Asking about a close deadline | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: In a workplace, two adults discuss a close deadline and divide the next steps for checking notes and writing an update..

EN → DE / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Asking about a close deadline to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ist die Frist bald fällig?

ist dee FRIST bahlt FELL-ikh? Is the deadline coming up soon?
B

Die Frist läuft bald ab.

dee FRIST loyft bahlt AHP. The deadline is close.
B

Dann beginnen wir mit dem Hauptteil.

dahn beh-GIN-en veer mit daym HOWPT-tile. So let's start with the main part.
A

Willst du das jetzt übernehmen?

VILLST doo dahs yetst UE-ber-NAY-men? Do you want to take that on now?
B

Ich kann anfangen, während du die Datei prüfst.

ikh kahn AHN-fang-en, VAIR-ent doo dee dah-TIE PRUE-fst. I can start while you check the file.
A

Wonach soll ich zuerst suchen?

voh-NAHKH zoll ikh tsoo-AIRST ZOO-khen? What should I look for first?
B

Achte darauf, dass die Notizen zur Anfrage passen.

AHKH-tuh dah-ROWF, dahss dee noh-TEE-tsen tsoor AHN-frah-guh PAHS-en. Make sure the notes match the request.
A

Dann schreibe ich ein kurzes Update.

dahn SHRY-buh ikh ine KOORT-es UP-dayt. Then I'll write a short update.
B

Wenn es fertig ist, können wir es teilen.

ven es FAIR-tikh ist, KUR-nen veer es TIE-len. When it's ready, we can share it.

