Preparing for a meeting | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Preparing for a meeting to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Sind die Besprechungsnotizen fertig?

zint dee beh-SHPREKH-oongs-noh-TEE-tsen FEHR-tikh Are the meeting notes ready?

Sie liegen auf meinem Schreibtisch.

zee LEE-gen owf MY-nem SHRYE-btish They are on my desk.

Gibt es eine Kopie für mich?

gipt ess EYE-nuh koh-PEE fyoor mikh Is there a copy for me?

Hier ist eine.

heer ist EYE-nuh Here is one.

Was besprechen wir heute?

vahss beh-SHPREKH-en veer HOY-tuh What are we discussing today?

Wir besprechen den neuen Plan.

veer beh-SHPREKH-en dehn NOY-en plahn We will discuss the new plan.

Lass mich die Notizen lesen, bevor wir anfangen.

lahss mikh dee noh-TEE-tsen LAY-zen, beh-FOHR veer AHN-fahng-en Let me read the notes before we start.

Nimm dir eine Minute, bevor wir anfangen.

nim deer EYE-nuh mee-NOO-tuh, beh-FOHR veer AHN-fahng-en Take a minute before we begin.

Word by Word

Sind “Sind” means “are” in the question “Sind die Besprechungsnotizen fertig?” and asks whether the meeting notes are ready. Its basic form is “sein”; “Sind” is the form used with the plural subject “die Besprechungsnotizen”. A new example is “Sind die Unterlagen fertig?” when checking whether documents are ready.

die “Die” means “the” in “die Besprechungsnotizen” and identifies the specific meeting notes being discussed. It is used directly before the noun. A new example is “die Unterlagen” for “the documents”.

Besprechungsnotizen “Besprechungsnotizen” means “meeting notes” in “Sind die Besprechungsnotizen fertig?” It names the notes prepared for the meeting and is a compound word containing the meeting context and the notes. You can use it when asking about or referring to notes for a meeting.

fertig “Fertig” means “ready” or “finished” in “Sind die Besprechungsnotizen fertig?” Here it asks whether the notes are complete and ready to use. A new example is “Der Bericht ist fertig” when saying that a report is finished.

Sie “Sie” means “they” in “Sie liegen auf meinem Schreibtisch” and refers back to the meeting notes. It is the subject of the sentence describing where the notes are. Use “Sie” in this meaning when referring back to plural things already mentioned.

liegen “Liegen” means “lie” or “are located” in “Sie liegen auf meinem Schreibtisch.” It describes the notes as being placed on the desk. A new example is “Die Bücher liegen auf dem Tisch” when describing where books are.

auf “Auf” means “on” in “auf meinem Schreibtisch” and shows the location of the notes. In this dialogue it connects the notes with the surface of the desk. A new example is “auf dem Tisch” for something located on the table.

meinem “Meinem” means “my” in “auf meinem Schreibtisch” and identifies the desk as belonging to the speaker. It appears directly before “Schreibtisch” in this location phrase. Use the pattern “auf meinem ...” when describing something located on your own named object.

Schreibtisch “Schreibtisch” means “desk” in “auf meinem Schreibtisch.” It identifies the place where the meeting notes are located. A new example is “Ich sitze am Schreibtisch” when saying that you are sitting at the desk.

Gibt “Gibt” is part of the question “Gibt es eine Kopie für mich?” and helps ask whether a copy exists. Its basic form is “geben”; here the expression “Gibt es ...?” means “Is there ...?” Use “Gibt es ...?” to ask whether something is available or exists.

es “Es” is part of “Gibt es eine Kopie für mich?” and belongs to the expression used to ask whether something exists or is available. It does not mean a separate “there” on its own here. Use the reusable pattern “Gibt es ...?” followed by the thing you are asking about.

eine “Eine” means “a” or “one” in “Gibt es eine Kopie für mich?” and introduces one copy. In “Hier ist eine,” it refers back to that copy. Use “eine” when referring to one item described by “Kopie” in this dialogue.

Kopie “Kopie” means “copy” in “eine Kopie für mich.” It identifies the duplicate document being requested. A new example is “Ich brauche eine Kopie” when saying that you need a copy.

für “Für” means “for” in “für mich” and shows who the copy is intended for. It is followed here by “mich,” referring to the speaker. A new example is “Das ist für dich” when giving something to someone.

mich “Mich” means “me” in “für mich” and identifies the person who should receive the copy. It follows “für” in this expression. A new example is “Sie sehen mich” when saying that they see me.

Hier “Hier” means “here” in “Hier ist eine” and points to the place where the copy is being presented. It is used at the start to draw attention to the available copy. Use “Hier ist ...” when handing or pointing out something nearby.

ist “Ist” means “is” in “Hier ist eine” and states that the copy is present here. Its basic form is “sein”; “ist” is the form used for the singular item being presented. A new example is “Hier ist der Plan” when pointing out the plan.

