Returning to Work After a Break | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: After a break at work, two adults return to the desk and start the next task with a file..

EN → DE / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Returning to Work After a Break to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Fühlst du dich bereit, wieder zu arbeiten?

FYUHLST doo dikh beh-RITE, VEE-der tsoo AR-bye-ten? Do you feel ready to work again?
B

Ich fühle mich jetzt besser.

ikh FYOO-luh mikh yetst BES-er. I feel better now.
A

Sollen wir zurück zum Schreibtisch gehen?

ZOL-en veer tsoo-ROOK tsoom SHRITE-tish GAY-en? Should we go back to the desk?
B

Die Pause ist vorbei, also gehen wir los.

dee POW-zuh ist for-BYE, AL-zoh GAY-en veer lohs. The break is over, so let's get moving.
A

Ich brauche die Datei für die nächste Aufgabe.

ikh BROW-khuh dee dah-TIE fyur dee NEKH-stuh OWP-gah-buh. I need the file for the next task.
B

Sie ist auf dem Schreibtisch.

zee ist owf daym SHRITE-tish. It's on the desk.
A

Ich kann mich jetzt besser konzentrieren.

ikh kahn mikh yetst BES-er kon-tsen-TREE-ren. I can focus better now.
B

Dann fangen wir mit der Datei an.

dan FANG-en veer mit dair dah-TIE an. Then let's start with the file.

Word by Word

Fühlst “Fühlst” means “feel” in the question “Fühlst du dich bereit, wieder zu arbeiten?”. It is the form of fühlen used with du; reuse it in a question about someone’s state, as in “Fühlst du dich bereit?”. It is useful when checking whether someone feels ready to begin something.
du “Du” means “you” when speaking to one person informally in “Fühlst du dich bereit, wieder zu arbeiten?”. It is the subject of the question and comes after the verb here. Use it with a person you address informally, as in “Fühlst du dich besser?”. This is a new example.
dich “Dich” refers to “yourself” in “Fühlst du dich bereit, wieder zu arbeiten?”. Together with fühlen, it helps express how the person feels. A reusable pattern is “Fühlst du dich ...?” when asking about someone’s condition or readiness.
bereit “Bereit” means “ready” in “Fühlst du dich bereit, wieder zu arbeiten?”. It describes the person’s state before the activity expressed by “wieder zu arbeiten”. Use “sich bereit fühlen” when checking readiness for an action.
wieder “Wieder” means “again” in “wieder zu arbeiten”, referring to returning to work after the break. It appears before the infinitive phrase here. Use it when an activity happens another time, as in “wieder anfangen”. This is a new example.
zu “Zu” marks the infinitive in “wieder zu arbeiten”, which means “to work again”. It connects bereit with the action the person is ready for. A reusable pattern is “bereit, ... zu + infinitive”, as in “bereit, zu arbeiten”.
arbeiten “Arbeiten” means “to work” in “wieder zu arbeiten”. It is the infinitive after “zu” and names the activity the speakers are returning to. Use “zu arbeiten” after expressions such as “bereit” when describing an action someone is ready for.
Ich “Ich” means “I” in “Ich fühle mich jetzt besser.” It identifies the speaker as the person describing their own feeling. Use it at the beginning of a statement about your own state or action.
fühle “Fühle” means “feel” in “Ich fühle mich jetzt besser.” It is the form of fühlen used with ich and is followed by “mich” in this expression. Use “Ich fühle mich ...” to describe how you feel after a change or event.
mich “Mich” refers to “myself” in “Ich fühle mich jetzt besser.” Together, “fühle mich” expresses the speaker’s own feeling rather than an action directed at another person. Use “Ich fühle mich ...” when describing your personal condition.
jetzt “Jetzt” means “now” in “Ich fühle mich jetzt besser.” It places the improved feeling at the present moment. Use it to contrast the current situation with an earlier one, as in “Ich bin jetzt bereit.” This is a new example.
besser “Besser” means “better” in “Ich fühle mich jetzt besser.” It shows that the speaker’s condition has improved. Use it after “sich fühlen” to describe an improved state, as in “Ich fühle mich besser.”
Sollen “Sollen” means “should” in the question “Sollen wir zurück zum Schreibtisch gehen?”. It asks whether the speakers ought to do the suggested action. Use “Sollen wir ...?” to propose an action for both people.
wir “Wir” means “we” in “Sollen wir zurück zum Schreibtisch gehen?”. It refers to the speaker and the other person together. Use it as the subject when suggesting or describing a shared action.
zurück “Zurück” means “back” in “zurück zum Schreibtisch”. It shows that the speakers are returning to a previous place, the desk. Use it with a movement verb when describing a return, as in “zurück gehen”. This is a new example.
zum “Zum” means “to the” in “zum Schreibtisch”. It is the contracted form of zu and dem used before Schreibtisch. Use “zum” when expressing movement toward a masculine or neuter place or thing with this construction.
Schreibtisch “Schreibtisch” means “desk” in “zum Schreibtisch”. It names the place the speakers are returning to after the break. Use it after a movement expression such as “zum Schreibtisch gehen” when talking about going to the desk.
gehen “Gehen” means “go” in “Sollen wir zurück zum Schreibtisch gehen?”. It is the infinitive after “Sollen wir” and describes the proposed movement. Use “gehen” with a destination, as in “zum Schreibtisch gehen”.
Die “Die” means “the” before “Pause” in “Die Pause ist vorbei.” It introduces the specific break being discussed. Because it begins the sentence, it is capitalized here; use it directly before “Pause” in this expression.
Pause “Pause” means “break” in “Die Pause ist vorbei.” It refers to the time away from work that has now ended. Use “die Pause” when talking about a specific break at work or elsewhere.
ist “Ist” means “is” in “Die Pause ist vorbei.” It links “Die Pause” with the state “vorbei”. It is the form of sein used with the singular subject “Die Pause”; use it to describe the current state of one thing.
vorbei “Vorbei” means “over” in “Die Pause ist vorbei.” Together, “ist vorbei” says that the break has ended. Use this expression when a period, event, or activity is finished.
also “Also” means “so” or “therefore” in “Die Pause ist vorbei, also gehen wir los.” It connects the finished break with the decision to start moving. Use it to introduce a consequence or conclusion based on what was just said.
los “Los” contributes the meaning “off” or “moving” in “gehen wir los”, meaning “let’s get moving”. It forms an expression with gehen rather than naming a separate destination. Use “losgehen” or the separated form “gehen wir los” when it is time to start moving.
brauche “Brauche” means “need” in “Ich brauche die Datei für die nächste Aufgabe.” It is the form of brauchen used with ich and is followed by the needed object, “die Datei”. Use “Ich brauche ...” to state that you require a person or thing.
Datei “Datei” means “file” in “Ich brauche die Datei für die nächste Aufgabe.” It refers to the work file needed for the next task. Use it with an article or another determiner when identifying a specific file, as in “die Datei”.
für “Für” means “for” in “für die nächste Aufgabe”. It links the file to the task it is intended for. Use “für” before the person, thing, or task that benefits from or receives something.
nächste “Nächste” means “next” in “die nächste Aufgabe”. It identifies the task that comes after the current one. Use it directly before a noun when referring to the following item or activity.
Aufgabe “Aufgabe” means “task” in “die nächste Aufgabe”. It refers to the piece of work that comes next. Use “eine Aufgabe” or “die Aufgabe” when talking about a work assignment; “die nächste Aufgabe” specifies the following one.
Sie “Sie” refers to the file in “Sie ist auf dem Schreibtisch.” Here it means “it”, not formal “you”, because it replaces “die Datei”. Use the same pronoun to avoid repeating a feminine noun that has already been mentioned.
auf “Auf” means “on” in “auf dem Schreibtisch”. It describes the file’s location on the desk. Use it with a location phrase when saying that something is on a surface, as in “Die Datei ist auf dem Schreibtisch.”
dem “Dem” means “the” in “auf dem Schreibtisch”. It is the article used here before Schreibtisch inside the location phrase. Learn it as part of the reusable expression “auf dem Schreibtisch” for something located on the desk.
kann “Kann” means “can” in “Ich kann mich jetzt besser konzentrieren.” It expresses the speaker’s ability to focus better now. It is the form of können used with ich and is followed by the infinitive “konzentrieren”; use “Ich kann ...” to describe what you are able to do.
konzentrieren “Konzentrieren” contributes the meaning “focus” in “Ich kann mich jetzt besser konzentrieren.” With “mich”, the phrase means that the speaker can concentrate better. Use “sich konzentrieren” when talking about directing one’s attention to work or another activity.
Dann “Dann” means “then” in “Dann fangen wir mit der Datei an.” It connects the next action with what has just been said. Use it to introduce what will happen next, especially after a decision or condition.
fangen “Fangen” has the start meaning in the separated verb expression “fangen wir mit der Datei an.” Together with the final “an”, it means “start” here. Use this expression with “mit” and the activity or object that the group starts with.
mit “Mit” means “with” in “mit der Datei”. It introduces the file that the speakers will use as the starting point. Use “anfangen mit ...” when naming what an activity begins with, as in “mit der Datei anfangen”.
an “An” completes the separated verb in “fangen wir mit der Datei an”, giving the expression the meaning “start”. It appears at the end of the clause while “fangen” remains near the beginning. Use the same separated pattern when saying what a group starts with.

