Staying Inside in Bad Weather | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Staying Inside in Bad Weather to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Das Wetter sieht schlecht aus.

dahs VET-uh zeet shlekht OWS. The weather looks bad.

Vielleicht kommt ein Sturm.

fee-LIEKHT kohmt eye-n shtoorm. A storm may be coming.

Sollen wir drinnen bleiben?

ZOL-len veer DRIN-nen BLYE-ben? Should we stay inside?

Warten wir hier, bis es vorbei ist.

VAR-ten veer heer, bis ess for-BYE ist. Let's wait here until it passes.

Können wir rausgehen, wenn es aufhört?

KUR-nen veer ROWS-gay-en, venn ess OWF-huert? Can we go out after it stops?

Wir können das Wetter noch einmal prüfen und dann entscheiden.

veer KUR-nen dahs VET-uh nokh EYE-n-mal PROO-fen oont dahn ent-SHYE-den. We can check the weather again and decide then.

Wir können Tee machen, während wir warten.

veer KUR-nen tay MAKH-en, VAY-rent veer VAR-ten. We can make some tea while we wait.

So können wir uns die Zeit vertreiben.

zoh KUR-nen veer oons dee TSEYT fair-TRIGH-ben. That will help pass the time.

Word by Word

Das “Das” means “the” in the exact phrase “Das Wetter”. It is the capitalized form of “das” because it begins the sentence. New example: “Das Haus ist groß.” is a reusable pattern with a neuter noun.

Wetter “Wetter” means “weather” in “Das Wetter sieht schlecht aus.” It is commonly used with “das” and with words describing conditions. You can use it when discussing whether to go outside.

sieht “sieht” means “looks” in the expression “sieht schlecht aus”, describing how the weather appears. This is a form of “sehen” used with the expression “sieht ... aus”. Use it to describe how something appears to you.

schlecht “schlecht” means “bad” in “sieht schlecht aus”, so the weather appears bad. It describes the condition being observed. New example: “Der Kaffee schmeckt schlecht.” uses the same adjective to give a negative evaluation.

aus “aus” completes the expression “sieht schlecht aus”, which means “looks bad”. It works together with “sieht” rather than adding a separate meaning of “out” here. The reusable pattern is to describe how something appears with this expression.

Vielleicht “Vielleicht” means “maybe” in “Vielleicht kommt ein Sturm.” It marks the storm as possible rather than certain. Use it when giving a cautious prediction or suggestion.

kommt “kommt” means “comes” or “is coming” in “kommt ein Sturm”, describing a storm approaching. It is a form of “kommen” used with “ein Sturm” as the thing approaching. Use it when saying that a person, event, or weather condition is coming.

ein “ein” means “a” in “ein Sturm”, introducing one possible storm. It comes directly before the noun “Sturm” in this dialogue. Use the same article pattern when introducing an unspecified singular noun.

Sturm “Sturm” means “storm” in “ein Sturm”. It is the weather event that may be approaching. Use it when discussing severe or potentially dangerous weather.

Sollen “Sollen” means “should” or “shall” in the question “Sollen wir drinnen bleiben?”, asking whether staying inside is the right choice. It is placed at the beginning because the sentence is a question. Use “Sollen wir ...?” when suggesting or deciding on an action together.

wir “wir” means “we” in “Sollen wir drinnen bleiben?”. It refers to the two people deciding together. Use it as the subject when describing an action done by you and at least one other person.

drinnen “drinnen” means “inside” or “indoors” in “drinnen bleiben”. It describes the place where the people will remain. Use it when contrasting staying inside with going outside.

bleiben “bleiben” means “stay” in “drinnen bleiben”. It is the action that follows “Sollen wir” in the suggestion. Use it after a place word when saying that someone will remain there.

Warten “Warten” means “let’s wait” in “Warten wir hier”, inviting the other person to wait together. This sentence-initial form is capitalized because it begins the sentence. Use “Warten wir ...” to propose waiting together in a particular place or until something happens.

hier “hier” means “here” in “Warten wir hier”, identifying the place where they should wait. It comes after the proposed action in this sentence. Use it to point to the current place.

bis “bis” means “until” in “bis es vorbei ist”, introducing the point when the waiting can end. The clause after it gives the condition for stopping the wait. Use it before a clause describing when an action ends.

es “es” means “it” in “bis es vorbei ist”, referring to the weather situation or storm being discussed. It is the subject of the clause about that situation being over. Use it when referring back to a situation already clear from the conversation.

vorbei “vorbei” means “over” or “past” in “es vorbei ist”. It describes the weather situation as finished. Use it with “ist” when saying that an event or situation has ended.

ist “ist” means “is” in “es vorbei ist”, linking the situation with the description “vorbei”. It is a form of “sein” used in this clause. Use it to say what a situation is like or whether it is over.

