Read Hints & Helps #2Read Hints & Helps #3Back to Aufgaben

• Remember: if you use a modal verb, you must use the infinitive form of the verb at the end of the sentence. You must write "Ich mag in die Stadt fahren." (not "gefahren" - that's a past participle!)
  
• If you want to say "People open gifts...." etc., be sure to use "man" and not the word "Leute." Man takes the same verb endings as er: Zum Geburtstag isst man meistens Kuchen und Eis.
  
• Be sure to look in your notes or in your textbook to see exactly how to say "My birthday is on December 2." I saw lots of mistakes when I glanced at your paragraphs today!
  
• If you use the verb sammeln in your writing, be sure to check the spelling and use correct verb endings!
  
• By the way, if you collect something, you usually use the plural form. For example, you would say "I collect cookbooks." not "I collect cookbook."
  
• Remember to place time expressions as close to the verb as possible. For example: "Ich habe am Montag eine Klassenarbeit." not "Ich habe eine Klassenarbeit am Montag."
  
• Re-read the information about professions and how you write about them. Click here for that information.
  
• For numbers greater than 12, please use numerals instead of writing them out as words.
  
• Watch the endings on ein / mein / dein. Be sure you know whether the word it preceeds is nominative, accusative or dative - and whether it is a masculine, feminine or neuter noun. For example, you could never have the sentence "Meinem Vater heisst Sam." because Vater is the subject of your sentence (nominative). Check your notes or the charts in the back of your textbook.
  
• I saw lots and lots of spelling and capitalization errors in your first drafts! Be sure you go through your writing with the proverbial fine-toothed comb! If you check your grading rubric, you'll notice that "Mechanics" are worth 20% of your final grade, and in order to get full points in that category, you cannot have more than three errors TOTAL in your entire presentation! If you have more than five errors in spelling, capitalization and / or punctuation, you will be in the very bottom category. Please take this seriously: lots of spelling & capitalization errors can turn a A+ presentation into a C presentation. Don't let it happen to you!
  

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Read Hints & Helps #2Read Hints & Helps #3Back to Aufgaben