Finding the Correct Platform | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: At a train station, two adults respond to a platform change and keep their tickets ready before boarding..

EN → DE / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Finding the Correct Platform to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Hast du gerade die Durchsage gehört?

hahst doo geh-RAH-duh dee DOORKH-zah-guh geh-HURT? Did you hear the announcement just now?
B

Der Zug fährt von einem anderen Gleis ab.

dayr TSOOK fairt fon EYE-num AHN-dair-en GLYSS ahp. The train is leaving from a different platform.
A

Auf der Anzeige steht, dass wir stattdessen das andere Gleis nehmen sollen.

owf dayr AHN-tsye-guh shtayt, dahss veer shtaht-DESS-en dahss AHN-dair-uh GLYSS NAY-men ZOL-len. The board says we should use the other platform instead.
B

Dann sollten wir jetzt den Schildern folgen.

dahn ZOL-ten veer yetst dayn SHILL-dairn FOHL-gen. Then we should follow the signs now.
A

Haben wir genug Zeit, um dorthin zu kommen?

HAH-ben veer geh-NOOKH TSITE oom DORT-hin tsoo KOM-men? Do we have enough time to get there?
B

Ja, wenn wir jetzt losgehen.

yah, venn veer yetst LOHS-gay-en. We do if we leave now.
A

Ich halte meine Fahrkarte bereit.

ikh HAL-tuh MY-nuh FAHR-kar-tuh beh-RITE. I'll keep my ticket ready.
B

Halt sie griffbereit; das Personal kontrolliert sie vielleicht, bevor wir einsteigen.

halt zee GRIFF-beh-RITE; dahss per-soh-NAHL kon-troh-LEE-ert zee fee-LYKHt, beh-FOR veer EYE-nshty-gen. Keep it handy; staff may check it before we board.

