Asking about sauce ingredients | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: At home before eating, one adult asks about sauce ingredients and the other prepares a plate without the sauce..

EN → DE / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Asking about sauce ingredients to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Könnte ich nach den Zutaten in dieser Soße fragen?

KURN-tuh ikh nahkh dayn TSOO-tah-t'n in DEE-zuh ZOH-suh FRAH-gən? Could I ask about the ingredients in this sauce?
B

Sie enthält Milch und ein bisschen Knoblauch.

zee ent-HELT milkH oont ayn BISS-hən KNOHP-blowkh. It contains milk and a little garlic.
A

Ich vertrage keine Milch.

ikh fer-TRAH-guh KYE-nuh milkH. I can't have milk.
B

Ich kann die Soße getrennt hinstellen.

ikh kahn dee ZOH-suh guh-TRENT HIN-shtel-un. I can keep the sauce on the side.
A

Das wäre besser für mich.

dahs VAIR-uh BESS-uh fyoor mikh. That would work better for me.
B

Gibt es noch andere Lebensmittel, die du nicht essen darfst?

GIPT ess nokh AHN-duh-ruh LAY-bens-MITT-uhl, dee doo nikht ESS-un DARFST? Are there any other foods you need to avoid?
A

Knoblauch ist in Ordnung.

KNOHP-blowkh ist in ORD-noong. Garlic is fine.
B

Ich bereite deinen Teller ohne die Soße vor.

ikh beh-RYE-tuh DYE-nun TELL-uh OHN-uh dee ZOH-suh fohr. I'll prepare your plate without the sauce.

