Buying Bread and Finding Orange Juice | Learn German in English

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Use Buying Bread and Finding Orange Juice to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Wie viele Scheiben Brot sollen wir kaufen?

vee FEE-luh SHY-bun broht ZOL-un veer KOW-fun? How many slices of bread should we buy?

Insgesamt vier Scheiben.

in-guh-ZAHMT veer SHY-bun. Four slices in total.

Zwei für mich und zwei für dich.

tsvyeh fewr mish oont tsvyeh fewr dish. Two for me and two for you.

Das sollte reichen. Wir brauchen noch Orangensaft.

dahs ZOL-tuh RY-khun. veer BROW-khun nokh oh-RAHNG-un-zaft. That should be enough. We still need orange juice.

Kannst du den Orangensaft finden?

kahnst doo dehn oh-RAHNG-un-zaft FIN-den? Can you find the orange juice?

Noch nicht. Schauen wir im nächsten Regal nach.

nokh nikht. SHOW-un veer im NEKH-stun reh-GAHL nahkh. Not yet. Let's check the next shelf.

Fragen wir jemanden, der hier arbeitet.

FRAH-gun veer YAY-mahn-den, dehr heer AR-bye-tut. Let's ask someone who works here.

Word by Word

Wie In “Wie viele Scheiben Brot” it asks about the quantity: how many. It is placed before the quantity word and the plural noun. Use it when asking for a quantity, as in the question “Wie viele Scheiben Brot sollen wir kaufen?”.

viele In “Wie viele Scheiben” it means many and specifies an unknown quantity. It is used with the plural noun “Scheiben” to ask how many items there are. This pattern is useful when asking about the number of countable things.

Scheiben “Scheiben” means slices here, referring to slices of bread. The dictionary form is Scheibe; the dialogue uses its plural form after “viele.” Use it for flat portions such as the bread slices mentioned in “Wie viele Scheiben Brot sollen wir kaufen?”.

Brot “Brot” means bread and identifies what the slices are slices of. It follows “Scheiben” in the phrase “Scheiben Brot.” This word can be reused when talking about buying or eating bread.

sollen In “sollen wir kaufen” it expresses what the two people should or are supposed to buy. It is used with “wir” and the infinitive “kaufen,” which comes at the end of the question. This pattern is useful for asking about a shared plan or recommendation.

wir “Wir” means we and refers to the two people acting together. In “sollen wir kaufen,” it is the subject of the shared action. Use it when proposing or discussing something that you and another person will do together.

kaufen “Kaufen” means to buy in “sollen wir kaufen.” It is the action being considered, while the modal verb appears earlier in the sentence. Use it with an object when discussing a purchase, as in buying bread.

Insgesamt “Insgesamt” means in total and gives the combined number of slices. In “Insgesamt vier Scheiben,” it modifies the whole quantity rather than one slice. Use it when stating a total amount after counting separate portions.

für “Für” means for and marks who a portion is intended for in “für mich” and “für dich.” It is followed here by the forms “mich” and “dich.” Use it to assign an item or amount to a person.

mich “Mich” means me in “Zwei für mich,” identifying the person who will receive two slices. The corresponding subject-form dictionary entry is ich; mich is the form used after “für” here. This pattern is useful when saying that something is intended for you.

dich “Dich” means you in “Zwei für dich,” identifying the person who will receive two slices. The corresponding subject-form dictionary entry is du; dich is the form used after “für” here. Use it when assigning something to the person you are speaking to.

Das “Das” means that and refers to the amount of bread just discussed. In “Das sollte reichen,” it is the subject of the judgment that the amount should be enough. Use it to refer back to an amount, item, or situation already understood from the conversation.

sollte “Sollte” means should in “Das sollte reichen,” expressing an expectation that the amount will be enough. It is a form of sollen and is used with the infinitive “reichen.” This is useful when giving a cautious estimate or expectation.

reichen “Reichen” means be enough in “Das sollte reichen.” It describes whether the previously mentioned amount is sufficient. It follows the modal form “sollte,” and this pattern is useful when judging whether a supply or quantity is sufficient.

brauchen “Brauchen” means need in “Wir brauchen noch Orangensaft.” It states that the speakers still require another item. It is followed by the needed object, “Orangensaft,” and can be used when making a shopping list or checking what is missing.

noch “Noch” means still in “Wir brauchen noch Orangensaft” and yet in the reply “Noch nicht.” It indicates that something remains necessary or has not happened up to now. Use it with a need or with “nicht” to say that something has not happened yet.

