The idea
Während plus genitive gives the period: während meiner Pause. Among colleagues kannst du is a friendly, direct request. “In zwanzig Minuten” (in plus dative) means twenty minutes from now; nach zwanzig Minuten would mean after a duration in the past or story. Zurückkommen is separable. Die Ankunft (plural Ankünfte) is an arrival, a hotel word. “Nach deiner Rückkehr” means after you are back.
Other ways to say it
“Hältst du kurz die Stellung?” – Informal idiom: hold the fort for a moment.
“Könnten Sie mich für zwanzig Minuten vertreten?” – Formal with Sie; for a colleague you do not know well.
“Ich mache jetzt Pause, in zwanzig Minuten bin ich wieder da.” – Neutral; announces the break and return time.
Examples
- Kannst du während meiner Pause den Empfang beobachten?Can you keep an eye on reception during my break?
- Wie lange bist du ungefähr weg?Roughly how long will you be away?
- Ich komme in zwanzig Minuten zurück.I will return in twenty minutes.
- Gibt es angekündigte Ankünfte in dieser Zeit?Are any arrivals expected during that time?
- Zwei Ankünfte stehen auf dieser Liste.Two arrivals are on this list.
- Dann übernimmst du nach deiner Rückkehr wieder.Then you will take over again when you return.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No German device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
“Ich komme nach zwanzig Minuten zurück.” → “Ich komme in zwanzig Minuten zurück.”: For a point in the future counted from now, German uses in plus dative. Nach zwanzig Minuten describes a duration that has passed and sounds wrong for a plan.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: Can you keep an eye on reception during my break?
Show answer or example answer
Kannst du während meiner Pause den Empfang beobachten?
Kannst du opens the request; während meiner Pause is genitive, den Empfang the accusative object, and beobachten closes the clause.
Put the words in order: Ich / in / komme / Minuten / zurück / zwanzig
Show answer or example answer
Ich komme in zwanzig Minuten zurück.
Zurückkommen splits: komme second, zurück at the end. In zwanzig Minuten counts forward from now.
Write this sentence in German: Then you will take over again when you return.
Show answer or example answer
Dann übernimmst du nach deiner Rückkehr wieder.
Dann opens the sentence, so übernimmst precedes du. Nach deiner Rückkehr is nach plus dative, and wieder means again.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: Can you keep an eye on reception during my break?
Kannst du während meiner Pause den Empfang beobachten?
Put the words in order: Ich / in / komme / Minuten / zurück / zwanzig
Ich komme in zwanzig Minuten zurück.
Write this sentence in German: Then you will take over again when you return.
Dann übernimmst du nach deiner Rückkehr wieder.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
Sign up for free to save your practice results in your account and carry on with the story in the game.
Sign up to saveI already have an accountUse it today
You need a 30-minute break at the front desk and one guest is expected to check in. Write a short request to your colleague with the time and the arrival.