The idea
“Nachfragen” (to ask again, follow up) is separable: “Ich frage … nach.” “Zur Sicherheit” (zu der Sicherheit) means to be on the safe side; “sichergehen” is a verb for the same idea. A yes/no question with the verb first then states the detail. “Rückfrage” is the noun for such a follow-up question.
Other ways to say it
“Nur zur Sicherheit: Gilt der neue Raum ab morgen?” – Neutral and compact; common in emails and chats.
“Ich wollte nur kurz sichergehen.” – Neutral and polite; the past wollte softens the request.
“Kurze Frage noch, damit ich’s richtig habe:” – Casual spoken lead-in; “ich’s” is short for ich es.
Examples
- Ich frage nur zur Sicherheit noch einmal nach.I am just checking once more to be sure.
- Welche Angabe möchten Sie bestätigen?Which detail would you like to confirm?
- Gilt der neue Raum bereits für morgen?Does the new room already apply tomorrow?
- Ja, ab morgen treffen wir uns dort.Yes, we meet there from tomorrow.
- Danke, damit ist meine Rückfrage geklärt.Thank you; that answers my check.
- Gut, dann haben wir denselben Stand.Good; then we have the same information.
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Watch out
“Ich frage nur für Sicherheit noch einmal nach.” → “Ich frage nur zur Sicherheit noch einmal nach.”: English “for safety” or “to be safe” leads to für. The fixed German phrase is “zur Sicherheit”, with zu and the contracted article.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: I am just checking once more to be sure.
Show answer or example answer
Ich frage nur zur Sicherheit noch einmal nach.
“Frage” stands second and its prefix “nach” closes the sentence. “Nur zur Sicherheit” and “noch einmal” sit in the middle field between them.
Put the words in order: bereits / der / für / Gilt / morgen / neue / Raum
Show answer or example answer
Gilt der neue Raum bereits für morgen?
A yes/no question starts with the verb “Gilt” (from gelten, to apply). “Bereits” means already, and “für morgen” is accusative after für.
Write this sentence in German: Good; then we have the same information.
Show answer or example answer
Gut, dann haben wir denselben Stand.
“Denselben Stand” combines article and selb- in one word; masculine accusative gives denselben. Having the same Stand means sharing the same information.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: I am just checking once more to be sure.
Ich frage nur zur Sicherheit noch einmal nach.
Put the words in order: bereits / der / für / Gilt / morgen / neue / Raum
Gilt der neue Raum bereits für morgen?
Write this sentence in German: Good; then we have the same information.
Gut, dann haben wir denselben Stand.
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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Your landlord said the heating repair is on Tuesday. Write him a short message checking, just to be sure, whether the time is still nine o’clock.