The Search for Beethoven - GermanWhen you have finished this lesson you can:
Say you did not understand
Say you have an appointment
Say that you speak a little German
Ask to repetition or rephrasing
Apologize for being late
When you have finished this lesson you can:
Say you did not understand
Say you have an appointment
Say that you speak a little German
Ask to repetition or rephrasing
Apologize for being late
Steve is now at to the Vienna concert hall and meets the employee at the foyer.
He asks for the conductor Mister Gruber, but the receptionist speaks too fast and Steve can't understand him. Therefore, he has to ask for clarification repeatedly. Notice the way he asks for apology.
Touch the video to start it.
Steve is now at to the Vienna concert hall and meets the employee at the foyer.
He asks for the conductor Mister Gruber, but the receptionist speaks too fast and Steve can't understand him. Therefore, he has to ask for clarification repeatedly. Notice the way he asks for apology.
Touch the video to start it.
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His German knowledge | |
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That he's coming late |
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Remember: If you use the courtesy form “Sie” you also use the surname of the person with “Herr” for men or “Frau” for women, e.g. “Herr Miller” or “Frau Krüger”. It’s the same when you talk about this person. Therefore you need sometimes the declinated forms of these terms.
Remember: If you use the courtesy form “Sie” you also use the surname of the person with “Herr” for men or “Frau” for women, e.g. “Herr Miller” or “Frau Krüger”. It’s the same when you talk about this person. Therefore you need sometimes the declinated forms of these terms.
If you arrive late, it's polite to apologize:
If you arrive late, it's polite to apologize:
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“Entschuldigung”, a word you often want to hear or use if:
You accidentally enter someone or want someone to move.
You did not hear what was said and would like to repeat it.
You are late on it and do not reach an appointment.
You make an error that goes beyond others.
However, if you regret something that has happened to others, like "sorry you've got bad news” or “I feel sorry for sth that happened to you” than you use the phrase “Es tut mir leid”.
“Entschuldigung”, a word you often want to hear or use if:
You accidentally enter someone or want someone to move.
You did not hear what was said and would like to repeat it.
You are late on it and do not reach an appointment.
You make an error that goes beyond others.
However, if you regret something that has happened to others, like "sorry you've got bad news” or “I feel sorry for sth that happened to you” than you use the phrase “Es tut mir leid”.
Say that you have an appointment with Maria
Say that you have an appointment with Maria
Correct Wrong AnsweredYou are too late. What can you say?
You are too late. What can you say?
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You arrive at the concert hall where you have an appointment with Mr. Gruber. Answer the receptionist’s question.
You arrive at the concert hall where you have an appointment with Mr. Gruber. Answer the receptionist’s question.
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It's not impolite to say that you do not understand what someone has said:
It's not impolite to say that you do not understand what someone has said:
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! Remember to use the courtesy form if you don’t know the person.
! Remember to use the courtesy form if you don’t know the person.
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! Remember: Here the perfect tense is used. It’s formed with auxiliary verb and participle II of the activity verb
! Remember: Here the perfect tense is used. It’s formed with auxiliary verb and participle II of the activity verb
The receptionist tells you something you do not understand. Tell that you didn’t understand what he said. (Remember: He’s a stranger for you.)
The receptionist tells you something you do not understand. Tell that you didn’t understand what he said. (Remember: He’s a stranger for you.)
Correct Wrong AnsweredIn German, there are many possibilities to “build” a complex sentence with main clause(s) and subordinate clause(s). To make it even more difficult the punctuation also plays a major role (but - by the way - many Germans be unsure how to put commas correctly). However, let's begin easily.
Subordinate clauses with conjunction…
… begin with a conjunction like “dass” (that), “weil” (because) or “wenn” (if/when)
… have the conjugated verb at the end
Examples:
Sie sagt, dass sie einen Termin hat.
[She says that she has an appointment.]
Wir können uns nicht treffen, weil ich zu spät bin.
[We can not meet because I’m late.]
Ich treffe Herrn Gruber, wenn er in Wien ist.
[I’ll meet Mr. Gruber when I’m in Vienna.]
Relative clauses with “was”…
… begin with the relative pronoun “was” that relates to the whole main clause
… have the conjugated verb at the end
Examples:
Ich habe nicht verstanden, was Sie gesagt haben.
