The idea
Ziehen is used for smoke, air and draughts; with in it takes the accusative because the smoke moves into the room: “in unser Kinderzimmer”. “Sich wegstellen” is reflexive and separable: “Ich stelle mich weg.” “Etwas weiter” softens the request. Lüften means to air a room by opening the windows, a widespread habit in German homes. Falls (in case) sends the verb to the end: “falls es nicht reicht”.
Other ways to say it
“Der Rauch kommt leider bei uns rein.” – Casual and mild; leider shows regret, not anger.
“Könnten Sie beim Rauchen bitte ans andere Ende des Balkons gehen?” – Formal Sie-version with a concrete suggestion.
Examples
- Der Rauch zieht gerade in unser Kinderzimmer.The smoke is drifting into our child’s room right now.
- Oh, das habe ich nicht bemerkt.Oh, I had not noticed that.
- Könntest du dich etwas weiter wegstellen?Could you stand a little farther away?
- Ja, ich gehe ans andere Ende.Yes, I will go to the other end.
- Danke, dann können wir weiter lüften.Thanks; then we can keep airing the room.
- Sag bitte Bescheid, falls es nicht reicht.Please let me know if that is not enough.
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Watch out
“Der Rauch zieht gerade in unserem Kinderzimmer.” → “Der Rauch zieht gerade in unser Kinderzimmer.”: The smoke moves into the room, so in takes the accusative (unser). The dative would mean the smoke is drifting around inside the room.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: The smoke is drifting into our child’s room right now.
Show answer or example answer
Der Rauch zieht gerade in unser Kinderzimmer.
“Der Rauch” is the subject, “zieht” the verb; “in unser Kinderzimmer” is accusative because it is a direction.
Put the words in order: dich / du / etwas / Könntest / wegstellen / weiter
Show answer or example answer
Könntest du dich etwas weiter wegstellen?
“Könntest” softens the request; the reflexive “dich” follows the subject, and “wegstellen” stays whole at the end.
Write this sentence in German: Please let me know if that is not enough.
Show answer or example answer
Sag bitte Bescheid, falls es nicht reicht.
The du-imperative “Sag … Bescheid” asks to be told; the falls-clause puts “reicht” at the end.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: The smoke is drifting into our child’s room right now.
Der Rauch zieht gerade in unser Kinderzimmer.
Put the words in order: dich / du / etwas / Könntest / wegstellen / weiter
Könntest du dich etwas weiter wegstellen?
Write this sentence in German: Please let me know if that is not enough.
Sag bitte Bescheid, falls es nicht reicht.
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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Write two calm sentences to a neighbour whose smoke reaches your window: describe what happens and suggest one concrete change.