Organizing a bag | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Organizing a bag to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ist meine Brille in dieser Tasche?

ihst MY-nuh BRIH-luh ihn DEE-zuh TAH-shuh? Are my glasses in this bag?

Sie ist in der Seitentasche.

zee ihst ihn dair ZITE-en-tah-shuh. They're in the side pocket.

Ich brauche auch mein Notizbuch.

ikh BROW-khuh owkh mine no-TEETS-bookh. I need my notebook too.

Es liegt unter deinem Regenschirm.

ess leekt OON-tuh DOY-nem RAY-gen-shirm. It's under your umbrella.

Kann ich den Regenschirm bewegen?

kahn ikh dane RAY-gen-shirm beh-VAY-gən? Can I move the umbrella?

Stell ihn neben den Griff, damit er nicht im Weg ist.

shtell een NAY-ben dane grif, dah-MIT air nikht im vayk ihst. Put it by the handle so it stays out of the way.

Ich ordne die Tasche jetzt.

ikh ORT-nuh dee TAH-shuh yetst. I'll organize the bag now.

Dann ist es leichter, Dinge zu finden.

dahn ihst ess LYE-khtuh, DING-uh tsoo FIN-den. Then it will be easier to find things.

Word by Word

Ist “Ist” means “is” in the question “Ist meine Brille in dieser Tasche?” It is used at the start because this is a yes-or-no question; a reusable pattern is “Ist ... in ...?” for asking whether something is in a place.

meine “Meine” means “my” before “Brille” in “meine Brille.” It shows that the glasses belong to or are associated with the speaker; a reusable pattern is “meine” plus a person’s belonging, such as “meine Tasche.”

Brille “Brille” refers to the speaker’s glasses in “meine Brille.” German uses this singular word for the pair of glasses; it is useful when asking where your glasses are or identifying them.

in “In” means “in” in “in dieser Tasche,” describing the bag that contains the glasses. A reusable pattern is “in” plus a place, such as “in der Tasche.”

dieser “Dieser” points to the specific bag in “dieser Tasche,” meaning “this” bag. It is used together with the noun rather than standing alone; a reusable pattern is “in dieser” plus a place or container.

Tasche “Tasche” means “bag” in “dieser Tasche.” It names the container being discussed; a reusable pattern is “in der Tasche” for saying that something is in the bag.

Sie “Sie” means “it” in “Sie ist in der Seitentasche,” referring back to “Brille.” It lets the speaker avoid repeating the noun; a reusable pattern is “Sie ist in ...” when referring to the glasses.

der “Der” means “the” in “der Seitentasche.” It appears as part of the phrase naming the pocket where the glasses are; a reusable pattern is “in der” plus a feminine place or container.

Seitentasche “Seitentasche” means “side pocket” in “in der Seitentasche.” It identifies the particular pocket inside or on the bag; it can be reused when telling someone where a small item is stored.

Ich “Ich” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Ich brauche auch mein Notizbuch.” It commonly comes before the verb in a simple statement; a reusable pattern is “Ich brauche ...” when saying that you need something.

brauche “Brauche” means “need” in “Ich brauche auch mein Notizbuch.” It expresses that the speaker needs or wants to have the notebook available; a reusable pattern is “Ich brauche” plus the needed object.

auch “Auch” means “also” or “too” in “Ich brauche auch mein Notizbuch.” It adds the notebook to something the speaker already needs; it can be placed before the added object to say that another item is needed as well.

mein “Mein” means “my” before “Notizbuch” in “mein Notizbuch.” It connects the notebook with the speaker; a reusable pattern is “mein” plus a personal belonging.

Notizbuch “Notizbuch” means “notebook” in “mein Notizbuch.” It names the item the speaker needs; it is useful when asking for or locating a notebook.

Es “Es” means “it” in “Es liegt unter deinem Regenschirm,” referring back to “Notizbuch.” It avoids repeating the noun and is used here to introduce information about where the notebook is.

liegt “Liegt” means “lies” or “is located” in “Es liegt unter deinem Regenschirm.” It describes the notebook’s position while it is resting somewhere; a reusable pattern is “[thing] liegt unter ...” for locating an object.

unter “Unter” means “under” in “unter deinem Regenschirm.” It describes the notebook’s position below the umbrella; a reusable pattern is “unter” plus the object that is above it.

deinem “Deinem” means “your” before “Regenschirm” in “deinem Regenschirm.” It identifies the umbrella as belonging to the person being addressed; a reusable pattern is “unter deinem” plus an item.

Regenschirm “Regenschirm” means “umbrella” in “deinem Regenschirm.” It names the object under which the notebook is located and the object that can be moved in the next line.