Word by Word

Ist In “Ist die Frist bald fällig?”, “Ist” asks whether the deadline is due soon. It is the sentence-initial form of sein meaning “is”. A reusable question pattern is “Ist + noun + adjective?”.
die In “die Frist”, “die” means “the” and identifies the specific deadline being discussed. It comes directly before the noun. Reuse the pattern “die + noun” when referring to a specific item.
Frist “Frist” means deadline: the time limit being discussed at work. It is the item that may soon be due or expire. Use it when talking about a fixed time limit for completing something.
bald In “bald fällig” and “bald ab”, “bald” means soon, indicating that the deadline is approaching. It commonly appears before an adjective or alongside a verb phrase to mark near-future timing. Use it when something is expected shortly.
fällig In “bald fällig”, “fällig” means due, so the deadline is nearly at the point when the work must be completed. It is used with sein, as in the question “Ist die Frist bald fällig?”. Use it when a payment, task, or deadline has reached its required time.
läuft In “Die Frist läuft bald ab”, “läuft” describes the deadline as progressing toward its end. Together with “ab”, the expression means that the deadline is about to expire; “läuft” alone does not carry the complete meaning here. The pattern “etwas läuft ab” is used for something time-limited that expires.
ab In “Die Frist läuft bald ab”, “ab” completes the separable expression “läuft ... ab” and adds the idea of ending or expiring. It appears at the end of this main clause. Use the complete pattern “etwas läuft ab” for an expiring deadline or time limit.
Dann In “Dann beginnen wir mit dem Hauptteil”, “Dann” means then and moves the conversation to the next step. It also appears before the next planned action in “Dann schreibe ich ein kurzes Update.” Use it to connect actions in sequence, especially when organizing work.
beginnen In “beginnen wir mit dem Hauptteil”, “beginnen” means start or begin. It describes starting with the main section of the work. The reusable pattern is “mit etwas beginnen” when naming what to start with.
wir “Wir” means we and refers to the two coworkers acting together. It is the subject of “beginnen” in this line. Use “wir + verb” to describe a shared plan or action.
mit In “mit dem Hauptteil”, “mit” links the beginning to what they will start with. The pattern “mit etwas beginnen” is used to name the starting point of an activity. Here it introduces the main part of the work.
dem In “mit dem Hauptteil”, “dem” means the and belongs to the noun phrase after “mit”. The form “dem” appears here because of the fixed pattern with “mit”. Reuse “mit dem + noun” when referring to a specific item after “mit”.
Hauptteil “Hauptteil” means main part, specifically the central section of the work. It is the part they decide to begin with. Use it when distinguishing the central section from other sections of a task or document.
Willst In “Willst du das jetzt übernehmen?”, “Willst” means want and asks whether the other person is willing to take responsibility for the task. It is the form of wollen used with du. A reusable question pattern is “Willst du + infinitive?”.
du “Du” means you and addresses one person directly. Here it is the subject of “Willst” and later of “prüfst”. Use “du + verb” when asking one person about their action or willingness.
das In “das jetzt übernehmen”, “das” refers to the task or main part mentioned in the conversation. It is the object of “übernehmen”. Use “das übernehmen” when taking responsibility for a previously mentioned task.
jetzt “Jetzt” means now and asks whether the task should be taken on immediately. It specifies the timing of “übernehmen”. Use it with an action when emphasizing that something should happen at the present time.
übernehmen In “das jetzt übernehmen”, “übernehmen” means take on or accept responsibility for the task. After “Willst”, it appears as the infinitive. The pattern “etwas übernehmen” is useful when assigning or accepting responsibility for work.
Ich “Ich” means I and identifies the speaker as the person who can start the work. It is the subject of “kann anfangen”. Use “Ich + verb” to state your own action, ability, or offer.
kann In “Ich kann anfangen”, “kann” means can or be able to. It expresses the speaker’s ability or readiness to start. The reusable pattern is “Ich kann + infinitive” when offering or describing what you are able to do.
anfangen In “Ich kann anfangen”, “anfangen” means start or begin the work. It remains in the infinitive after “kann”. Use it after a modal verb to say that someone can start an activity.
während In “während du die Datei prüfst”, “während” means while and connects two actions happening at the same time. It introduces the clause describing the other person’s simultaneous action. Use “während + clause” to coordinate parallel tasks.
Datei “Datei” means file, referring here to the digital file being checked. It is the object of the checking action. Use it when talking about a file that someone needs to open, review, or update.
prüfst In “du die Datei prüfst”, “prüfst” means check or review. It is the form of prüfen used with du, and it appears at the end because it is in the clause introduced by “während”. Use it with a file or other item that needs to be checked.
Wonach In “Wonach soll ich zuerst suchen?”, “Wonach” means what to look for or what someone should search for. It asks for the object of the search. Use this question form when asking what information or item to search for.
soll In “soll ich zuerst suchen?”, “soll” means should and asks what action is expected or advisable. It is the form of sollen used with ich and is followed by the infinitive “suchen”. The pattern “Soll ich + infinitive?” is useful for asking what to do.
zuerst “Zuerst” means first and asks which search should have priority. It places the action at the beginning of the planned sequence. Use it when deciding the first step in a task.
suchen In “Wonach soll ich zuerst suchen?”, “suchen” means look for or search. It appears as the infinitive after “soll”. Use it when asking or explaining what information or item someone needs to find.
Achte In “Achte darauf, dass die Notizen zur Anfrage passen”, “Achte” means make sure or pay attention. It is a direct instruction to check an important condition. The reusable pattern is “Achte darauf, dass + clause” when telling someone to ensure that something is true.
darauf In “Achte darauf, dass die Notizen zur Anfrage passen”, “darauf” is part of the construction meaning make sure of it or pay attention to this. It points forward to the condition in the following clause. Use the complete pattern “Achte darauf, dass + clause” rather than treating “darauf” as the whole instruction.
dass In “dass die Notizen zur Anfrage passen”, “dass” means that and introduces the condition that must be checked. It links “Achte darauf” to the information being verified. Use it to introduce a content clause after an instruction or statement.
Notizen “Notizen” means notes, referring to the written information that must be compared with the request. The form is plural because the dialogue discusses notes as a group. Use it when checking or discussing written points from a meeting or task.
zur In “zur Anfrage”, “zur” means to the and is the contraction of zu der. It marks the relationship between the notes and the request. Use “zur + noun” when this contraction is required before a feminine noun.
Anfrage “Anfrage” means request or inquiry, referring here to the request that the notes must match. It is the reference point for checking the notes. The pattern “zur Anfrage passen” expresses matching or fitting the request.
passen In “die Notizen zur Anfrage passen”, “passen” means match or fit, meaning that the notes correspond to the request. It appears at the end of the clause introduced by “dass”. Use the pattern “zu etwas passen” when saying that one thing corresponds to another.
schreibe In “Dann schreibe ich ein kurzes Update”, “schreibe” means write. It is the form of schreiben used with ich and describes the speaker’s next task. Use it with a direct object when saying what you will write.
ein In “ein kurzes Update”, “ein” means a or an and introduces one update. It appears before the adjective and noun. Use “ein + noun” to introduce one item that has not yet been specified.
kurzes In “ein kurzes Update”, “kurzes” means short and describes the update as brief. It is the form of kurz used before “Update” in this phrase. Use the pattern “ein kurzes + noun” for a brief item or message.
Update “Update” means update, referring to a short status message about the work. It is the thing the speaker plans to write. Use it in a workplace when sharing current information or progress.
Wenn In “Wenn es fertig ist, können wir es teilen”, “Wenn” means when or if and introduces the condition or time point for the next action. It connects completion with sharing. Use “Wenn + clause” when saying what can happen once a condition is met.
es In “Wenn es fertig ist” and “wir es teilen”, “es” refers to the item being prepared, most naturally the update. It is the thing that becomes ready and is later shared. Use it to refer back to a previously mentioned neuter item or piece of work.
fertig In “es fertig ist”, “fertig” means ready or finished. It describes the state the item must reach before it can be shared. Use the pattern “etwas ist fertig” when a task or document is complete.
können In “können wir es teilen”, “können” means can or be able to. It expresses that the two people are able to share the item once it is ready. The reusable pattern is “wir können + infinitive” for a shared ability or possibility.
teilen In “wir es teilen”, “teilen” means share. It appears as the infinitive after “können”, and “es” identifies what will be shared. Use the pattern “etwas teilen” when distributing or making an item available to others.

