About This Lesson
Use Reporting a hotel room problem to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Die Klimaanlage in meinem Zimmer funktioniert nicht.
dee KLEE-mahn-lah-guh in MY-nem TSIM-er foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT nikht. The air conditioner in my room is not working.
B
Das tut mir leid.
dahs toot meer LITE. I am sorry about that.
B
Haben Sie die Fernbedienung ausprobiert?
HAH-ben zee dee FEHRN-beh-DEE-noong OWS-proh-BEERT? Have you tried the remote?
A
Ich habe sie ausprobiert.
ikh HAH-buh zee OWS-proh-BEERT. I tried it.
A
Die Temperatur ändert sich nicht.
dee tem-peh-rah-TOOR EN-durt zikh nikht. The temperature does not change.
B
Ich schicke jemanden, der sie überprüft.
ikh SHIK-uh YAY-mahn-den, dair zee oo-ber-PROOFT. I will send someone to check it.
A
Wie lange könnte die Reparatur dauern?
vee LAHNG-uh KURN-tuh dee reh-pah-rah-TOOR DOW-ern? How long might the repair take?
B
Ich bin mir nicht sicher.
ikh bin meer nikht ZIKH-er. I am not sure.
B
Jemand kann bald kommen.
YAY-mahnt kahn bahlt KOH-men. Someone can come shortly.
A
Ich werde im Zimmer warten.
ikh VAIR-duh im TSIM-er VAHR-ten. I will wait in the room.
B
Bitte sagen Sie uns Bescheid, wenn das Problem weiter besteht.
BIT-tuh ZAH-gen zee oons beh-SHITE, venn dahs proh-BLAYM VY-ter beh-SHTAYT. Please let us know if the problem continues.Word by Word
Die
In "Die Klimaanlage" and "die Reparatur", this is the definite article meaning "the". Its capitalization follows its position at the beginning of the sentence in "Die Klimaanlage"; in "die Reparatur" it is lowercase. It is used directly before the noun it identifies.
Klimaanlage
"Klimaanlage" means air conditioner, the device in the guest's room. In "Die Klimaanlage in meinem Zimmer" it identifies the equipment being reported as faulty. You can use it after an article or possessive expression when talking about an air conditioner.
in
In "in meinem Zimmer", "in" means in and introduces the location of the air conditioner. Here it links "Klimaanlage" with "meinem Zimmer". It is commonly used before a place when saying where something is.
meinem
"meinem" means my in "meinem Zimmer", referring to the speaker's room. It appears directly before "Zimmer" to show possession. This pattern is useful when identifying a personal room or other possession.
Zimmer
"Zimmer" means room, specifically the guest's hotel room in "meinem Zimmer" and "im Zimmer". It names the place where the problem occurs and where the guest will wait. It can follow a possessive expression or appear with a location expression.
funktioniert
In "funktioniert nicht", "funktioniert" means works or functions. Together with "nicht", it says that the air conditioner is not working. This expression can be used to report that a device is not operating.
nicht
"nicht" negates "funktioniert" in "funktioniert nicht", so the sentence says that the air conditioner does not work. It is placed after the verb here. This is a reusable way to describe a negative result or condition.
Das
In "Das tut mir leid", "Das" refers to the problem just reported and means that or this situation. It points back to what happened rather than naming the problem again. This expression is used when responding sympathetically to bad news.
tut
In "Das tut mir leid", "tut" is part of the expression used to say that something is regrettable or that the speaker is sorry. The whole expression conveys the apology; "tut" does not mean "sorry" by itself here. Use it together with the other components of "Das tut mir leid".
mir
In "Das tut mir leid", "mir" refers to the person who feels sorry, meaning to me. It identifies who experiences the regret in this apology. The expression uses "mir" between "tut" and "leid".
leid
In "Das tut mir leid", "leid" contributes the meaning of regret or being sorry. The complete expression "Das tut mir leid" is the apology, so "leid" should be learned as part of that expression. It is useful when acknowledging that another person has experienced a problem.
Haben
At the start of "Haben Sie die Fernbedienung ausprobiert?", "Haben" helps form a question about whether the guest tried the remote. It comes before the formal subject "Sie" in this question. This word order is used when asking whether someone has done something.
