German usage: scheinen: leuchten / wirken
The sun shines, but a plan seems useful: learn the two everyday meanings of scheinen, its zu infinitive and irregular past forms.
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German usage: fehlen / vermissen
Say I miss you with two different sentence patterns: compare fehlen and vermissen, who becomes the subject, and the cases you need.
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Checking into a hotel in German
Confirm your reservation and ask clear questions about breakfast, access and departure.
Read and practiseOrdering a meal in German
Order food and drinks, ask about ingredients and clarify how you want to pay.
Read and practiseAt a German supermarket checkout
Respond to common checkout questions and politely request a price check when needed.
Read and practiseBuying train tickets in German
Ask about a route, departure, interchange and the conditions of a particular ticket.
Read and practiseA missed train connection in German
Explain a delay and ask which alternative connection and ticket conditions apply now.
Read and practiseMaking a phone call in German
Introduce yourself, explain your reason for calling and verify important numbers or times.
Read and practiseAsking for help in German
Ask for assistance with one concrete problem and confirm the useful part of the answer.
Read and practiseAsking someone to repeat in German
Recover missing information by asking for just the unclear word, time or part of a sentence.
Read and practiseMaking plans in German
Negotiate an activity, time and meeting point and confirm the final arrangement.
Read and practiseDeclining politely in German
Decline an invitation clearly while thanking the other person and keeping the tone friendly.
Read and practiseInviting someone in German
Make an invitation that includes enough practical detail for a clear yes or no.
Read and practiseGerman small talk
Start a light conversation, respond to what was said and close the exchange politely.
Read and practiseMeeting neighbors in German
Introduce yourself in a shared building and ask one practical question politely.
Read and practiseViewing a flat in German
Ask concrete questions about costs, fixtures, availability and the surroundings of a flat.
Read and practiseReporting a household repair in German
Report an observed problem with its location, starting time and a way to arrange access.
Read and practiseAt the post office in German
Send a parcel by asking about destination, price, tracking and the receipt you need.
Read and practiseGerman phrases for a pharmacy visit
Ask a qualified professional to explain unclear medicine information slowly and in writing.
Read and practiseReporting lost property in German
Identify a missing item with distinctive details, the last known place and contact information.
Read and practiseAsk for clarification at work in German
Check the scope, file and deadline of an assignment before summarizing what you will do.
Read and practiseGerman job interview language
Give a concise account of experience with a concrete example and a relevant question.
Read and practiseTalking to a teacher in German
Clarify an assignment by asking about the expected work, an example and the deadline.
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German alphabet: spelling names
Distinguish a letter's name from its sound inside a word. Spell in short groups, then ask the listener to repeat the complete name; B and P need especially careful confirmation.
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