About This Lesson
Use Choosing a shorter checkout line to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Brauchen wir noch etwas?
BROW-khen veer nokh EHT-vahs? Do we need anything else?
B
Ich glaube, das ist alles.
ikh GLOW-buh, dahs ist AHL-uh. I think that's everything.
A
Dann gehen wir zur Kasse.
DAHN GAY-en veer tsoor KASS-uh. Then let's go to the checkout.
B
Die Schlange ist lang.
dee SHLAHNG-uh ist LAHNG. The line is long.
A
Dort drüben ist die Schlange an der Kasse kürzer.
DORT DREW-ben ist dee SHLAHNG-uh an dayr KASS-uh KYUR-tsur. The register over there has a shorter line.
B
Stellen wir uns dort an.
SHTELL-en veer oons DORT ahn. Let's line up there.Word by Word
Brauchen
In "Brauchen wir noch etwas?", this means "need" in a question about whether anything is required. The verb comes before "wir" because this is a question. Reuse "Brauchen wir ...?" when asking whether something is needed.
wir
"wir" means "we" and refers to the speakers together. It is the subject in "Brauchen wir noch etwas?" and "Dann gehen wir zur Kasse." Reuse it when describing an action done by the speaker and another person.
noch
In "noch etwas", "noch" means "anything else" or "an additional thing". It shows that the speaker is asking about something beyond what has already been considered. Reuse "noch" before a thing or amount when asking about an additional one.
etwas
In "Brauchen wir noch etwas?", "etwas" means "anything" or "something". Here it refers generally to an additional item that may still be needed. This is useful in questions about whether more of something is required.
Ich
"Ich" means "I" and identifies the speaker as the person giving the opinion in "Ich glaube, das ist alles." It is the subject of that statement. Reuse it when talking about your own thoughts, needs, or actions.
glaube
In "Ich glaube", "glaube" means "think" or "believe" and introduces the speaker's view. "glaube" is the form of "glauben" used with "Ich" here. Reuse "Ich glaube, ..." to introduce an opinion or belief.
das
In "das ist alles", "das" means "that" or "it" and refers to the situation or the things already considered. It is the subject of the statement that follows. Reuse "das ist ..." when identifying or describing something.
ist
In "das ist alles", "ist" means "is" and connects "das" with "alles". The same form connects "Die Schlange" with "lang" in "Die Schlange ist lang." Reuse "ist" to say what something is like or what it is.
alles
In "das ist alles", "alles" means "everything" and indicates that nothing more is needed in this situation. It completes the statement about what has been considered. Use it when referring to the whole amount or set of relevant things.
Dann
"Dann" means "then" and signals the next action after the speakers have decided that they have everything. In "Dann gehen wir zur Kasse", it appears at the beginning of the sentence. Reuse "Dann" to connect a decision or condition with what happens next.
gehen
In "Dann gehen wir zur Kasse", "gehen" means "go" and is part of the suggestion to move to the checkout. It is used with the subject "wir". Reuse it when saying that you and another person are going somewhere.
zur
In "zur Kasse", "zur" means "to the" and marks the destination of going. It is the contracted form of "zu der". Reuse the complete phrase "zur Kasse" when referring to going to the checkout.
Kasse
In "zur Kasse", "Kasse" means the checkout or register area in this shop context. It is the destination in "Dann gehen wir zur Kasse." Reuse "zur Kasse gehen" when talking about going to pay in a shop.
Die
In "Die Schlange ist lang", "Die" means "the" and introduces the specific line being discussed. It comes directly before "Schlange". Reuse this article before a known noun when referring to a specific thing.
Schlange
In "Die Schlange ist lang", "Schlange" means "line" or "queue" at the shop checkout. The later phrase "die Schlange an der Kasse" specifies the same kind of line. Use it when talking about waiting in a line.
lang
In "Die Schlange ist lang", "lang" means "long" and describes the length of the line. It tells the speakers why they may want another line. Use it to describe something with considerable length.
Dort
In "Dort drüben", "Dort" means "there" and points to a place away from the speakers. Together with "drüben", it directs attention to the other checkout area. Reuse "Dort" when indicating a place that is not where you are standing.
drüben
In "Dort drüben", "drüben" contributes the meaning "over there" and helps point out the other location. It works together with "Dort" rather than naming the location by itself. Reuse "dort drüben" when directing someone to a visible place away from you.
an
In "an der Kasse", "an" means "at" and places the line in relation to the checkout. The complete phrase identifies which line is meant. Reuse "an der Kasse" when referring to something located at the checkout.
kürzer
In "Dort drüben ist die Schlange an der Kasse kürzer", "kürzer" means "shorter" and compares this line with the long line already mentioned. It is the comparative form of "kurz". Use it when one thing has less length than another.
Stellen
In "Stellen wir uns dort an", "Stellen" begins the suggestion "let's line up". With "uns" and the ending element "an", the whole expression means that the speakers should join the line. Reuse the full expression when suggesting that two or more people line up.
uns
In "Stellen wir uns dort an", "uns" refers back to "wir" and shows that the speakers line themselves up. It is part of the expression meaning "let's line up", not the whole meaning by itself. Reuse it with this construction when the speakers are joining a line themselves.
Grammar Points
sich anstellen: Stellen wir uns ... an
Stellen wir uns dort an.
SHTELL-en veer oons DORT ahn.Let's line up over there.
Bei einem trennbaren Verb steht „an“ am Satzende. „uns“ ist das Reflexivpronomen zu „sich anstellen“.
Komparativ mit -er: kürzer
Die Schlange dort ist kürzer.
dee SHLAHNG-uh DORT ist KYUR-tsur.The line there is shorter.
„Kürzer“ ist die Vergleichsform von „kurz“ und vergleicht zwei Schlangen oder Linien.
German Vocabulary
alles
pron
AHL-uhs
everything
brauchen
verb
BROW-khen
to need
Brauchen
dann
adv
DAHN
then
Dann
dort
adv
DORT
there
drüben
adv
DREW-ben
over there; across there
etwas
pron
EHT-vahs
something; anything
gehen
verb
GAY-en
to go
glauben
verb
GLOW-ben
to think; to believe
glaube
Kasse
noun
KASS-uh
checkout; cash register
lang
adj
LAHNG
long
noch
adv
nokh
still; else
Schlange
noun
SHLAHNG-uh
line; queue
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Do we need anything else?
Show Answer
Brauchen wir noch etwas?I think that's everything.
Show Answer
Ich glaube, das ist alles.Then let's go to the checkout.
Show Answer
Dann gehen wir zur Kasse.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
still; else
Show Answer
nochto go
Show Answer
gehento think; to believe
Show Answer
glaubecheckout; cash register