Was “Was” means “what” in “Was besprechen wir heute?” and asks for the topic of the discussion. It appears at the beginning of the question. Use “Was besprechen wir ...?” to ask what people are discussing.

besprechen “Besprechen” means “discuss” in “Was besprechen wir heute?” and “Wir besprechen den neuen Plan.” It describes talking about a topic together, and the object can follow it directly, as in “den neuen Plan.” Use “Wir besprechen ...” when stating the topic of a discussion.

wir “Wir” means “we” in “Wir besprechen den neuen Plan,” while lowercase “wir” appears in “bevor wir anfangen” and also means “we.” It identifies the speaker together with one or more other people. Use “wir” before an action when saying that you and others do it together.

heute “Heute” means “today” in “Was besprechen wir heute?” and places the discussion in the current day. It tells the listener when the discussion is taking place. A new example is “Wir treffen uns heute” when saying that you are meeting today.

den “Den” means “the” in “den neuen Plan” and identifies the specific new plan that will be discussed. It appears before the adjective and noun as the complete noun phrase. A new example is “Wir lesen den Bericht” when referring to a specific report.

neuen “Neuen” means “new” in “den neuen Plan” and describes the plan as new. It appears between “den” and “Plan” in this noun phrase. Use the pattern “den neuen ...” when describing a specific new item that is being discussed or used.

Plan “Plan” means “plan” in “den neuen Plan.” It is the topic that the speakers will discuss. A new example is “Der Plan ist gut” when giving an opinion about a plan.

Lass “Lass” begins the request “Lass mich die Notizen lesen” and means “let” or “allow.” The speaker is asking to read the notes before the group starts. Its basic form is “lassen”; use the pattern “Lass mich ...” to ask someone to allow you to do something.

Notizen “Notizen” means “notes” in “die Notizen lesen.” It refers to the notes the speaker wants to read before the meeting begins. Use the pattern “die Notizen lesen” when talking about reading specific notes.

lesen “Lesen” means “read” in “Lass mich die Notizen lesen.” It names the action the speaker asks to perform. Its basic form is “lesen”; use it with a direct object such as “die Notizen lesen” or “ein Buch lesen.”

bevor “Bevor” means “before” in “bevor wir anfangen” and introduces the action that must happen before the meeting starts. It connects the reading of the notes with the beginning of the meeting. Use “bevor” followed by a clause when comparing the timing of two actions.

anfangen “Anfangen” means “start” or “begin” in “bevor wir anfangen.” It refers to the speakers beginning the meeting or discussion. Use the pattern “bevor wir anfangen” when saying that something happens before the group starts.

Nimm “Nimm” means “take” in “Nimm dir eine Minute” and gives the other person an instruction to take some time. Its basic form is “nehmen”; “Nimm” is the form used in this direct request. Use “Nimm dir ...” when telling someone to take a short amount of time for themselves.

dir “Dir” means “for yourself” or “to you” in “Nimm dir eine Minute.” Together with “Nimm” and “eine Minute,” it shows that the listener should take a minute for their own preparation. Use the pattern “Nimm dir eine Minute” when asking someone to pause briefly.

Minute “Minute” means “minute” in “Nimm dir eine Minute” and names the short amount of time the listener should take before the meeting begins. It follows the quantity word “eine” in this expression. A new example is “Warte eine Minute” when asking someone to wait for one minute.

Grammar Points

Lass mich + Infinitiv

Lass mich lesen.

lahss mikh LAY-zen

Let me read.

Lass mich + infinitive means “let me do something.” The second verb stays in the infinitive.

Bevor + clause: verb at the end

Bevor wir anfangen, lesen wir.

beh-FOHR veer AHN-fahng-en, LAY-zen veer

Before we start, we read.

After bevor, the conjugated verb goes to the end of the subordinate clause.

German Vocabulary

auf prep

owf on

Besprechungsnotiz noun

beh-SHPREKH-oongs-noh-TEETS meeting note Besprechungsnotizen

fertig adj

FEHR-tikh ready

für prep

fyoor for

geben verb

GAY-ben to give; there is gibt

hier adv

heer here

Kopie noun

koh-PEE copy

liegen verb

LEE-gen to lie; to be located

mein det

MYNE my meinem

mich pron

mikh me

Schreibtisch noun

SHRYE-btish desk

sein verb

ZYNE to be ist

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Are the meeting notes ready?

Show Answer

Sind die Besprechungsnotizen fertig?

They are on my desk.

Show Answer

Sie liegen auf meinem Schreibtisch.

Is there a copy for me?

Show Answer

Gibt es eine Kopie für mich?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

ready

Show Answer

fertig

desk

Show Answer

Schreibtisch

copy

Show Answer

Kopie

Show Answer

meinem