Word by Word

Könnte “Könnte” expresses a polite possibility in the question “Könnte ich nach den Zutaten in dieser Soße fragen?” It is a form of “können” used to make a request sound considerate; the reusable pattern is “Könnte ich ...?” when asking permission or making a polite request.
ich “ich” means “I” and identifies the person asking the question in “Könnte ich nach den Zutaten in dieser Soße fragen?” The same pronoun appears as “Ich” at the beginning of other sentences; it is used with the speaker’s own actions, needs, or abilities.
nach In “nach den Zutaten ... fragen”, “nach” introduces what someone is asking about. The reliable pattern is “nach etwas fragen”, meaning to ask about or ask for information about something; here the object is the ingredients.
den “den” means “the” in “nach den Zutaten”. It belongs to the noun phrase “den Zutaten” and appears with the plural word for the ingredients in this question; reuse it as part of a complete phrase such as “nach den Zutaten fragen”.
Zutaten “Zutaten” means “ingredients” in “nach den Zutaten in dieser Soße fragen”. It names the individual foods or substances that make up the sauce; a useful pattern is “die Zutaten in ...” when asking what a dish contains.
in “in” means “in” in “in dieser Soße” and locates the ingredients inside the sauce. A reusable pattern is “in + a place or container” to say where something is located.
dieser “dieser” means “this” in “in dieser Soße” and points to the particular sauce being discussed. It comes directly before “Soße” in the phrase “dieser Soße”; use the same pattern when identifying one specific thing nearby or already known.
Soße “Soße” means “sauce” in “dieser Soße” and “die Soße”. It is the food item whose ingredients are being discussed and later kept separate; a useful pattern is “die Soße” when referring back to that sauce.
fragen “fragen” means “ask” in “nach den Zutaten in dieser Soße fragen”. It is the infinitive used after “Könnte ich”; the reusable construction is “nach etwas fragen” for requesting information about something.
Sie “Sie” means “it” here and refers back to “Soße” in “Sie enthält Milch”. It is the subject of the statement about what the sauce contains; use a pronoun like this to refer back to an already mentioned noun.
enthält “enthält” means “contains” in “Sie enthält Milch und ein bisschen Knoblauch”. It describes what is inside the sauce and agrees with the sauce as the subject; a reusable pattern is “etwas enthält ...” when listing contents.
Milch “Milch” means “milk” and is named as one ingredient in “Sie enthält Milch”. It is also the food the speaker cannot tolerate; the exact phrase “keine Milch” is useful for saying that milk is not suitable for you.
und “und” means “and” and links “Milch” with “ein bisschen Knoblauch” in the list of sauce ingredients. Use “und” to connect two or more items in a statement or list.
ein “ein” is the first part of the amount expression “ein bisschen Knoblauch”, introducing a small quantity. Together with “bisschen”, it is used before an uncounted amount such as garlic; the reusable pattern is “ein bisschen + food or substance”.
bisschen “bisschen” means “a little” or “a small amount” in “ein bisschen Knoblauch”. It describes a small quantity rather than a whole item; use the pattern “ein bisschen + substance” when talking about a small amount.
Knoblauch “Knoblauch” means “garlic” in both “ein bisschen Knoblauch” and “Knoblauch ist in Ordnung”. It is first identified as an ingredient and then confirmed as acceptable for the speaker; a useful phrase is “Knoblauch ist in Ordnung” when garlic is fine for someone.
vertrage “vertrage” means “can tolerate” or “can have” in “Ich vertrage keine Milch”. It is the first-person form of “vertragen”, used here to describe whether the speaker’s body can handle a food; reuse “Ich vertrage + food” to state a dietary tolerance.
keine “keine” means “no” or “not any” in “keine Milch”. It negates the noun “Milch” and says that the speaker cannot tolerate any milk; the reusable pattern is “Ich vertrage keine + food” for a food that is not suitable.
kann “kann” means “can” in “Ich kann die Soße getrennt hinstellen”. It is a modal verb followed by the infinitive “hinstellen”, which comes at the end of the sentence; use “kann + infinitive” to describe an ability or possible action.
die “die” means “the” in “die Soße” and identifies the sauce that will be placed separately. It forms the noun phrase “die Soße” as the object of the action; use it whenever referring to this specific sauce.
getrennt “getrennt” means “separately” in “die Soße getrennt hinstellen”. It explains that the sauce will be placed apart from the rest of the food; the reusable pattern is “etwas getrennt hinstellen” when keeping one item separate.
hinstellen “hinstellen” means “put” or “place” in “die Soße getrennt hinstellen”. It is the infinitive after “kann” and describes placing the sauce somewhere separately; use “etwas hinstellen” when putting an object in a particular place.
Das “Das” means “that” in “Das wäre besser für mich” and refers to the proposed arrangement of keeping the sauce separate. It lets the speaker comment on the previous suggestion without repeating it; a useful pattern is “Das wäre ...” when evaluating a proposed option.
wäre “wäre” means “would be” in “Das wäre besser für mich”. It presents the arrangement as a hypothetical or considered result rather than a simple fact; use “Das wäre ...” to respond politely to a suggestion or possible solution.
besser “besser” means “better” in “Das wäre besser für mich”. It evaluates the separate-sauce arrangement as more suitable for the speaker; the reusable pattern is “besser für + person” when saying that something suits someone more.
für “für” means “for” in “besser für mich”. It marks the person for whom the arrangement is suitable or helpful; a useful pattern is “gut” or “besser für + person” when describing suitability.
mich “mich” means “me” in “für mich” and identifies the person who benefits from the sauce being separate. It follows the preposition “für”; use the complete phrase “für mich” when describing what suits or helps the speaker.
Gibt “Gibt” is part of the question “Gibt es noch andere Lebensmittel ...?” and helps ask whether something exists or is present. The reusable question pattern is “Gibt es ...?” for asking whether there is or are something.
es “es” is the placeholder subject in “Gibt es noch andere Lebensmittel ...?” and is part of the German existential question pattern. It does not refer to a specific object here; use “Gibt es ...?” to ask whether something is available or present.
noch “noch” means “any more” or “additional” in “noch andere Lebensmittel”. It asks whether there are further foods besides the ones already discussed; a useful pattern is “noch andere + noun” when checking for additional items.
andere “andere” means “other” in “andere Lebensmittel”. It asks about foods besides the sauce ingredients already mentioned; it is placed before the noun in the reusable pattern “andere + food items”.
Lebensmittel “Lebensmittel” means “food items” in “andere Lebensmittel”. It refers broadly to foods that the speaker may need to avoid; the useful phrase “andere Lebensmittel” asks about additional foods.
du “du” means informal singular “you” in “die du nicht essen darfst”. It identifies the person whose food restrictions are being discussed and is the subject of “darfst”; use it when speaking directly to one familiar person.
nicht “nicht” means “not” in “nicht essen darfst”. It negates the action of eating within the clause and helps express that certain foods are not allowed; use it before the action or phrase being negated.
essen “essen” means “eat” in “nicht essen darfst”. It is the infinitive used with the modal verb “darfst” to describe an allowed or forbidden action; the reusable pattern is “etwas essen dürfen” for being allowed to eat something.
darfst “darfst” means “may” or “are allowed to” in “du nicht essen darfst”. Together with “nicht essen”, it expresses that the person must avoid eating certain foods; use it with an infinitive to talk about permission or prohibition.
ist “ist” means “is” in “Knoblauch ist in Ordnung”. It links “Knoblauch” with the evaluation “in Ordnung”; a reusable pattern is “X ist in Ordnung” to say that something is acceptable or fine.
in Ordnung “in Ordnung” as a whole means “fine”, “okay”, or “acceptable” in “Knoblauch ist in Ordnung”. The components “in” and “Ordnung” form a fixed expression here: together they describe something as being in an acceptable state, not as being physically inside an order.
bereite “bereite” means “prepare” in “Ich bereite deinen Teller ohne die Soße vor”. It is the first-person form of “vorbereiten”, with the separable part “vor” placed at the end; reuse the pattern “Ich bereite ... vor” when saying that you are preparing something.
deinen “deinen” means “your” in “deinen Teller” and refers to the person being served. It identifies the plate as belonging to or intended for the addressee; use it directly before the noun in a phrase such as “deinen Teller”.
Teller “Teller” means “plate” in “deinen Teller”. It is the item being prepared without the sauce; a useful pattern is “einen Teller vorbereiten” when preparing a plate of food.
ohne “ohne” means “without” in “ohne die Soße”. It introduces the item that will be left out of the prepared plate; use the pattern “ohne + food or ingredient” when specifying an omission.
vor “vor” is the separable part of “vorbereiten” in “Ich bereite deinen Teller ohne die Soße vor”. It completes the meaning “prepare” together with “bereite” and appears at the end of this main clause; keep this split pattern when using the verb in a sentence.