Sie
In "Haben Sie die Fernbedienung ausprobiert?", "Sie" means formal you. In "Ich habe sie ausprobiert" and "der sie überprüft", the lowercase form "sie" is an object pronoun referring respectively to the remote and the air conditioner. The exact meaning depends on its capitalization and its role in the sentence.
Fernbedienung
"Fernbedienung" means remote control, the device the receptionist asks the guest to try. In "die Fernbedienung ausprobiert", it is the object of the action. It is used when talking about testing or using a remote control.
ausprobiert
In "die Fernbedienung ausprobiert" and "sie ausprobiert", "ausprobiert" means tried or tested. It describes testing the remote to see whether it solves the air-conditioner problem. With "haben" or "habe", it forms the past statement or question about that attempt.
Ich
"Ich" means I and identifies the guest as the person who tried the remote and will wait in the room. It appears at the beginning of "Ich habe sie ausprobiert" and "Ich werde im Zimmer warten". It is used to state the speaker's own action or plan.
habe
In "Ich habe sie ausprobiert", "habe" is the auxiliary used with the past action "ausprobiert". It shows that the speaker is reporting a completed attempt. This pattern places the person first, followed by "habe" and the tested object.
Temperatur
"Temperatur" means temperature. In "Die Temperatur ändert sich nicht", it names what remains unchanged when the remote is tried. It can be used after an article when describing a temperature in a room or device.
ändert
In "ändert sich nicht", "ändert" means changes. Together with "sich" and "nicht", it says that the temperature does not change. This expression is useful for reporting that a setting or condition remains the same.
sich
In "Die Temperatur ändert sich nicht", "sich" is part of the expression "ändert sich" for something changing. It shows that the temperature itself is the thing undergoing the change. Learn it together with "ändert" when describing a changing condition.
schicke
In "Ich schicke jemanden", "schicke" means send and describes the receptionist's action of sending a person to the room. The person being sent follows it as "jemanden". This pattern is useful when arranging for someone to go and help.
jemanden
In "Ich schicke jemanden", "jemanden" means someone, referring to the person the receptionist will send. It is the person receiving the action of sending. It is used after "schicke" when the identity of the person is not specified.
der
In "jemanden, der sie überprüft", "der" means who and introduces information about the person being sent. The following clause explains that this person will check the problem equipment. It is used directly after the person it describes.
überprüft
In "der sie überprüft", "überprüft" means checks or inspects. It describes what the person sent to the room will do with the air conditioner. This verb can be used when someone examines a device or problem.
Wie
At the beginning of "Wie lange könnte die Reparatur dauern?", "Wie" means how and begins a question about duration. Together with "lange", it asks for the length of time. This pattern is useful when asking how long an activity or repair may take.
lange
In "Wie lange", "lange" refers to duration and means long. The complete question "Wie lange könnte die Reparatur dauern?" asks about the repair's expected duration. Use it after "Wie" when asking how much time something requires.
könnte
In "könnte die Reparatur dauern", "könnte" expresses a possible or uncertain estimate, meaning might or could. It makes the question less definite because the exact repair time is not known. It is useful when asking about a possible duration or outcome.
Reparatur
"Reparatur" means repair, referring to the work needed for the air conditioner. In "die Reparatur dauern", it is the activity whose duration the guest asks about. It can be used with an article when discussing a specific repair.
dauern
In "die Reparatur dauern", "dauern" means take or last in time. It describes how much time the repair may require. It is used after a duration question such as "Wie lange".
bin
In "Ich bin mir nicht sicher", "bin" is the form of "sein" used to say that the speaker is not sure. It links "Ich" with the state of uncertainty. This expression is used when the speaker cannot give a definite answer.
sicher
In "mir nicht sicher", "sicher" means sure or certain. With "nicht", it says that the receptionist does not know the exact repair time. The reusable expression is "Ich bin mir nicht sicher" when giving an uncertain answer.