Kann “Kann” means “can” in “Kann ich den Regenschirm bewegen?” It asks whether the speaker is allowed or able to move the umbrella; a reusable question pattern is “Kann ich ...?” followed by an action.

den “Den” means “the” in “den Regenschirm.” It identifies the umbrella as the object affected by “bewegen”; a reusable pattern is “Kann ich den” plus an object when asking to move or handle it.

bewegen “Bewegen” means “move” in “den Regenschirm bewegen.” It names the action the speaker wants to take with the umbrella; after “Kann ich,” the action stays in this form at the end of the question.

Stell “Stell” means “put” or “place” in “Stell ihn neben den Griff.” It gives a direct instruction to place the umbrella somewhere; a reusable pattern is “Stell” plus an object and a location.

ihn “Ihn” means “it” in “Stell ihn neben den Griff,” referring to “Regenschirm.” It is the object being placed next to the handle; a reusable pattern is “Stell ihn” when instructing someone where to put that object.

neben “Neben” means “next to” or “by” in “neben den Griff.” It gives the intended position of the umbrella beside the handle; a reusable pattern is “neben” plus the nearby object.

Griff “Griff” means “handle” in “neben den Griff.” It identifies the part of the bag or item beside which the umbrella should be placed; it is useful when giving a precise location.

damit “Damit” means “so that” in “damit er nicht im Weg ist.” It introduces the purpose of placing the umbrella by the handle; a reusable pattern is “damit” followed by the result or purpose of an action.

er “Er” means “it” in “damit er nicht im Weg ist,” referring to “Regenschirm.” It keeps the umbrella as the subject of the purpose clause; a reusable pattern is “damit er ...” when explaining what the umbrella should or should not do.

nicht “Nicht” means “not” in “nicht im Weg.” It negates the idea that the umbrella is in the way; a reusable pattern is “nicht” before the phrase or information being rejected.

im “Im” means “in the” in “im Weg.” It is the fixed form used in the expression “im Weg sein,” meaning to be in the way; this expression is useful when something obstructs movement or access.

Weg “Weg” means “way” in the expression “im Weg.” Together, “im Weg” means that something is obstructing or inconveniently placed; it can be used to explain why an object should be moved.

ordne “Ordne” means “organize” in “Ich ordne die Tasche jetzt.” It describes the speaker arranging the bag and its contents; a reusable pattern is “Ich ordne” plus the thing being organized.

jetzt “Jetzt” means “now” in “Ich ordne die Tasche jetzt.” It places the organizing action at the current time; it can be added to a sentence to say that something is happening immediately.

Dann “Dann” means “then” in “Dann ist es leichter, Dinge zu finden.” It connects the organizing action with its expected result; a reusable pattern is “Dann ist es ...” when describing what follows an action.

leichter “Leichter” means “easier” in “ist es leichter, Dinge zu finden.” It says that finding things will require less effort after the bag is organized; a reusable pattern is “Es ist leichter, ... zu” followed by an action.

Dinge “Dinge” means “things” in “Dinge zu finden.” It refers generally to the items in the bag without naming each one; a reusable pattern is “Dinge finden” when talking about locating items.

zu “Zu” marks the infinitive in “Dinge zu finden,” meaning “to find things.” It links the action of finding with “leichter”; a reusable pattern is “Es ist leichter, ... zu” plus the action that becomes easier.

finden “Finden” means “find” in “Dinge zu finden.” It names the action that will become easier after the bag is organized; a reusable pattern is “Dinge zu finden” for saying that items are easier to locate.

Grammar Points

liegen + unter/neben

liegt unter

leekt OON-tuh

is under

Use liegen for an object that is already in a location; unter and neben describe its position.

stellen + neben

Stell neben

SHTELL NAY-ben

put next to

Use stellen when placing something in a new position; neben shows where it should go.

German Vocabulary

bewegen verb

beh-VAY-gən to move

brauchen verb

BROW-khən to need brauche

Brille noun

BRIH-luh glasses

Griff noun

grif handle

liegen verb

LEE-gən to lie; to be located liegt

neben prep

NAY-ben next to; beside

Notizbuch noun

no-TEETS-bookh notebook

Regenschirm noun

RAY-gen-shirm umbrella

Seitentasche noun

ZITE-en-tah-shuh side pocket

stellen verb

SHTELL-en to put; to place Stell

Tasche noun

TAH-shuh bag

unter prep

OON-tuh under

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Are my glasses in this bag?

Show Answer

Ist meine Brille in dieser Tasche?

They're in the side pocket.

Show Answer

Sie ist in der Seitentasche.

I need my notebook too.

Show Answer

Ich brauche auch mein Notizbuch.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

under

Show Answer

unter

to need

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brauche

notebook

Show Answer

Notizbuch

to move

Show Answer

bewegen