Deciding what to do next | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Deciding what to do next to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Was sollen wir jetzt machen?

vahs ZOLL-en veer yetst MAKH-en? What should we do now?

Fangen wir mit der kurzen Liste an.

FAHNG-en veer mit dare KOORTS-en LISS-tuh AHN. Let's start with the short list.

Sollen wir sie fertig machen, bevor wir die Datei ansehen?

ZOLL-en veer zee FER-tikh MAKH-en, beh-FOHR veer dee dah-TYE AHN-zay-en? Should we finish it before reviewing the file?

Wir schaffen die Liste schnell, wenn wir die Arbeit teilen.

veer SHAHF-en dee LISS-tuh shnell, venn veer dee AR-bite TILE-en. We can get through it quickly if we split the work.

Dann übernehme ich den ersten Teil.

dahn UE-ber-NAY-muh ikh dane AIR-sten TILE. Then I'll take the first part.

Ich übernehme den Rest.

ikh UE-ber-NAY-muh dane REST. I'll handle the rest.

Danach können wir alles prüfen, was unklar ist.

dah-NAHKH KURN-en veer AH-less PRUE-fen, vahs oon-KLAHR ist. After that, we can review anything unclear.

Ich öffne die Datei, wenn die Liste fertig ist.

ikh URF-nuh dee dah-TYE, venn dee LISS-tuh FER-tikh ist. I'll open the file when the list is done.

Word by Word

Was “Was” asks what action the speakers should take in “Was sollen wir jetzt machen?”. It is useful for asking about an unspecified thing or action, often together with a verb such as “machen”.

sollen “sollen” expresses what the speakers should do in “Was sollen wir jetzt machen?”. Here it makes a question about the next recommended action; with this verb, the other verb appears later in the sentence. You can use it when asking for advice about what to do.

wir “wir” means “we” in “Was sollen wir jetzt machen?” and “Fangen wir mit der kurzen Liste an.”. The same form appears as “Wir” at the start of “Wir schaffen die Liste schnell...”. It refers to the speaker together with at least one other person.

jetzt “jetzt” means “now” in “Was sollen wir jetzt machen?”. It places the question in the present moment. Use it when deciding or asking about an action to take immediately.

machen “machen” means “do” in “Was sollen wir jetzt machen?”. It is used here after “sollen” to name the action being discussed. This is a common way to ask what people should do next.

Fangen “Fangen” contributes the meaning “start” in the suggestion “Fangen wir mit der kurzen Liste an.”. Together with “an”, it forms the separable verb anfangen in this sentence. The whole expression is useful when suggesting that a group begin with a particular task.

mit “mit” means “with” in “Fangen wir mit der kurzen Liste an.” and introduces the thing they will start with. It is commonly used to name a starting point or accompanying person or thing. Here it is followed by “der kurzen Liste”.

der “der” means “the” in “mit der kurzen Liste”. Because “mit” is used with the dative and “Liste” is feminine, this is the form of the article required here. Reuse it with a feminine noun after “mit” when the same grammatical relationship applies.

kurzen “kurzen” means “short” in “der kurzen Liste”, describing the list they will start with. Its ending matches the form required after “mit der”. Use it before a noun when describing something as short in this kind of phrase.

Liste “Liste” means “list” in “der kurzen Liste” and “die Liste”. It refers to the short set of work items the speakers plan to complete. It is useful for naming an ordered set of tasks, names, or other items.

an “an” completes the verb in “Fangen wir mit der kurzen Liste an.” and helps express “start”. It is separated from “Fangen” because the verb is used in this sentence pattern. Keep this particle with the verb when using the same suggestion structure.

sie “sie” means “it” in “Sollen wir sie fertig machen...?”, referring back to “die kurze Liste”. It is the object of the expression “fertig machen”, so the sentence asks whether the speakers should finish the list. Use it when referring back to a previously mentioned feminine noun such as “Liste”.

fertig “fertig” means “finished” or “complete” in “sie fertig machen”. With “machen”, the whole expression means to finish something. This is useful when talking about completing a task or item.

bevor “bevor” means “before” in “bevor wir die Datei ansehen”. It introduces the action that should happen later than finishing the list. Use it to connect one action with another action that has not yet happened.

die “die” means “the” in “die Datei”. It introduces the file that the speakers will review. Here it is the article used with the feminine noun “Datei”.