[I didn’t understand what you’ve said.]
In German, there are many possibilities to “build” a complex sentence with main clause(s) and subordinate clause(s). To make it even more difficult the punctuation also plays a major role (but - by the way - many Germans be unsure how to put commas correctly). However, let's begin easily.
Subordinate clauses with conjunction…
… begin with a conjunction like “dass” (that), “weil” (because) or “wenn” (if/when)
… have the conjugated verb at the end
Examples:
Sie sagt, dass sie einen Termin hat.
[She says that she has an appointment.]
Wir können uns nicht treffen, weil ich zu spät bin.
[We can not meet because I’m late.]
Ich treffe Herrn Gruber, wenn er in Wien ist.
[I’ll meet Mr. Gruber when I’m in Vienna.]
Relative clauses with “was”…
… begin with the relative pronoun “was” that relates to the whole main clause
… have the conjugated verb at the end
Examples:
Ich habe nicht verstanden, was Sie gesagt haben.
[I didn’t understand what you’ve said.]
The shortest form to ask someone for repeating his/her words is like the Englisch “Pardon?”
The shortest form to ask someone for repeating his/her words is like the Englisch “Pardon?”
You can also ask in a whole question. Remember that it's polite to say "Entschuldigung" first:
You can also ask in a whole question. Remember that it's polite to say "Entschuldigung" first:
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The receptionist tells you something but he speaks so fast that you do not understand him. Ask him to talk slowly. (Remember: He’s a stranger for you.)
The receptionist tells you something but he speaks so fast that you do not understand him. Ask him to talk slowly. (Remember: He’s a stranger for you.)
Correct Wrong AnsweredThe receptionist said something to you but you did not understand. Ask her to repeat it. (Remember: He’s a stranger for you.)
The receptionist said something to you but you did not understand. Ask her to repeat it. (Remember: He’s a stranger for you.)
Correct Wrong AnsweredSometimes, apologizing for your language let’s the listener know that you are still learning and that they should be aware of it:
Sometimes, apologizing for your language let’s the listener know that you are still learning and that they should be aware of it:
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Remember the verb “sprechen” (to speak) and the phrases “ein bisschen”/”ein wenig” - and you can say that you speak a little German:
Remember the verb “sprechen” (to speak) and the phrases “ein bisschen”/”ein wenig” - and you can say that you speak a little German:
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It's always nice to get a compliment. Remember the positive adverb “gut” (fine/well) like in “Es geht mir gut.” (I’m fine.)
It's always nice to get a compliment. Remember the positive adverb “gut” (fine/well) like in “Es geht mir gut.” (I’m fine.)
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When you’ve got a compliment you answer with “Danke”.
When you’ve got a compliment you answer with “Danke”.
Tell the receptionist that you only speak a little German.
Tell the receptionist that you only speak a little German.
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She ask for an information | |
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She ask for repeating | |
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She ask for apologizing |
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Ich habe einen Termin mit Herr Gruber. | |
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Ich habe einen Termin mit Herrn Gruber. |
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I didn’t understand what you’ve meant. | |
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I do not understand. | |
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Can you repeat that? |
Jonas stops you on the street and says something to you. But you do not understand him. What do you want to say to him?
Jonas stops you on the street and says something to you. But you do not understand him. What do you want to say to him?
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Entschuldigung, können Sie bitte langsam sprechen? | |
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Kannst du das wiederholen? | |
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Entschuldigung, ich bin zu spät. |
Tell Maria that you speak only a little German:
Tell Maria that you speak only a little German:
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Wo bitte? | |
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Wie bitte? | |
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Wer bitte? |
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at the second position | |
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at the end |
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Sorry, I’m late. | |
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Please excuse my bad English. | |
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Sorry, I have to leave. |
Arrange correctly: Click at the button with the subordinate clause on the left and drag them to the matching beginning of the sentence on the right side.
Arrange correctly: Click at the button with the subordinate clause on the left and drag them to the matching beginning of the sentence on the right side.
Sie sagt, |  | dass sie einen Termin hat. |
Wir können uns heute nicht treffen, | weil ich zu spät bin. | |
Ich treffe Herrn Gruber, | wenn er in Wien ist. |
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Section completed |  |
| Exercise | Result | Your answer | Correct answer |
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