The idea
Sich überschneiden (to overlap) is reflexive and inseparable: sie überschneiden sich. Zeitlich (in time) narrows the overlap to the schedule. Die beiden is a definite way to say both of those two; beide alone works as a pronoun. Muss … besprochen werden is a passive with a modal. Fragen wir … is a first-person plural imperative, meaning let us ask.
Other ways to say it
“Die Chor-AG und die Fußball-AG liegen zur gleichen Zeit.” – Names both clubs; zur gleichen Zeit liegen means to be scheduled at once.
“Kann mein Kind beide AGs abwechselnd besuchen?” – Suggests a solution: alternating weeks.
Examples
- Die beiden Arbeitsgemeinschaften überschneiden sich zeitlich.The two school clubs overlap in time.
- Welche Termine haben Sie verglichen?Which times have you compared?
- Beide beginnen am Dienstag um drei.Both start at three on Tuesday.
- Dann muss die Auswahl mit der Leitung besprochen werden.Then the choice needs to be discussed with the leader.
- Mein Kind möchte zuerst beide Angebote kennenlernen.My child would like to get to know both activities first.
- Fragen wir nach einer passenden Möglichkeit dafür.Let us ask about a suitable way to do that.
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Watch out
“Die beiden Arbeitsgemeinschaften überschneiden zeitlich.” → “Die beiden Arbeitsgemeinschaften überschneiden sich zeitlich.”: Überschneiden needs the reflexive pronoun sich when two things overlap each other. English “overlap” has no pronoun, so learners leave it out.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: The two school clubs overlap in time.
Show answer or example answer
Die beiden Arbeitsgemeinschaften überschneiden sich zeitlich.
Die beiden Arbeitsgemeinschaften is the plural subject. Überschneiden sich is the reflexive verb, and zeitlich specifies that the clash is about time.
Put the words in order: am / beginnen / Beide / Dienstag / drei / um
Show answer or example answer
Beide beginnen am Dienstag um drei.
Beide is the subject, beginnen the verb. Am Dienstag (an + dem) and um drei give day and hour, day first.
Write this sentence in German: Let us ask about a suitable way to do that.
Show answer or example answer
Fragen wir nach einer passenden Möglichkeit dafür.
Fragen wir is a let-us imperative with the verb first. Nach einer passenden Möglichkeit is dative after nach, and dafür refers to trying both clubs.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: The two school clubs overlap in time.
Die beiden Arbeitsgemeinschaften überschneiden sich zeitlich.
Put the words in order: am / beginnen / Beide / Dienstag / drei / um
Beide beginnen am Dienstag um drei.
Write this sentence in German: Let us ask about a suitable way to do that.
Fragen wir nach einer passenden Möglichkeit dafür.
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 child wants to join both the robotics club and the choir, which meet at the same time. Write to the school asking for a solution.