Houseplants and garden plants
Zimmerpflanzen und Gartenpflanzen
- Learn the names of common plants and flowers in the house and in the garden.
- Daily plant care routine and gardening.
- The present continuous tense
Learn to describe caring for houseplants and garden plants using the present continuous (Verlaufsform). Key vocabulary includes Zimmerpflanzen (houseplants), Gartenpflanzen (garden plants), gieen (to water), die Rose (rose), and die Tulpe (tulip).
Vocabulary (20) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Assign the words correctly to the categories "houseplants" and "garden plants".
Zimmerpflanzen
Gartenpflanzen
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Der Samen
The seed
2
Das Gras
The grass
3
Die Rose
The rose
4
Die Erde
The soil
5
Die Blume
The flower
Übung 5: Conversation exercise
Anleitung:
- Say what you can see in the garden. (Say what you can see in the garden.)
- Describe your own or your ideal garden. (Describe your own or your ideal garden.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Im Garten gibt es violette Blumen. There are purple flowers in the garden. |
|
Es gibt einen großen alten Baum. There is a big old tree. |
|
Ich habe gelbe und pinke Blumen in meinem Garten. I have yellow and pink flowers in my garden. |
|
Ich habe eine Schaukel in meinem Garten für meine Kinder. I have a swing in my garden for my children. |
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Ich habe keine Kakteen in meinem Garten. I don't have cactuses in my garden. |
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Ich gieße meine Pflanzen alle 3 Tage. I water my plants every 3 days. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ich _____ gerade den Kaktus in meinem Wohnzimmer.
(I am _____ currently watering the cactus in my living room.)2. Der Gärtner _____ gerade auf der Schaukel im Garten.
(The gardener _____ is currently sitting on the swing in the garden.)3. Wir _____ dabei, die Blumen im Garten zu pflanzen.
(We _____ are in the process of planting the flowers in the garden.)4. Sie _____ gerade die Pflanzen auf dem Balkon.
(She _____ is currently tending to the plants on the balcony.)Exercise 8: Houseplants and Garden Plants: Our Garden Project
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Gießen - Water
Präsens
- ich gieße
- du gießt
- er/sie/es gießt
- wir gießen
- ihr gießt
- sie/Sie gießen
Sitzen - Sit
Präsens
- ich sitze
- du sitzt
- er/sie/es sitzt
- wir sitzen
- ihr sitzt
- sie/Sie sitzen
Pflanzen - Plant
Präsens
- ich pflanze
- du pflanzt
- er/sie/es pflanzt
- wir pflanzen
- ihr pflanzt
- sie/Sie pflanzen
Sein - Be
Präsens
- ich bin
- du bist
- er/sie/es ist
- wir sind
- ihr seid
- sie/Sie sind
Exercise 9: DIe Verlaufsform im Präsens
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: The present continuous tense
Show translation Show answerssind dabei, gerade, bin dabei
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Pflanzen to plant Share Copied!
Präsens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) pflanze | I plant |
| (du) pflanzt | You plant |
| (er/sie/es) pflanzt | he/she/it plants |
| (wir) pflanzen | we plant |
| (ihr) pflanzt | you plant |
| (sie) pflanzen | they plant |
Sitzen to sit Share Copied!
Präsens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| ich sitze | I sit |
| du sitzt | you sit |
| er/sie/es sitzt | he/she/it sits |
| wir sitzen | we sit |
| ihr sitzt | you sit |
| sie sitzen | they sit |
Gießen to water Share Copied!
Präsens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) gieße/gieß | I water |
| (du) gießt | You water |
| (er/sie/es) gießt | he/she/it waters |
| (wir) gießen | we water |
| (ihr) gießt | You water |
| (sie) gießen | she waters |
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Lesson Overview: Using the Present Progressive in German with Houseplants and Garden Plants
This lesson focuses on the Verlaufsform im Präsens (present progressive form) in German, demonstrated through a practical and familiar theme: caring for houseplants and garden plants. It is designed for beginner (A1) learners who want to practice describing actions currently happening, such as watering plants, planting flowers, or gardening activities.
What You Will Learn
- How to express ongoing actions in the present tense using verbs like gießen (to water), pflanzen (to plant), and pflegen (to take care of).
- Common vocabulary related to indoor and outdoor plants, including der Kaktus (the cactus), die Rose (the rose), and die Tulpe (the tulip).
- The distinction between Zimmerpflanzen (houseplants) and Gartenpflanzen (garden plants), which helps expand your thematic vocabulary.
- Useful phrases to talk about plant care and gardening activities, enhancing conversational skills for everyday topics.
Key Vocabulary and Examples
- Verbs in Present Progressive: Ich gieße gerade die Zimmerpflanzen im Wohnzimmer. (I am currently watering the houseplants in the living room.)
- Plant Types: Houseplants like der Kaktus, die Pflanze, and garden plants such as die Rose, der Baum.
- Activity Phrases: Wir sind dabei, das Gras im Garten zu schneiden. (We are in the process of cutting the grass in the garden.)
Understanding the Present Progressive in German
Unlike English, German does not use a special continuous tense form (like "I am watering"). Instead, German expresses ongoing actions simply with the present tense (Präsens), sometimes adding words like gerade (just now/currently) or the phrase sein + dabei + zu + Infinitiv to emphasize that something is happening at this moment.
For example, both Ich gieße die Blumen. and Ich gieße gerade die Blumen. mean "I am watering the flowers," with the latter stressing that the action is happening right now.
Useful Phrases for Your Gardening Conversations
- Welche Pflanzen hast du im Wohnzimmer? (What plants do you have in the living room?)
- Ich gieße sie einmal pro Woche. (I water them once a week.)
- Bist du dabei, die Blumen zu gießen? (Are you currently watering the flowers?)
- Wie oft gießt man Sonnenblumen? (How often do you water sunflowers?)
Note on Language Differences
English uses the progressive form "I am watering" to indicate ongoing action clearly. German, however, typically uses the simple present tense to express the same idea. Adding words like gerade or the construction sein + dabei + zu + Infinitiv helps convey the immediacy or continuity of the action without a separate verb form.
This lesson helps you practice recognizing and using these forms naturally in everyday contexts related to plants, a common and practical topic.
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