Jemand
"Jemand" means someone and refers to an unspecified person who can come to the room. In "Jemand kann bald kommen", it is the person who may arrive. It is useful when the person's identity is not important or not yet known.
kann
In "Jemand kann bald kommen", "kann" means can and expresses that someone is able or available to come. It is followed by the person and the time expression, with "kommen" completing the action. This pattern is useful when offering or describing someone's availability.
bald
In "bald kommen", "bald" means soon or shortly. It tells the guest that someone may come after a short period, without giving an exact time. It is commonly placed near the action it describes.
kommen
In "kann bald kommen", "kommen" means come and describes the person's movement to the room. After "kann", it remains in this form at the end of the clause. This pattern is useful for saying that someone can come soon.
werde
In "Ich werde im Zimmer warten", "werde" helps express the speaker's future plan to wait. It is followed by the place expression and the action "warten". This pattern is useful when stating what you will do.
im
In "im Zimmer", "im" means in the and identifies the place where the guest will wait. It appears directly before "Zimmer" in this location expression. Use it with a place when saying that someone will remain inside it.
warten
In "im Zimmer warten", "warten" means wait. It describes the guest's plan to remain in the room until someone comes to check the problem. After "werde", it appears at the end of the clause.
Bitte
At the beginning of "Bitte sagen Sie uns Bescheid", "Bitte" means please and makes the request polite. It introduces the receptionist's request for information. It can be placed before a polite instruction.
sagen
In "sagen Sie uns Bescheid", "sagen" means tell or let someone know. Together with "uns Bescheid", it asks the guest to inform the reception if the problem continues. This expression requires the information recipient "uns" and the phrase "Bescheid".
uns
In "sagen Sie uns Bescheid", "uns" means us and refers to the reception staff who should be informed. It identifies who should receive the information. It is used between "sagen" and "Bescheid" in this request.
Bescheid
In "sagen Sie uns Bescheid", "Bescheid" is part of the expression meaning let us know or inform us. The complete construction is "sagen Sie uns Bescheid", not just "Bescheid" by itself. It is useful when asking someone to report a change or update.
wenn
In "wenn das Problem weiter besteht", "wenn" means if and introduces the condition under which the guest should contact the reception. It connects the request with the possible continuation of the problem. This pattern is useful for asking someone to respond if a condition occurs.
Problem
"Problem" means problem, referring to the air-conditioner fault. In "wenn das Problem weiter besteht", it is the condition that may continue. It can be used after an article when referring to a specific issue.
weiter
In "weiter besteht", "weiter" means continuing or still. It shows that the problem has not ended after the check or repair attempt. It is used with the verb to indicate that a situation continues.
besteht
In "das Problem weiter besteht", "besteht" means remains or persists. Together with "weiter", it says that the problem continues. This expression is useful when reporting that an issue has not been resolved.
Grammar Points
Sagen Sie uns Bescheid.
Sagen Sie uns Bescheid.
ZAH-gen zee oons beh-SHITE.Let us know.
The formal imperative places the verb first, followed by Sie. Bescheid sagen is a fixed expression.
jemand → jemanden
jemanden
YAY-mahn-densomeone
jemand changes to jemanden in the accusative, for example after an action directed at a person.
German Vocabulary
ändern
verb
EN-durn
to change
ändert
ausprobieren
verb
OWS-proh-BEER-en
to try
ausprobiert
Das tut mir leid
phrase
dahs toot meer LITE
I am sorry about that
Das tut mir leid.
Fernbedienung
noun
FEHRN-beh-DEE-noong
remote control
funktionieren
verb
foonk-tsee-oh-NEER-en
to work; to function
funktioniert
jemand
pron
YAY-mahnt
someone
jemanden
Klimaanlage
noun
KLEE-mahn-lah-guh
air conditioner
Reparatur
noun
reh-pah-rah-TOOR
repair
schicken
verb
SHIK-en
to send
schicke
Temperatur
noun
tem-peh-rah-TOOR
temperature
überprüfen
verb
oo-ber-PROO-fen
to check
überprüft
Zimmer
noun
TSIM-er
room
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
I am sorry about that.
Show Answer
Das tut mir leid.Have you tried the remote?
Show Answer
Haben Sie die Fernbedienung ausprobiert?I tried it.
Show Answer
Ich habe sie ausprobiert.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to work; to function
Show Answer
funktioniertto try
Show Answer
ausprobierttemperature
Show Answer
Temperaturto send