The idea
A closed question with oder offers two options and starts with the finite verb: “Brauchen Sie … den Entwurf oder die Endfassung?” Both nouns are accusative objects of brauchen. For the second date, a W-question with sollen asks about an expectation: “Wann soll die endgültige Fassung vorliegen?” Vorliegen means to be available in finished form, and it is common in office German. “Erst am Dienstag” means not before Tuesday, so erst signals that there is more time than feared.
Other ways to say it
“Ist der Freitag der Abgabetermin oder nur ein Zwischenstand?” – Neutral and direct; names the two kinds of deadline explicitly.
“Reicht Ihnen am Freitag eine Rohfassung?” – Polite with Sie; Rohfassung stresses that the text is still unpolished.
“Bis wann muss die finale Version stehen?” – Common in modern offices; “stehen” here means to be finished.
Examples
- Brauchen Sie am Freitag den Entwurf oder die Endfassung?Do you need the draft or the final version on Friday?
- Zunächst reicht der Entwurf zur Abstimmung.The draft for discussion is enough initially.
- Wann soll die endgültige Fassung vorliegen?When should the final version be ready?
- Die benötigen wir erst am Dienstag.We only need it on Tuesday.
- Dann plane ich die Korrekturen für Montag ein.Then I will schedule the corrections for Monday.
- Bitte kennzeichnen Sie den ersten Stand als Entwurf.Please mark the first version as a draft.
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Watch out
“Wir brauchen sie nur am Dienstag.” → “Wir brauchen sie erst am Dienstag.”: English “only on Tuesday” tempts learners to use nur. For a point in time that is later than expected, German uses erst; nur am Dienstag would mean on Tuesday and on no other day.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: Do you need the draft or the final version on Friday?
Show answer or example answer
Brauchen Sie am Freitag den Entwurf oder die Endfassung?
Yes-no question with the verb first; the time phrase “am Freitag” comes before the objects, and oder links the two accusative alternatives.
Put the words in order: die / endgültige / Fassung / soll / vorliegen / Wann
Show answer or example answer
Wann soll die endgültige Fassung vorliegen?
The question word wann takes position one, the modal verb soll position two, and the infinitive vorliegen goes to the very end.
Write this sentence in German: Please mark the first version as a draft.
Show answer or example answer
Bitte kennzeichnen Sie den ersten Stand als Entwurf.
A polite imperative with Sie: verb first, then Sie. “Etwas als Entwurf kennzeichnen” means to label something as a draft; der erste Stand is the first version.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: Do you need the draft or the final version on Friday?
Brauchen Sie am Freitag den Entwurf oder die Endfassung?
Put the words in order: die / endgültige / Fassung / soll / vorliegen / Wann
Wann soll die endgültige Fassung vorliegen?
Write this sentence in German: Please mark the first version as a draft.
Bitte kennzeichnen Sie den ersten Stand als Entwurf.
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 team lead says “Bitte bis Mittwoch.” Write one question that asks whether Wednesday is the draft date or the final date, and one sentence planning your corrections.