about time or place. Answer each question from the original sentence. Then remove one detail and ask a question whose answer is genuinely unknown.

Check the model sentence

• Wann der Vortrag beginnt? → Wann beginnt der Vortrag?

  In this direct question, the finite verb beginnt follows the question word wann.

Using this beside glotworld

Use these original examples as a separate practice sheet before or after a game session. glotworld offers A1, A2, B1 practice for German learners, with meanings and help in 12 languages, including English and Turkish. A microphone is not required. The game does not score pronunciation or award a language certificate; these exercises do not claim to appear in a particular game scene.

Examples

• Der Vortrag über Stadtgeschichte beginnt um sechs.The talk about local history starts at six.
• Beginnt der Vortrag über Stadtgeschichte wirklich um sechs?Does the talk about local history really start at six?
• Wo wartet unsere Gruppe nach dem Vortrag?Where is our group waiting after the talk?
• Unsere Gruppe wartet im überdachten Innenhof.Our group is waiting in the covered courtyard.
• Wer bringt die zusätzlichen Stühle in den Saal?Who is bringing the extra chairs into the hall?
• Zwei Helfer bringen die Stühle vor der Veranstaltung hinein.Two helpers bring the chairs in before the event.

Watch out

Changing word order without choosing a question purpose can produce an irrelevant question. Check what answer your listener could give and whether it supplies the missing detail.

Try it yourself

1. Bilde eine Ja-Nein-Frage: „Der Vortrag beginnt um sechs.“

   Show answer or example answer

   Beginnt der Vortrag um sechs?

   The finite verb moves before the subject to form a yes–no question.

2. Frage nach dem Ort: „Die Gruppe wartet im Innenhof.“

   Show answer or example answer

   Wo wartet die Gruppe?

   Wo asks for the location; wartet remains the finite verb after the question word.

3. Schreibe eine neue Variante des letzten Beispiels. Ändere eine konkrete Information und behalte den Satzbau bei.

   Show answer or example answer

   Muster zum Variieren: Zwei Helfer bringen die Stühle vor der Veranstaltung hinein.

   The last example supplies a sentence pattern, not a single compulsory answer. Change a detail that fits the situation and keep the verb, case and meaning consistent.

Use it today

Repeat the sequence with a fresh situation. Turning a German statement into a question tests what information you can request. Decide first whether you need confirmation or a missing detail. Yes–no questions begin with the finite verb; information questions normally begin with a question word. Keep one first attempt and one correction so you can compare what you produced before seeing a model.