Grammar Points

sich fühlen: sich fühlen / Fühlst du dich …?

Fühlst du dich jetzt besser?

FYUHLST doo dikh yetst BES-er?

Do you feel better now?

German uses the reflexive pronoun dich with fühlen when asking someone how they feel.

anfangen: fangen … an

Wir fangen mit der nächsten Aufgabe an.

veer FANG-en mit dair NEKH-sten OWP-gah-buh an.

We start with the next task.

anfangen is separable: an moves to the end of the clause, while fangen stays in position two.

German Vocabulary

also adv
AL-zoh so; then

Die Pause ist vorbei, also gehen wir los.

arbeiten verb
AR-bye-ten to work

Fühlst du dich bereit, wieder zu arbeiten?

bereit adj
beh-RITE ready

Fühlst du dich bereit, wieder zu arbeiten?

besser adj
BES-er better

Ich fühle mich jetzt besser.

gehen verb
GAY-en to go

Sollen wir zurück zum Schreibtisch gehen?

jetzt adv
YETST now

Ich fühle mich jetzt besser.

Pause noun
POW-zuh break

Die Pause ist vorbei, also gehen wir los.

Schreibtisch noun
SHRITE-tish desk

Sollen wir zurück zum Schreibtisch gehen?

sich fühlen verb
zikh FYOO-len to feel Fühlst du dich; fühle mich

Fühlst du dich bereit, wieder zu arbeiten?

vorbei adv
for-BYE over; finished

Die Pause ist vorbei, also gehen wir los.

wieder adv
VEE-der again

Fühlst du dich bereit, wieder zu arbeiten?

zurück adv
tsoo-ROOK back

Sollen wir zurück zum Schreibtisch gehen?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I feel better now.

Show AnswerIch fühle mich jetzt besser.

Should we go back to the desk?

Show AnswerSollen wir zurück zum Schreibtisch gehen?

It's on the desk.

Show AnswerSie ist auf dem Schreibtisch.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

now

Show Answerjetzt

ready

Show Answerbereit

again

Show Answerwieder

back

Show Answerzurück