Können “Können” means “can” in “Können wir rausgehen?”, asking whether going outside is possible. It comes first because this is a question. Use “Können wir ...?” to ask about a shared possibility or permission.

rausgehen “rausgehen” means “go out” in “Können wir rausgehen?”. It is the action whose possibility is being asked about. Use it after a modal verb when asking or saying whether someone can go outside.

wenn “wenn” means “when” or “if” in “wenn es aufhört”, introducing the condition for going outside. The clause after it explains the event that must happen first. Use it before a clause describing a condition or expected time.

aufhört “aufhört” means “stops” in “wenn es aufhört”, referring to the weather or storm ending. It is a form of “aufhören” used with “es”. Use it when saying that an activity, sound, or weather event stops.

noch “noch” helps form the exact expression “noch einmal”, which means “again” in this dialogue. Its meaning here depends on the combination with “einmal”, so it should not be treated as the whole translation by itself. Use “noch einmal” when something is done one more time.

einmal “einmal” combines with “noch” in “noch einmal” to express “again”. In this dialogue, it indicates checking the weather one more time. Use the full expression when repeating an action.

prüfen “prüfen” means “check” in “das Wetter ... prüfen”. It describes examining the weather information to help make a decision. Use it with a direct object when checking information, a plan, or a condition.

und “und” means “and” in “prüfen und dann entscheiden”, joining the actions of checking and deciding. It connects two actions in sequence here. Use it to link related actions or ideas.

dann “dann” means “then” in “und dann entscheiden”, showing that the decision follows the weather check. It marks the next step in the sequence. Use it when describing what happens after an earlier action.

entscheiden “entscheiden” means “decide” in “dann entscheiden”. It describes choosing what to do after checking the weather. Use it when referring to a decision that follows information or discussion.

Tee “Tee” means “tea” in “Tee machen”. It is the drink the speakers plan to prepare while waiting. Use it as the object with an expression for preparing or making tea.

machen “machen” means “make” in “Tee machen”, referring to preparing tea. It comes after “können” in the sentence, which expresses the possibility of preparing it. Use it with a direct object when saying that someone prepares or creates something.

während “während” means “while” in “während wir warten”, showing that making tea happens during the waiting. It introduces a clause describing a simultaneous action. Use it before a clause when two actions happen at the same time.

So “So” means “that way” or “so” in “So können wir uns die Zeit vertreiben”, referring to making tea as a way to pass the time. It connects the suggested action with its helpful result. Use it to introduce a consequence or method based on what was just said.

uns die Zeit vertreiben “uns die Zeit vertreiben” means “pass the time” as a whole in “So können wir uns die Zeit vertreiben.” “uns” identifies the people passing the time themselves, “die Zeit” is the time being passed, and “vertreiben” supplies the idea of making that time go by. New example: “Wir vertreiben uns die Zeit mit einem Spiel.” preserves the same reusable construction.

Grammar Points

sieht ... aus

Vielleicht sieht das Wetter schlecht aus.

fee-LIEKHT zeet dahs VET-uh shlekht OWS.

Perhaps the weather looks bad.

Bei trennbaren Verben steht der abgetrennte Teil am Satzende: sieht ... aus.

während + Nebensatz

Während wir hier warten, bleiben wir drinnen.

VAY-rent veer heer VAR-ten, BLYE-ben veer DRIN-nen.

While we wait here, we stay indoors.

Nach „während“ steht das konjugierte Verb im Nebensatz am Ende: während wir ... warten.

German Vocabulary

aussehen verb

OWS-zay-en to look, to appear sieht ... aus

Das Wetter sieht schlecht aus.

bleiben verb

BLYE-ben to stay, to remain

drinnen bleiben

drinnen adv

DRIN-nen inside, indoors

drinnen bleiben

hier adv

heer here

Warten wir hier

kommen verb

KOH-men to come kommt

Vielleicht kommt ein Sturm.

rausgehen verb

ROWS-gay-en to go out

Können wir rausgehen?

schlecht adj

SHLEKHT bad

sieht schlecht aus

Sturm noun

SHTOORM storm

ein Sturm

vielleicht adv

fee-LIEKHT perhaps, maybe Vielleicht

Vielleicht kommt ein Sturm.

vorbei adv

for-BYE over, finished

bis es vorbei ist

warten verb

VAR-ten to wait Warten

Warten wir hier

Wetter noun

VET-uh weather

Das Wetter

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The weather looks bad.

Show Answer

Das Wetter sieht schlecht aus.

A storm may be coming.

Show Answer

Vielleicht kommt ein Sturm.

Should we stay inside?

Show Answer

Sollen wir drinnen bleiben?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

perhaps, maybe

Show Answer

Vielleicht

storm

Show Answer

Sturm

weather

Show Answer

Wetter

to come

Show Answer

kommt