Borrowing and using a ladder safely | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing and using a ladder safely to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Kann ich deine Leiter ausleihen?

kahn ikh DYE-nuh LYE-tuh OWS-lye-en? Can I borrow your ladder?

Klar, aber sei bitte vorsichtig damit.

klahr AH-ber zye BIT-tuh FOR-zikh-tikh dah-MIT. Sure, but please be careful with it.

Ich muss ein hohes Regal erreichen.

ikh moos ayn HOH-uhs reh-GAHL er-RYE-khen. I need to reach a high shelf.

Ich kann sie für dich festhalten.

ikh kahn zee fyoor dikh FEST-hahl-ten. I can hold it steady for you.

Das würde sehr helfen.

dahs VUR-duh zair HEL-fen. That would help a lot.

Steig nicht auf die oberste Stufe.

SHTYKE nikht owf dee OH-ber-stuh SHTOO-fuh. Stay off the top step.

Ich bleibe auf einer niedrigeren Stufe.

ikh BLYE-buh owf EYE-nuh NEED-rih-guh-ren SHTOO-fuh. I will stay on a lower step.

Bring sie zurück, wenn du fertig bist.

bring zee tsoo-ROOK ven doo FER-tikh bist. Bring it back when you finish.

Word by Word

Kann “Kann” means “can” here and is used to ask whether the speaker may borrow the ladder. It is the form of “können” used with “ich” in “Kann ich deine Leiter ausleihen?”. A reusable pattern is “Kann ich …?” for asking permission or ability.

ich “ich” means “I” and refers to the person asking to borrow the ladder. In “Kann ich deine Leiter ausleihen?”, it is the person who may borrow it. The same word is used as the speaker’s subject in “Ich muss ein hohes Regal erreichen.”

deine “deine” means “your” and refers to the listener’s ladder in “deine Leiter”. Its form matches the noun “Leiter” in this phrase. A reusable pattern is “deine” before something belonging to the person being addressed.

Leiter “Leiter” means “ladder” here, the object that the speaker wants to borrow. It is the noun referred to later by “sie” and “damit”. A useful pattern is “eine Leiter ausleihen” for borrowing a ladder.

ausleihen “ausleihen” means “borrow” in “Kann ich deine Leiter ausleihen?”. It appears in its infinitive form after “Kann ich”. A reusable pattern is “Kann ich … ausleihen?” when asking to borrow something.

Klar “Klar” means “sure” here and expresses agreement with the request. It is a short spoken response before the caution in “Klar, aber sei bitte vorsichtig damit.” You can use “Klar” to accept a simple request.

aber “aber” means “but” and introduces a condition or contrasting point after the agreement. In “Klar, aber sei bitte vorsichtig damit.”, it connects permission with a safety instruction. A reusable pattern is “Klar, aber …” when agreeing while adding a limitation or reminder.

sei “sei” means “be” in the instruction “sei bitte vorsichtig damit.” It is used to tell the listener to be careful with the ladder. A reusable pattern is “Sei bitte …” when giving a polite instruction about someone’s behavior.

bitte “bitte” means “please” and makes the instruction “sei bitte vorsichtig damit” more polite. It appears inside the request rather than changing its basic meaning. A reusable pattern is “Bitte …” or “Sei bitte …” for a polite request.

vorsichtig “vorsichtig” means “careful” here and describes how the listener should handle the ladder. Together with “sei” and “damit”, it gives the instruction “sei bitte vorsichtig damit.” A reusable pattern is “vorsichtig mit etwas sein” when warning someone to handle something carefully.

damit “damit” means “with it” here and refers back to the ladder. In “vorsichtig damit”, it identifies the thing that should be handled carefully. A reusable pattern is “vorsichtig damit sein” when the object has already been mentioned.

muss “muss” means “must” or “need to” in “Ich muss ein hohes Regal erreichen.” It shows that reaching the shelf is necessary for the speaker. It is followed by the infinitive “erreichen” at the end of the clause.

ein “ein” means “a” in “ein hohes Regal” and introduces one shelf that has not been specified further. It belongs with the noun “Regal” and the description “hohes”. A reusable pattern is “ein” before a singular, unspecified object.

hohes “hohes” means “high” and describes the shelf in “ein hohes Regal”. Its ending fits the phrase with “ein” and “Regal”. A reusable pattern is “ein hohes …” before a singular neuter noun when describing something as high.

Regal “Regal” means “shelf” here, the high object the speaker wants to reach. It appears in the phrase “ein hohes Regal”. A reusable pattern is “ein Regal erreichen” when talking about reaching a shelf.

erreichen “erreichen” means “reach” in “ein hohes Regal erreichen”. It is the infinitive after “muss” and takes the shelf as its object. A reusable pattern is “etwas erreichen” for reaching a place or object.

sie “sie” refers to the ladder in “Ich kann sie für dich festhalten.” It is the thing the speaker can hold steady. The pronoun avoids repeating “die Leiter” after the ladder has already been mentioned.

für “für” means “for” and introduces the person who benefits from the action in “für dich”. Here, the ladder is held steady for the listener. A reusable pattern is “etwas für jemanden tun” when an action is done for another person.

dich “dich” refers to the listener as the person who benefits from holding the ladder. It follows “für” in the exact phrase “für dich”. A reusable pattern is “für dich” when something is intended for or done on behalf of the person addressed.

festhalten “festhalten” means “hold” or “keep hold of” here, referring to keeping the ladder steady. It appears as an infinitive after “kann” in “sie für dich festhalten”. A reusable pattern is “etwas festhalten” when holding an object in place.

