About This Lesson
Use Borrowing cleaning supplies to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Hast du ein Putztuch, das ich benutzen kann?
hahst doo EYE-n POOTS-tookh, dahss ikh beh-NOOT-tsuhn kahn? Do you have a cleaning cloth I can use?
B
In der Kiste ist eines.
in deh-uh KIS-tuh ist EYE-nuhs. There is one in the box.
A
Hast du auch Putzspray?
hahst doo owkh POOTS-shpray? Do you have cleaning spray too?
B
Das Spray steht daneben.
dahss shpray shtayt dah-NAY-buhn. The spray is beside it.
A
Ich muss diesen Schreibtisch putzen.
ikh mooss DEE-zuhn SHRYBE-tish POOTS-uhn. I need to clean this desk.
B
Benutze nur eine kleine Menge.
beh-NOOT-tsuh noor EYE-nuh KLYE-nuh MENG-uh. Use only a small amount.
A
Ich wische den Schreibtisch ab und stelle beides zurück.
ikh VISH-uh dehn SHRYBE-tish ahp oont SHTEL-uh BYE-duhs tsoo-RUEK. I will wipe the desk and put both back.
B
Lass beides zusammen in der Kiste.
lahss BYE-duhs tsoo-ZAH-muhn in deh-uh KIS-tuh. Keep them together in the box.Word by Word
Hast
In “Hast du ein Putztuch, das ich benutzen kann?”, “Hast” means “have” in a question asking whether someone has something. The form is used with “du” at the beginning of the question. Use “Hast du ...?” when asking one person informally whether they have something.
du
In “Hast du ein Putztuch, das ich benutzen kann?”, “du” means “you” and addresses one person informally. It is the person being asked about having a cleaning cloth. Use “du” when speaking directly to one person in an informal situation.
ein
In “ein Putztuch”, “ein” means “a” and introduces one cleaning cloth that the speaker wants to use. It appears directly before the noun. Reuse the pattern “ein” plus a singular noun when referring to one not-yet-specified item.
Putztuch
“Putztuch” means “cleaning cloth” in “ein Putztuch, das ich benutzen kann”. It names the cloth requested for cleaning. Use “ein Putztuch” when asking for or referring to a cloth used to clean something.
das
In “das ich benutzen kann”, “das” means “that” and refers back to “Putztuch”, introducing information about the cloth. The same written form appears capitalized in “Das Spray”, where it means “the”. Use “das” in a clause describing a previously mentioned item, as in “das ich benutzen kann”.
ich
“ich” means “I” in “das ich benutzen kann”; the capitalized form “Ich” appears in “Ich muss diesen Schreibtisch putzen” and “Ich wische den Schreibtisch ab”. It identifies the speaker as the person who can use, must clean, or will wipe. Use “Ich” when stating your own action or need.
benutzen
In “das ich benutzen kann”, “benutzen” means “use”, referring to using the cleaning cloth. It stays in this form after “kann” and comes at the end of the clause. Reuse “etwas benutzen” when saying that you use a particular object.
kann
In “das ich benutzen kann”, “kann” means “can” or “am able to”. Together with “benutzen”, it expresses that the speaker is able to use the cloth. Reuse the pattern “ich kann” plus an action word when describing something you are able to do.
In
At the beginning of “In der Kiste ist eines”, “In” means “in” and introduces the container where the cloth is located. It is capitalized because it begins the sentence. Use “in der Kiste” when saying that something is inside the box.
der
In “In der Kiste”, “der” means “the” and belongs with “Kiste” in the location phrase. Together, “der Kiste” identifies the known box. Reuse “in der Kiste” when locating an item inside that box.
Kiste
“Kiste” means “box” in “In der Kiste ist eines”. It identifies the container holding the cleaning cloth. Use “in der Kiste” when telling someone where a stored item is.
ist
In “In der Kiste ist eines”, “ist” means “is” and states that one cleaning cloth is present in the box. It completes the statement about where the item is. Use this kind of location statement when telling someone that an item is in a particular place.
eines
In “In der Kiste ist eines”, “eines” means “one” and refers back to the cleaning cloth already mentioned. It avoids repeating the noun while answering where one is. Use “eines” to refer to one previously understood item of this kind.
auch
In “Hast du auch Putzspray?”, “auch” means “also” or “too” and adds cleaning spray to the cloth already being discussed. It appears before the item being requested. Use “auch” when asking whether an additional item is available.
Putzspray
“Putzspray” means “cleaning spray” in “Hast du auch Putzspray?”. It names the second cleaning supply requested. Use “Putzspray” when asking for or referring to spray used for cleaning.
Spray
In “Das Spray steht daneben”, “Spray” means “spray” and refers to the cleaning spray just mentioned as “Putzspray”. It is the item whose location is being given. Use “Das Spray” when referring back to that cleaning product.
steht
In “Das Spray steht daneben”, “steht” means “is standing” or “is located” and describes where the spray is. It presents the spray as being beside the other item. Reuse the pattern “etwas steht ...” when stating the location of a stationary object.
daneben
In “Das Spray steht daneben”, “daneben” means “beside it” and points to a place next to the previously mentioned cloth. It completes the location information about the spray. Use “steht daneben” when telling someone that an object is located beside another understood object.
muss
In “Ich muss diesen Schreibtisch putzen”, “muss” means “must” or “need to” and expresses the speaker’s need to clean the desk. The action word “putzen” follows it at the end of the sentence. Use “Ich muss” plus an action word when explaining something you need to do.
diesen
In “diesen Schreibtisch”, “diesen” means “this” and points to the particular desk that needs cleaning. It appears directly before “Schreibtisch”. Use “diesen” plus a noun when identifying a specific item in the situation.
