Basic invitations and shared action | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic invitations and shared action..

EN → DE / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic invitations and shared action to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Gehen wir jetzt.

GAY-en veer yetst. Let us go now.
B

Essen wir zusammen.

ESS-en veer tsoo-ZAHM-en. Let us eat together.
A

Fangen wir jetzt an.

FAHNG-en veer yetst AHN. Let us start now.
B

Hören wir hier auf.

HUR-en veer heer owf. Let us stop here.
A

Komm mit mir.

KOM mit meer. Come with me.
B

Warte auf mich.

VAHR-tuh owf mikh. Wait for me.

Word by Word

Gehen “Gehen” means “go” in the suggestion “Gehen wir jetzt.” Its verb-first position with “wir” makes the phrase equivalent to “let’s go.” Use “Gehen wir ...” when suggesting that a group do something together.
wir “wir” means “we” in “Gehen wir jetzt.” It identifies the speaker and the listener or listeners as the group taking the action, and with a verb-first phrase it helps express “let’s.” Use “wir” for a shared action.
jetzt “jetzt” means “now” in “Gehen wir jetzt.” It places the suggested action at the present time. Use it after or near the verb when you want to say that an action should happen now.
Essen “Essen” means “eat” in the suggestion “Essen wir zusammen.” Its verb-first position with “wir” makes the phrase mean “let’s eat.” Use “Essen wir ...” to suggest eating as a shared activity.
zusammen “zusammen” means “together” in “Essen wir zusammen.” It shows that the speaker and the other person or people will do the action jointly. Use “zusammen” with a verb when emphasizing a shared activity.
Fangen “Fangen” is the verb part of the suggestion “Fangen wir jetzt an,” which means “let’s start now.” Together with the separated particle “an,” it expresses beginning an activity. Use the pattern “Fangen wir ... an” when suggesting that something should begin.
an “an” is the separated particle in “Fangen wir jetzt an.” Together with “Fangen,” it gives the whole expression the meaning “start,” while appearing at the end of the phrase. Use it in the pattern “Fangen wir ... an.”
Hören “Hören” is the verb part of “Hören wir hier auf,” which means “let’s stop here.” The stopping meaning comes from the whole expression with the particle “auf,” not from “Hören” alone. Use “Hören wir ... auf” when suggesting that an activity should end.
hier “hier” means “here” in “Hören wir hier auf.” It identifies the current place or point where the speakers suggest stopping. Use “hier” to refer to the place or point relevant to the conversation.
auf “auf” has two functions in this dialogue. It is the separated particle in “Hören wir hier auf,” meaning “stop” with “Hören,” and it marks the person waited for in “Warte auf mich.” Use the complete patterns “Hören wir ... auf” and “Warte auf ...” for these meanings.
Komm “Komm” means “come” in the direct invitation “Komm mit mir.” It addresses one person and asks that person to move along with the speaker. Use “Komm mit ...” when inviting someone to accompany you.
mit “mit” means “with” or “along” in “Komm mit mir.” It connects the movement with the person who accompanies the speaker, and it is followed here by “mir.” Use “mit” to describe accompanying someone or doing something with someone.
mir “mir” means “me” in “Komm mit mir.” It is the dative form related to “ich” and follows “mit” in this expression. Use “mit mir” when asking or inviting someone to come along with the speaker.
Warte “Warte” means “wait” in the direct request “Warte auf mich.” It addresses one person and asks that person to remain until the speaker is ready or arrives. Use “Warte auf ...” when asking someone to wait for a person or thing.
mich “mich” means “me” in “Warte auf mich.” It is the accusative form related to “ich” and names the person being waited for after “auf” in this construction. Use “Warte auf mich” when asking someone not to leave before you arrive.

Grammar Points

anfangen: Fangen ... an

Fangen wir jetzt an?

FAHNG-en veer yetst AHN?

Are we starting now?

anfangen is separable: in a main clause, fangen comes first and an moves to the end.

warten auf + Akkusativ

Warte auf mich.

VAHR-tuh owf mikh.

Wait for me.

Use auf after warten before the person or thing you are waiting for.

German Vocabulary

anfangen verb
AHN-fahng-en to start Fangen ... an

Fangen wir jetzt an.

auf prep
owf for

Warte auf mich.

aufhören verb
OWF-hur-en to stop Hören ... auf

Hören wir hier auf.

essen verb
ESS-en to eat Essen

Essen wir zusammen.

gehen verb
GAY-en to go Gehen

Gehen wir jetzt.

hier adv
heer here

Hören wir hier auf.

jetzt adv
yetst now

Gehen wir jetzt.

kommen verb
KOM-en to come Komm

Komm mit mir.

mich pron
mikh me

Warte auf mich.

mir pron
meer me

Komm mit mir.

warten verb
VAHR-ten to wait Warte

Warte auf mich.

zusammen adv
tsoo-ZAHM-en together

Essen wir zusammen.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Let us go now.

Show AnswerGehen wir jetzt.

Let us eat together.

Show AnswerEssen wir zusammen.

Let us start now.

Show AnswerFangen wir jetzt an.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to go

Show AnswerGehen

now

Show Answerjetzt

together

Show Answerzusammen

here

Show Answerhier