The idea
Use jemanden anrufen for calling a person and mit jemandem telefonieren for talking by phone. Keep the separable particle an at the end of a simple main clause.
One contrast, not a prediction about every learner
Dutch bellen can mean to telephone. German bellen normally describes a dog's bark; a telephone call is anrufen or telefonieren. Similar spelling therefore creates a meaning error rather than a conjugation error.
Individual experience, dialect and other languages you know can change which comparisons help. Use the contrast to notice a German choice; do not treat it as a label for a whole group of people.
Repair the transfer
Ich belle morgen meine Kollegin.Ich rufe morgen meine Kollegin an.Use jemanden anrufen for calling a person and mit jemandem telefonieren for talking by phone. Keep the separable particle an at the end of a simple main clause.
Examples
- Ich rufe die Werkstatt wegen des Ersatzteils an.I call the workshop about the spare part.
- Meine Kollegin telefoniert gerade mit einem Kunden.My colleague is talking to a customer on the phone.
- Rufst du mich nach der Besprechung kurz an?Will you give me a quick call after the meeting?
- Der Hund bellt, wenn jemand am Tor klingelt.The dog barks when someone rings at the gate.
- Wir haben gestern lange miteinander telefoniert.We talked to each other on the phone for a long time yesterday.
- Die Gastgeberin ruft alle angemeldeten Gäste an.The host calls all the registered guests.
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No German device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not generalize a source-language pattern to every German sentence. Use jemanden anrufen for calling a person and mit jemandem telefonieren for talking by phone. Keep the separable particle an at the end of a simple main clause.
Try it yourself
Korrigiere: Ich belle morgen meine Kollegin.
Show answer or example answer
Ich rufe morgen meine Kollegin an.
Ich rufe morgen meine Kollegin an. Use jemanden anrufen for calling a person and mit jemandem telefonieren for talking by phone. Keep the separable particle an at the end of a simple main clause.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: I call the workshop about the spare part.
Show answer or example answer
Ich rufe die Werkstatt wegen des Ersatzteils an.
Ich rufe die Werkstatt wegen des Ersatzteils an. Use jemanden anrufen for calling a person and mit jemandem telefonieren for talking by phone. Keep the separable particle an at the end of a simple main clause.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: We talked to each other on the phone for a long time yesterday.
Show answer or example answer
Wir haben gestern lange miteinander telefoniert.
Wir haben gestern lange miteinander telefoniert. Keep the meaning of the whole sentence while using the German pattern.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Korrigiere: Ich belle morgen meine Kollegin.
Ich rufe morgen meine Kollegin an.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: I call the workshop about the spare part.
Ich rufe die Werkstatt wegen des Ersatzteils an.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: We talked to each other on the phone for a long time yesterday.
Wir haben gestern lange miteinander telefoniert.
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 three German sentences of your own that follow the pattern of “Ich rufe morgen meine Kollegin an.”. Check each one for the Dutch habit this lesson corrects, then read them aloud.