Word by Word

Hast In this question, 'Hast' is the helping verb used to ask whether someone has heard something. It is a form of haben used with 'du' in the question pattern 'Hast du ... gehört?'. A common reuse is 'Hast du das gesehen?' for asking whether someone saw something.
du 'Du' means 'you' when speaking to one person directly. Here it is the person being asked whether they heard the announcement. It commonly appears after the question verb in patterns such as 'Hast du ...?'.
gerade 'Gerade' means 'just now' in this question about the announcement. It places the hearing very recently in time. A common reuse is 'Ich habe gerade Zeit' when saying that you have time at this moment.
die Here 'die' means 'the' before 'Durchsage'. It is the feminine accusative article because the announcement is what was heard. The same form can introduce a feminine noun in other contexts, such as 'die Tür'.
Durchsage 'Durchsage' means an announcement, especially one made over a station or public-address system. In 'die Durchsage', it is the information that was heard. A common reuse is asking 'Was hat die Durchsage gesagt?' about a station announcement.
gehört 'Gehört' means 'heard' here and completes the question about hearing the announcement. It is the participle form used with 'Hast' in 'Hast du gerade die Durchsage gehört?'. A common reuse is 'Ich habe dich gehört' when saying that you heard someone.
Der Here 'Der' means 'the' before 'Zug'. It introduces the train as the subject of the sentence. Because 'Zug' is masculine and is the subject here, this is the masculine nominative article.
Zug 'Zug' means 'train' in this station context. It is the train that is leaving from a different platform. A common reuse is 'Der Zug kommt' when saying that the train is arriving.
fährt 'Fährt' says that the train travels or is leaving. Together with 'ab', the sentence describes the train departing from a platform. It is a form of 'fahren' used with the singular subject 'Der Zug'.
von 'Von' means 'from' and introduces the platform from which the train leaves. It is used here in the pattern 'von einem anderen Gleis'. A common reuse is 'Der Bus fährt von hier ab' for saying that a bus departs from here.
einem 'Einem' means 'a' or 'one' in the phrase 'von einem anderen Gleis'. After 'von', it marks the noun phrase referring to the place of departure. It agrees with the masculine noun 'Gleis' in this phrase.
anderen 'Anderen' means 'different' or 'another' here, distinguishing this platform from the one expected earlier. It describes 'Gleis' after 'einem'. A common reuse is 'an einem anderen Tag' when referring to a different day.
Gleis 'Gleis' means a railway platform or track at the station. Here it is the different platform from which the train leaves. A common reuse is 'auf welchem Gleis?' when asking which platform or track to use.
ab 'Ab' contributes the meaning of departing or leaving from a place. It belongs with the verb form 'fährt' in this sentence, while the two parts are separated by the sentence structure. A common reuse is 'Der Zug fährt um acht Uhr ab' for a train departure.
Auf 'Auf' means 'on' in 'Auf der Anzeige steht'. It indicates the display where the information is shown. A common reuse is 'auf dem Bildschirm' for something shown on a screen.
Anzeige 'Anzeige' means the display or board showing the station information. In 'Auf der Anzeige steht', the display contains the instruction about the other platform. A common reuse is 'die Anzeige prüfen' when checking a display.
steht In 'Auf der Anzeige steht', 'steht' means that information is written or shown there, so the display says it. It is a form of 'stehen' used with the singular subject 'die Anzeige'. A common reuse is 'Auf dem Schild steht ...' when reading information on a sign.
dass 'Dass' means 'that' and introduces the statement reported from the display. It connects 'steht' with the instruction 'wir ... nehmen sollen'. In a clause introduced by 'dass', the verb forms appear at the end, as in 'dass wir ... sollen'.
wir 'Wir' means 'we', referring to the two people travelling together. It is the group that should use the other platform. A common reuse is 'Wir gehen jetzt' when saying that the group is leaving now.
stattdessen 'Stattdessen' means 'instead' and shows that the other platform replaces the originally expected one. It modifies the action of taking the other platform. A common reuse is 'Nimm stattdessen den Bus' when recommending a replacement option.
das Here 'das' means 'the' before 'andere Gleis'. It marks the specific other platform that the two people should use. Because 'Gleis' is neuter and is the object of 'nehmen', this is the neuter accusative article.
andere 'Andere' means 'other' and identifies the alternative platform. It describes 'Gleis' in 'das andere Gleis'. A common reuse is 'das andere nehmen' when choosing the other available item.
nehmen Here 'nehmen' means 'take' or 'use' the other platform as the route for the train. It is the infinitive used with 'sollen' in the instruction from the display. A common reuse is 'Wir nehmen den nächsten Zug' when choosing a train.
sollen 'Sollen' expresses what the two people are supposed to do according to the display: use the other platform. It appears with the subject 'wir' and the infinitive 'nehmen' in the subordinate clause. A common reuse is 'Wir sollen hier warten' for an instruction or expectation.
Dann 'Dann' means 'then' and marks the next step after learning about the platform change. Here it introduces the decision to follow the signs. A common reuse is 'Dann gehen wir los' when saying what will happen next.
sollten 'Sollten' means 'should' and presents following the signs as a sensible suggestion. It is used with 'wir' and the infinitive 'folgen'. A common reuse is 'Wir sollten uns beeilen' when recommending that the group hurry.
jetzt 'Jetzt' means 'now' and says that the signs should be followed immediately. It emphasizes the current timing at the station. A common reuse is 'Ich muss jetzt gehen' when saying that you must leave now.
den Here 'den' means 'the' before 'Schildern'. It refers to the station signs that show the way. In this sentence it is the plural dative article because 'folgen' takes the signs as its dative complement.
Schildern 'Schildern' means 'signs' here, specifically the signs the travellers should follow. The ending belongs to the plural dative form used after 'folgen'. A common reuse is 'den Schildern folgen' when navigating by signs.
folgen 'Folgen' means 'follow' in the instruction to follow the signs. In this use, the thing being followed is expressed with the dative, as in 'den Schildern folgen'. A common reuse is 'Folgen Sie mir' when asking someone to follow you.
Haben Here 'Haben' is the verb used to ask whether the travellers have enough time. It is a form of 'haben' used with the subject 'wir' in the question 'Haben wir genug Zeit ...?'. A common reuse is 'Haben wir noch Zeit?' when checking the remaining time.
genug 'Genug' means 'enough' and says that the amount of time may be sufficient. It comes directly before 'Zeit' in 'genug Zeit'. A common reuse is 'genug Geld haben' when saying that you have enough money.
Zeit 'Zeit' means 'time' in the question about reaching the other platform. It is the resource whose sufficiency is being checked. A common reuse is 'Ich habe keine Zeit' when saying that you do not have time.
um Here 'um' begins the purpose construction 'um dorthin zu kommen', meaning 'in order to get there'. It links the available time with the intended action. A common reuse is 'um Deutsch zu lernen' for expressing a purpose.
dorthin 'Dorthin' means 'there' or 'to that place', referring to the other platform. It emphasizes movement toward the destination rather than simply being there. A common reuse is 'Wie kommen wir dorthin?' when asking how to reach a place.
zu Here 'zu' marks the infinitive in 'zu kommen' within the purpose construction. It works with 'kommen' to express getting to the other platform. A common reuse is 'Zeit haben, um etwas zu machen' for saying that there is time to do something.
kommen 'Kommen' means 'come' or 'get to' in 'dorthin zu kommen'. It describes reaching the other platform. A common reuse is 'Wie kann ich dorthin kommen?' when asking how to get somewhere.
Ja 'Ja' means 'yes' and confirms that they have enough time under the condition that follows. It answers the question before 'wenn wir jetzt losgehen' gives the condition. A common reuse is 'Ja, das stimmt' when agreeing with someone.
wenn 'Wenn' means 'if' here and introduces the condition for having enough time: leaving now. It connects the condition clause with the positive answer 'Ja'. A common reuse is 'Wenn du Zeit hast, ruf mich an' for a conditional instruction.
losgehen 'Losgehen' means 'leave' or 'set off', describing the travellers starting toward the other platform. It is the action required in the condition 'wenn wir jetzt losgehen'. A common reuse is 'Wir gehen um acht Uhr los' when stating a departure time.
Ich 'Ich' means 'I' and identifies the speaker who will keep the ticket ready. It is the subject of 'halte'. A common reuse is 'Ich komme gleich' when saying that you will arrive shortly.
halte Here 'halte' means 'keep' or 'hold' the ticket in a ready position. It is used in the pattern 'Ich halte meine Fahrkarte bereit'. A common reuse is 'Ich halte die Tür offen' when keeping a door open.
meine 'Meine' means 'my' and shows that the ticket belongs to the speaker. It describes 'Fahrkarte' in 'meine Fahrkarte'. A common reuse is 'meine Tasche' when referring to the speaker's bag.
Fahrkarte 'Fahrkarte' means a ticket for travel, here the ticket needed before boarding the train. It is the object that the speaker keeps ready and the staff may check. A common reuse is 'eine Fahrkarte kaufen' when buying a ticket.
bereit 'Bereit' means 'ready' in the pattern 'meine Fahrkarte bereit halten'. It describes the ticket as available for immediate use or checking. A common reuse is 'Ich bin bereit' when saying that you are ready.
Halt 'Halt' is an instruction meaning 'keep' or 'hold' the ticket in a handy place. It is the command form used when speaking directly to one person. A common reuse is 'Halt die Tür offen' when telling someone to keep a door open.
sie Here 'sie' means 'it', referring back to 'Fahrkarte'. It is the ticket that should be kept handy and may be checked. A common reuse is 'Ich sehe sie' when referring to a feminine noun already mentioned.
griffbereit 'Griffbereit' means 'handy' or ready to grab, so the ticket can be shown quickly. It describes the desired position of 'sie'. A common reuse is 'das Handy griffbereit halten' when keeping a phone easy to reach.
Personal 'Personal' means the staff working at the station or on the train. In this sentence, the staff may check the ticket before boarding. A common reuse is 'Das Personal hilft uns' when referring to staff assistance.
kontrolliert 'Kontrolliert' means 'checks' or 'inspects' the ticket. Here it describes what the staff may do before the travellers board. It is a form of 'kontrollieren' used with the singular collective subject 'das Personal'.
vielleicht 'Vielleicht' means 'perhaps' and indicates that the ticket check is possible but not certain. It softens the statement about what the staff may do. A common reuse is 'Vielleicht kommt er später' when describing an uncertain possibility.
bevor 'Bevor' means 'before' and introduces the earlier action of checking the ticket relative to boarding. It begins the clause 'bevor wir einsteigen'. A common reuse is 'Bevor ich gehe, rufe ich dich an' for two actions in time order.
einsteigen 'Einsteigen' means 'board' or 'get on', referring to getting onto the train. It is the infinitive at the end of the clause introduced by 'bevor'. A common reuse is 'Bitte einsteigen' when inviting passengers to board.

