The idea
Man + verb is an impersonal subject: man hört, man sieht. Scheinen + zu + infinitive expresses an impression: Es scheint aus dem Flur zu kommen. Seit + dative gives a start point continuing now: seit dem Abend. Sich etwas anhören (to listen to something) uses a reflexive dative and is separable. Vor Ort means on the spot.
Other ways to say it
“Die Lüftung in Zimmer 312 brummt die ganze Zeit.” – Concrete and short; brummen means to hum or drone.
“Wäre ein ruhigeres Zimmer möglich?” – Polite request for a room change instead of a repair.
Examples
- In meinem Zimmer hört man die Lüftung sehr laut.The ventilation is very loud in my room.
- Kommt das Geräusch von innen oder außen?Does the sound come from inside or outside?
- Es scheint aus dem Flur zu kommen.It seems to come from the corridor.
- Wann ist es besonders deutlich?When is it especially noticeable?
- Seit dem Abend ist es durchgehend hörbar.It has been continuously audible since the evening.
- Könnten Sie sich das vor Ort anhören?Could you come and listen to it there?
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Watch out
“Es scheint aus dem Flur kommen.” → “Es scheint aus dem Flur zu kommen.”: Scheinen in this sense always needs zu before the infinitive. Unlike modal verbs, it cannot take a bare infinitive.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: The ventilation is very loud in my room.
Show answer or example answer
In meinem Zimmer hört man die Lüftung sehr laut.
In meinem Zimmer is dative for location and opens the sentence. Hört comes second, man is the impersonal subject, and sehr laut describes the sound.
Put the words in order: aus / dem / Es / Flur / kommen / scheint / zu
Show answer or example answer
Es scheint aus dem Flur zu kommen.
Scheint … zu kommen gives an impression rather than a fact. Aus dem Flur is dative after aus, the source of the noise.
Write this sentence in German: Could you come and listen to it there?
Show answer or example answer
Könnten Sie sich das vor Ort anhören?
Könnten Sie is a polite request. Sich anhören uses sich as reflexive dative and das as object; vor Ort asks them to come to the room.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: The ventilation is very loud in my room.
In meinem Zimmer hört man die Lüftung sehr laut.
Put the words in order: aus / dem / Es / Flur / kommen / scheint / zu
Es scheint aus dem Flur zu kommen.
Write this sentence in German: Could you come and listen to it there?
Könnten Sie sich das vor Ort anhören?
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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A fridge in your hotel room has been buzzing since you arrived. Call reception, describe the noise and ask someone to come and listen.