Das “Das” means “that” and refers back to the offer to hold the ladder steady. In “Das würde sehr helfen.”, it is the thing that would be helpful. A reusable pattern is “Das würde … helfen” when responding positively to an offer or suggestion.

würde “würde” means “would” and presents the speaker’s response as a possible or expected result. In “Das würde sehr helfen.”, the helpful result is connected to the offer just made. A reusable pattern is “Das würde …” when describing what would be useful.

sehr “sehr” intensifies “helfen” in “Das würde sehr helfen”, meaning that the help would be substantial. It strengthens the verb rather than naming a separate action. A reusable pattern is “sehr” before a verb or adjective when expressing a high degree.

helfen “helfen” means “help” in “Das würde sehr helfen.” It is the infinitive after “würde” and describes the benefit of holding the ladder steady. A reusable pattern is “jemandem helfen” when saying that someone helps another person.

Steig “Steig” means “climb” or “step” here and gives the listener an instruction about the ladder. In “Steig nicht auf die oberste Stufe.”, the instruction is not to step onto the top step. A reusable pattern is “Steig auf …” for telling someone to step onto something.

nicht “nicht” means “not” and negates the instruction in “Steig nicht auf die oberste Stufe.” It changes the command from stepping onto the top step to avoiding it. A reusable pattern is “nicht” with an instruction when telling someone not to do something.

auf “auf” means “onto” in “auf die oberste Stufe” and indicates movement toward the top step. Here it belongs to the instruction “Steig nicht auf die oberste Stufe.” A reusable pattern is “auf etwas steigen” when stepping onto a surface or object.

die “die” means “the” and introduces the specific step in “die oberste Stufe”. It belongs with “oberste Stufe”, identifying the particular top step of the ladder. A reusable pattern is “die” before a specific noun already identifiable from the situation.

oberste “oberste” means “top” or “highest” and identifies which step is meant in “die oberste Stufe”. It describes the step at the highest position on the ladder. A reusable pattern is “die oberste …” when identifying the highest item in a group.

Stufe “Stufe” means “step” here, specifically one of the ladder’s steps. In “die oberste Stufe”, it is the step the listener is told not to use. A reusable pattern is “auf einer Stufe stehen” when talking about standing on a step.

bleibe “bleibe” means “stay” in “Ich bleibe auf einer niedrigeren Stufe.” It expresses the speaker’s promise to remain on a lower step instead. A reusable pattern is “Ich bleibe …” when saying where the speaker will remain.

einer “einer” means “a” in “auf einer niedrigeren Stufe” and introduces one lower step. It belongs with “niedrigeren Stufe” rather than referring to a specific named step. A reusable pattern is “auf einer … Stufe” when describing being on one step.

niedrigeren “niedrigeren” means “lower” and describes the step where the speaker will remain. In “einer niedrigeren Stufe”, it contrasts that step with the top step mentioned earlier. A reusable pattern is “eine niedrigere …” when choosing an item at a lower position.

Bring “Bring” means “bring” here and gives the instruction to return the ladder. In “Bring sie zurück”, the object is “sie”, referring to the ladder. A reusable pattern is “Bring …” for telling someone to bring an object.

zurück “zurück” means “back” and shows that the ladder should be returned to its previous place or owner. Together with “Bring”, it forms “Bring sie zurück”. A reusable pattern is “etwas zurückbringen” when returning something.

wenn “wenn” means “when” and introduces the time condition in “wenn du fertig bist.” The return should happen after the listener has finished. A reusable pattern is “wenn …” followed by an event that sets the time for another action.

du “du” means “you” and refers to the listener who is using the ladder. In “wenn du fertig bist”, it is the person who finishes. A reusable pattern is “du” as the subject when speaking directly to one person informally.

fertig “fertig” means “finished” or “done” in “wenn du fertig bist.” It describes the listener’s state at the time the ladder should be returned. A reusable pattern is “fertig sein” when saying that a task or activity is complete.

bist “bist” means “are” in “wenn du fertig bist.” Together with “fertig”, it expresses that the listener is finished. It appears at the end of the clause introduced by “wenn”.

Grammar Points

Imperativ: Sei/Steig/Bleibe + ...

Sei vorsichtig damit.

zye FOR-zikh-tikh dah-MIT.

Be careful with it.

German uses special imperative forms for direct instructions: sei, steig, and bleibe.

Imperativ mit nicht: Steig nicht ...

Steig nicht auf die oberste Stufe.

SHTYKE nikht owf dee OH-ber-stuh SHTOO-fuh.

Don't climb onto the top step.

Place nicht directly before the rest of the instruction to make a negative command.

German Vocabulary

aber conj

AH-ber but

ausleihen verb

OWS-lye-en to borrow

damit adv

dah-MIT with it

deine det

DYE-nuh your

erreichen verb

er-RYE-khen to reach

hohes adj

HOH-uhs high

ich pron

ikh I

Klar intj

klahr sure

Leiter noun

LYE-tuh ladder

Regal noun

reh-GAHL shelf

sei verb

zye be

vorsichtig adj

FOR-zikh-tikh careful

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I borrow your ladder?

Show Answer

Kann ich deine Leiter ausleihen?

Sure, but please be careful with it.

Show Answer

Klar, aber sei bitte vorsichtig damit.

I need to reach a high shelf.

Show Answer

Ich muss ein hohes Regal erreichen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

sure

Show Answer

Klar

careful

Show Answer

vorsichtig

but

Show Answer

aber

to borrow

Show Answer

ausleihen