Orangensaft “Orangensaft” means orange juice and is the additional shopping item in “Wir brauchen noch Orangensaft.” It is also the object being looked for in “den Orangensaft.” Use this compound noun when asking for or searching for orange juice in a shop.

Kann “Kann” means can in “Kannst du den Orangensaft finden?” and asks about the other person’s ability to find something. It is a form of können and is used with “du” and the infinitive “finden.” This pattern is useful for making a practical request.

du “Du” means you and refers to the person being asked to find the orange juice. In “Kannst du ... finden?” it is the subject of the question. Use it when speaking directly to one familiar person.

den “Den” means the in “den Orangensaft,” identifying the specific orange juice that the speakers are looking for. It appears directly before the noun in the request. Use this article form when referring to the particular item being found.

finden “Finden” means find in “Kannst du den Orangensaft finden?” It describes locating the specific orange juice, while “Kannst” asks whether the person is able to do it. Use it after a modal verb when asking someone to locate an item.

nicht “Nicht” supplies the negation in “Noch nicht,” meaning not yet. It shows that the orange juice has not been found at the time of speaking. This short reply is useful when someone asks whether a task has already been completed.

Schauen In “Schauen wir im nächsten Regal nach,” “Schauen” contributes the idea of looking or checking. Together with the rest of the expression, it suggests checking the next shelf. The sentence-initial form with “wir” is useful for proposing a joint action.

im “Im” means in the in “im nächsten Regal.” It is the contracted form of the preposition-and-article combination meaning in the specific shelf. Use it before a location when saying where someone should look or act.

nächsten “Nächsten” means next in “im nächsten Regal,” identifying the shelf that follows the one currently being checked. It appears before the noun “Regal” in the location phrase. Use it when directing someone to the next place or item in an order.

Regal “Regal” means shelf in “im nächsten Regal.” It names the place where the speakers will continue looking for the orange juice. Use it when referring to a shop shelf or another shelving unit.

nach In “Schauen wir im nächsten Regal nach,” “nach” completes the checking expression and helps convey looking for or checking something. Its meaning belongs with the full expression, not with “nach” alone. This pattern is useful when suggesting that someone check a particular place.

Fragen In “Fragen wir jemanden,” “Fragen” means ask and introduces the suggestion “let’s ask.” It is placed at the beginning of the joint proposal with “wir.” Use this pattern when deciding to ask another person for information or help.

jemanden “Jemanden” means someone in “Fragen wir jemanden,” referring to an unspecified person whom they can ask. The dictionary form is jemand; the dialogue uses jemanden as the person receiving the question. Use it when the particular person is not yet known or selected.

der In “jemanden, der hier arbeitet,” “der” means who and introduces information about the person being considered. It refers back to “jemanden” and starts the clause describing that person. Use this relative-clause pattern to identify someone by what they do.

hier “Hier” means here in “der hier arbeitet,” referring to the grocery shop or the current place. It specifies where the person works. Use it when pointing to the place where the speakers are currently located.

arbeitet “Arbeitet” means works in “der hier arbeitet,” describing the person who works at the current place. The dictionary form is arbeiten; the dialogue uses the form agreeing with the singular person introduced by “der.” It appears at the end of the relative clause.

Grammar Points

wie viele + Plural

Wie viele Scheiben Brot?

vee FEE-luh SHY-bun broht

How many slices of bread?

„wie viele“ fragt nach einer Anzahl und steht vor einem Substantiv im Plural.

für + Akkusativ

für mich

fewr mish

for me

Nach „für“ steht der Akkusativ: „mich“ und „dich“ sind die Akkusativformen.

German Vocabulary

brauchen verb

BROW-khun to need

Brot noun

broht bread

dich pron

dish you

für prep

fewr for

insgesamt adv

in-guh-ZAHMT in total

kaufen verb

KOW-fun to buy

mich pron

mish me

noch adv

nokh still

reichen verb

RY-khun to be enough

Scheibe noun

SHY-buh slice Scheiben

vier num

veer four

wie viele det

vee FEE-luh how many

Wie viele Scheiben Brot sollen wir kaufen?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Four slices in total.

Show Answer

Insgesamt vier Scheiben.

Can you find the orange juice?

Show Answer

Kannst du den Orangensaft finden?

Let's ask someone who works here.

Show Answer

Fragen wir jemanden, der hier arbeitet.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

you

Show Answer

dich

in total

Show Answer

insgesamt

slice

Show Answer

Scheiben

bread

Show Answer

Brot