Grammar Points

vorbereiten → bereite ... vor

Ich bereite die Zutaten vor.

ikh beh-RYE-tuh dee TSOO-tah-t'n fohr.

I prepare the ingredients.

The separable prefix vor moves to the end of a main clause; the verb part is conjugated in position 2.

nicht essen dürfen → nicht essen darfst

Du darfst die Soße nicht essen.

doo DARFST dee ZOH-suh nikht ESS-un.

You are not allowed to eat the sauce.

With dürfen, the second verb stays as an infinitive at the end; nicht negates the action.

German Vocabulary

enthalten verb
ent-HELT to contain enthält
fragen verb
FRAH-gən to ask
hinstellen verb
HIN-shtel-ən to put down; to place
Knoblauch noun
KNOHP-blowkh garlic
Lebensmittel noun
LAY-bens-MITT-uhl food
Milch noun
milkH milk
sein verb
zine to be wäre
Soße noun
ZOH-suh sauce
Teller noun
TELL-uh plate
vertragen verb
fer-TRAH-gən to tolerate; to be able to have vertrage
vorbereiten verb
fohr-beh-RYE-tən to prepare bereite ... vor
Zutat noun
TSOO-taht ingredient Zutaten

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I can't have milk.

Show AnswerIch vertrage keine Milch.

I can keep the sauce on the side.

Show AnswerIch kann die Soße getrennt hinstellen.

That would work better for me.

Show AnswerDas wäre besser für mich.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

ingredient

Show AnswerZutaten

food

Show AnswerLebensmittel

sauce

Show AnswerSoße

garlic

Show AnswerKnoblauch