Grammar Points

ablaufen → läuft ... ab

Die Frist läuft bald ab.

dee FRIST loyft bahlt AHP.

The deadline expires soon.

The separable verb ablaufen splits in a main clause: the prefix ab moves to the end.

German Vocabulary

ablaufen verb
AHP-low-fen to expire läuft ... ab

Die Frist läuft bald ab.

anfangen verb
AHN-fang-en to start

Ich kann anfangen, während du die Datei prüfst.

bald adv
BAHLT soon

Die Frist läuft bald ab.

beginnen verb
beh-GIN-en to begin

Dann beginnen wir mit dem Hauptteil.

Datei noun
dah-TIE file

Während du die Datei prüfst.

fällig adj
FELL-ikh due

Ist die Frist bald fällig?

Frist noun
FRIST deadline

Die Frist läuft bald ab.

Hauptteil noun
HOWPT-tile main part

Dann beginnen wir mit dem Hauptteil.

prüfen verb
PRUE-fen to check prüfst

Während du die Datei prüfst.

suchen verb
ZOO-khen to look for

Wonach soll ich zuerst suchen?

übernehmen verb
UE-ber-NAY-men to take on

Willst du das jetzt übernehmen?

während conj
VAIR-ent while

Ich kann anfangen, während du die Datei prüfst.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Is the deadline coming up soon?

Show AnswerIst die Frist bald fällig?

The deadline is close.

Show AnswerDie Frist läuft bald ab.

So let's start with the main part.

Show AnswerDann beginnen wir mit dem Hauptteil.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to begin

Show Answerbeginnen

while

Show Answerwährend

to start

Show Answeranfangen

to take on

Show Answerübernehmen