Schreibtisch
“Schreibtisch” means “desk” in “diesen Schreibtisch putzen”. It identifies the surface that the speaker needs to clean. Use “diesen Schreibtisch” when referring to this particular desk.
putzen
In “diesen Schreibtisch putzen”, “putzen” means “clean”. It names the action required for the desk and follows “muss”. Reuse “etwas putzen” when saying that you clean a particular object or surface.
Benutze
In “Benutze nur eine kleine Menge”, “Benutze” means “use” and gives a direct instruction to use a limited amount. The instruction is addressed to one person. Use “Benutze ...” when telling someone informally to use something in a particular way.
nur
In “nur eine kleine Menge”, “nur” means “only” and limits the amount of cleaning spray to be used. It comes directly before the quantity phrase. Use “nur” before an amount when instructing someone not to use more than that amount.
eine
In “eine kleine Menge”, “eine” means “a” and introduces one small quantity. It appears before the adjective and noun describing the amount. Reuse “eine” plus an adjective and noun when specifying one quantity or item.
kleine
In “eine kleine Menge”, “kleine” means “small” and describes the amount of spray. It comes before the noun “Menge”. Use an adjective before a noun in this pattern when describing the size of a quantity.
Menge
“Menge” means “amount” in “eine kleine Menge”. It refers to the quantity of cleaning spray that should be used. Use “eine kleine Menge” when giving an instruction to use only a small quantity.
wische
In “Ich wische den Schreibtisch ab”, “wische” means “wipe” and describes the speaker’s cleaning action on the desk. The action is completed with “ab” later in the sentence. Reuse “Ich wische ... ab” with the object placed between the action and “ab” when describing wiping something off.
den
In “den Schreibtisch”, “den” means “the” and belongs with the specific desk being wiped. Together, the phrase identifies the object of the wiping action. Reuse “den Schreibtisch” when referring to this known desk as the object of an action.
ab
In “wische den Schreibtisch ab”, “ab” completes the wiping expression and gives the action the meaning “wipe off”. The object appears between “wische” and “ab”. Use the pattern “wische” plus an object plus “ab” when describing wiping a surface.
und
In “Ich wische den Schreibtisch ab und stelle beides zurück”, “und” means “and” and links the two actions of wiping the desk and putting both supplies back. It joins the actions in one statement. Use “und” to connect two related actions or pieces of information.
stelle
In “stelle beides zurück”, “stelle” means “put” or “place” and describes returning both supplies to their storage place. It is used together with “zurück” to express putting them back. Reuse “stelle ... zurück” with an object when saying that you return something to its previous place.
beides
In “Ich wische den Schreibtisch ab und stelle beides zurück”, “beides” means “both” and refers to the cloth and the spray. It is used again in “Lass beides zusammen in der Kiste” with the same two items. Use “beides” to refer compactly to two already understood things.
zurück
In “stelle beides zurück”, “zurück” means “back” and shows that the cloth and spray should be returned to where they came from. It completes the expression with “stelle”. Use “zurück” when an object is being returned to its earlier place.
Lass
In “Lass beides zusammen in der Kiste”, “Lass” means “keep” or “leave” and gives the instruction not to separate the two supplies. It is addressed directly to one person. Use “Lass ... in ...” when telling someone to leave something in a particular place.
zusammen
In “Lass beides zusammen in der Kiste”, “zusammen” means “together” and says that the cloth and spray should remain with each other. It describes how the two items are to be stored. Use “beides zusammen” when instructing someone to keep two understood items together.
Grammar Points
Trennbare Verben: abwischen → wische ... ab
Wische ... ab.
VISH-uh ... AHP.Wipe ... off.
Bei trennbaren Verben steht die Vorsilbe im Hauptsatz am Ende: wische ... ab.
Imperativ
Lass beides zusammen.
lahss BYE-duhs tsoo-ZAH-muhn.Leave both together.
Der Imperativ gibt eine direkte Aufforderung. Bei lassen lautet die Form für du: Lass.
German Vocabulary
auch
adv
OWKH
also; too
benutzen
verb
beh-NOOT-tsuhn
to use
daneben
adv
dah-NAY-buhn
beside it; next to it
dieser
det
DEE-zuh
this
diesen
eines
pron
EYE-nuhs
one
haben
verb
HAH-buhn
to have
Hast
Kiste
noun
KIS-tuh
box
Putzspray
noun
POOTS-shpray
cleaning spray
Putztuch
noun
POOTS-tookh
cleaning cloth
Schreibtisch
noun
SHRYBE-tish
desk
Spray
noun
SHP RAY
spray
stehen
verb
SHTAY-uhn
to stand; to be standing
steht
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
There is one in the box.
Show Answer
In der Kiste ist eines.Do you have cleaning spray too?
Show Answer
Hast du auch Putzspray?The spray is beside it.
Show Answer
Das Spray steht daneben.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
cleaning spray
Show Answer
Putzsprayone
Show Answer
einesalso; too
Show Answer
auchcleaning cloth