Datei “Datei” means “file” in “die Datei”. It refers to the file they plan to look at after dealing with the list. Use it for a computer file or another file in a work context.

ansehen “ansehen” means “look at” or “review” in “bevor wir die Datei ansehen”. It describes examining the file after the list is finished. Use it with the thing being examined, as in “die Datei ansehen”.

schaffen “schaffen” means “manage” or “get through” in “Wir schaffen die Liste schnell”. It says that the speakers can complete the list successfully. In this use, it commonly takes the task that someone manages as its object.

schnell “schnell” means “quickly” in “Wir schaffen die Liste schnell”. It describes the speed at which the speakers will get through the list. Use it to say that an action happens at a fast pace.

wenn “wenn” means “if” in “wenn wir die Arbeit teilen”. It introduces the condition for completing the list quickly: the speakers divide the work. Use it to connect a possible condition with its result.

Arbeit “Arbeit” means “work” in “die Arbeit teilen”. It refers to the work that the two people will divide between them. Use it when speaking about tasks or work as a whole.

teilen “teilen” means “split” or “divide” in “wenn wir die Arbeit teilen”. It describes dividing the work between the speakers. Use it with the thing being divided, such as “die Arbeit”.

Dann “Dann” means “then” in “Dann übernehme ich den ersten Teil.”. It links the speaker’s decision to the preceding plan. Use it to introduce what will happen next or what someone will do in response.

übernehme “übernehme” means “take over” or “handle” in “Dann übernehme ich den ersten Teil.” and “Ich übernehme den Rest.”. It says that the speaker accepts responsibility for a task or part of the work. Use it with the responsibility or task being taken on.

ich “ich” means “I” in “Dann übernehme ich den ersten Teil.”. The same word appears as “Ich” at the beginning of “Ich übernehme den Rest.” and “Ich öffne die Datei...”. It identifies the speaker as the person performing the action.

den “den” means “the” in “den ersten Teil”. It introduces the masculine noun “Teil” as the part the speaker will take over. Use this article form before a masculine object in a similar sentence.

ersten “ersten” means “first” in “den ersten Teil”. It identifies which part the speaker will take over. Its ending fits the noun phrase “den ersten Teil”.

Teil “Teil” means “part” in “den ersten Teil”. It refers to one portion of the work after the task has been divided. Use it when identifying one section or portion of a larger task or thing.

Rest “Rest” means “the rest” or “remainder” in “Ich übernehme den Rest.”. It refers to everything that remains after the other part has been assigned. Use it when accepting responsibility for what is left.

Danach “Danach” means “after that” in “Danach können wir alles prüfen...”. It marks the next step after the work has been divided or completed. Use it to refer back to a previously mentioned action without repeating it.

können “können” means “can” in “Danach können wir alles prüfen”. It expresses that the speakers are able or free to review everything afterward. With this verb, the other action appears later in the sentence. Use it when describing an available or possible next step.

alles “alles” means “everything” in “alles prüfen”. It refers to all the items that may need checking, including anything unclear. Use it when the whole relevant group or amount is meant rather than only one item.

prüfen “prüfen” means “check” or “review” in “alles prüfen”. It describes examining the unclear items after the work is divided. Use it with the thing being checked, such as “alles” or a file.

unklar “unklar” means “unclear” in “was unklar ist”. It describes information or items that are not clear and therefore need checking. Use it to identify something that needs explanation or review.

ist “ist” means “is” in “was unklar ist”. It links the subject “was” with the description “unklar”. Here it appears at the end of the clause because the clause begins with “was”.

öffne “öffne” means “open” in “Ich öffne die Datei”. It describes the speaker’s action of opening the file when the list is done. Use it with the thing being opened, such as “die Datei”.

Grammar Points

anfangen: fangen ... an

Wir fangen jetzt an.

veer FAHNG-en yetst AHN.

We are starting now.

The prefix an- separates from anfangen in a main clause and moves to the end.

bevor + Verb am Ende

Bevor ich die Datei öffne, prüfe ich die Liste.

beh-FOHR ikh dee dah-TYE URF-nuh, PRUE-fuh ikh dee LISS-tuh.

Before I open the file, I check the list.

In a clause with bevor, the conjugated verb moves to the end.

German Vocabulary

anfangen verb

AHN-fahng-en to start Fangen ... an

ansehen verb

AHN-zay-en to look at; to review

bevor conj

beh-FOHR before

fertig machen phrase

FER-tikh MAKH-en to finish; to complete

jetzt adv

yetst now

kurz adj

KOORTS short kurzen

Liste noun

LISS-tuh list

machen verb

MAKH-en to do; to make

schaffen verb

SHAHF-en to manage; to get through

schnell adv

shnell quickly; fast

was pron

vahs what

wenn conj

venn if; when

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What should we do now?

Show Answer

Was sollen wir jetzt machen?

Then I'll take the first part.

Show Answer

Dann übernehme ich den ersten Teil.

I'll handle the rest.

Show Answer

Ich übernehme den Rest.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to do; to make

Show Answer

machen

short

Show Answer

kurzen

before

Show Answer

bevor

now

Show Answer

jetzt