Grammar Points

Trennbare Verben: fährt ... ab

Der Zug fährt ab.

dayr TSOOK fairt ahp.

The train departs.

Bei trennbaren Verben steht die Vorsilbe im Hauptsatz am Satzende: fährt ... ab.

German Vocabulary

abfahren verb
AHHP-fahr-en depart; leave fährt ... ab
Anzeige noun
AHN-tsye-guh display; board der Anzeige
Durchsage noun
DOORKH-zah-guh announcement die Durchsage
folgen verb
FOHL-gen follow
gerade adv
geh-RAH-duh just now
Gleis noun
GLYSS platform; track einem anderen Gleis
hören verb
HUR-en hear gehört
nehmen verb
NAY-men take; use
Schild noun
SHILT sign den Schildern
stattdessen adv
shtaht-DESS-en instead
stehen verb
SHTAY-en stand; say steht
Zug noun
TSOOK train Der Zug

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Did you hear the announcement just now?

Show AnswerHast du gerade die Durchsage gehört?

We do if we leave now.

Show AnswerJa, wenn wir jetzt losgehen.

I'll keep my ticket ready.

Show AnswerIch halte meine Fahrkarte bereit.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

stand; say

Show Answersteht

instead

Show Answerstattdessen

hear

Show Answergehört

just now

Show Answergerade