Planning the Next Steps at Work | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Planning the Next Steps at Work to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich bin mit der Hauptaufgabe fertig.

ikh bin mit dair HOWPT-owf-gah-buh FAIR-tikh. I finished the main task.

Lass es von jemandem prüfen, bevor du es teilst.

lahs ess fon YAY-mah-dem PROO-fen, beh-FOHR doo ess tailst. Have someone review it before you share it.

Wer sollte es prüfen?

vair ZHOL-teh ess PROO-fen? Who should review it?

Frag die Teamleitung, weil sich der Plan ändern kann.

frahk dee TEEM-lie-toong, vyle zikh dair plahn EN-dern kahn. Ask the team lead because the plan may change.

Soll ich auch eine kurze Nachricht vorbereiten?

zoll ikh owkh EYE-nuh KOOR-tsuh NAHKH-rikht for-buh-RIE-ten? Should I prepare a short message too?

Erkläre, was sich geändert hat und wo man die Datei findet.

air-KLAIR-uh, vahs zikh guh-EN-dairt hat oont voh mahn dee dah-TIE fint. Explain what changed and where to find the file.

Ich werde um eine Prüfung bitten und eine kurze Notiz hinzufügen.

ikh VAIR-duh oom EYE-nuh PROO-foong BIT-ten oont EYE-nuh KOOR-tsuh noh-TEETS hoo-FOO-gen. I will ask for the review and add a short note.

Das sollte die Übergabe klarer machen.

dahs ZHOL-teh dee OOB-er-gah-buh KLAIR-er MAKH-en. That should make the handoff clearer.

Word by Word

Ich Ich means “I” here and refers to the speaker who finished the task. The citation form is ich; the capital letter appears because it begins the sentence. Use Ich when speaking about yourself, as in Ich bin mit der Hauptaufgabe fertig.

bin bin means “am” and expresses the speaker’s current state in Ich bin mit der Hauptaufgabe fertig. It is the first-person form of sein used with ich. The pattern Ich bin mit ... fertig is useful when saying that you have finished something.

mit mit means “with” and introduces the task that the speaker is finished with in Ich bin mit der Hauptaufgabe fertig. It is used here in the pattern mit ... fertig sein. Use this pattern at work when reporting that a task is complete.

der der means “the” in der Hauptaufgabe and identifies the specific main task. Here it is the form used with the feminine noun Hauptaufgabe after mit. Use der Hauptaufgabe when referring to this particular task in the dialogue.

Hauptaufgabe Hauptaufgabe means “main task” and names the central task that has been completed. The exact form Hauptaufgabe appears after der in der Hauptaufgabe. Use it when distinguishing the primary task from other work tasks.

fertig fertig means “finished” or “done” and describes the completed state in Ich bin mit der Hauptaufgabe fertig. It combines with sein and mit to say that someone is finished with a task. Use Ich bin mit ... fertig when reporting completed work.

Lass Lass introduces an instruction to arrange for someone to review the item in Lass es von jemandem prüfen. It is the imperative form of lassen used in this “have or let something be done” expression. Use Lass ... when directing someone to arrange an action.

es es means “it” and refers to the completed work item that should be reviewed and later shared. In Lass es von jemandem prüfen, it is the item receiving the review. Use es when the object is already clear from the conversation.

von von means “by” here and marks the person who performs the review in von jemandem prüfen. With von, the person is expressed as the reviewer of the item. Use von jemandem when identifying an unspecified person who carries out an action.

jemandem jemandem means “someone” and refers to an unspecified reviewer in von jemandem prüfen. The form jemandem is used after von. Use von jemandem when the person who will do something is not named.

prüfen prüfen means “to review” or “to check” and names the requested action in Lass es von jemandem prüfen. The form prüfen is the infinitive used after Lass in this arrangement. Use it for checking a document, plan, or other work before sharing it.

bevor bevor means “before” and introduces the condition that must come first in bevor du es teilst. It connects the review with the later act of sharing. Use bevor when one action must happen before another.

du du means “you” and refers to one person addressed informally in bevor du es teilst. It is the singular informal form for the person who will share the item. Use du when speaking directly to one familiar person or colleague in this way.

teilst teilst means “share” in the clause bevor du es teilst and describes distributing the item to others. It is the form of teilen used with du. Use bevor du es teilst when giving a review-before-sharing instruction.

Wer Wer means “who” and asks which person should review the item in Wer sollte es prüfen? It asks about a person rather than an object. Use Wer sollte ...? when asking who is the appropriate person for an action.

sollte sollte means “should” and asks which reviewer would be appropriate in Wer sollte es prüfen? It is the form of sollen used for the question about a recommended person. Use sollte when asking who is expected or suitable for a task.

Frag Frag means “ask” and gives the instruction to contact the team lead in Frag die Teamleitung. It is the imperative form of fragen used when directing one person informally. Use Frag ... when telling someone to ask a particular person or group.

die die means “the” in die Teamleitung and identifies the specific team lead or team management being addressed. It is the article used with Teamleitung in this object expression. Use die Teamleitung when referring to that responsible workplace role.

Teamleitung Teamleitung means “team lead” or “team management” and names the person or role to ask for the review. The exact form Teamleitung appears in Frag die Teamleitung. Use it when referring to the responsible leadership of a team.

weil weil means “because” and introduces the reason for asking the team lead: the plan may change. In weil sich der Plan ändern kann, it begins the reason clause. Use weil to explain why a workplace action is necessary.

sich sich refers back to the plan as it changes in sich ändern. It is part of the expression sich ändern, meaning that something changes. Use sich ändern when describing a plan, situation, or other thing undergoing a change.

Plan Plan means “plan” and is the thing that may change in sich der Plan ändern kann. The exact form Plan is the subject of the change. Use Plan when discussing scheduled work or intended next steps.

ändern ändern means “change” and describes the possible change to the plan in sich der Plan ändern kann. The form ändern is the infinitive used after kann. Use sich ändern for something that changes, as in the dialogue expression sich ändern.

kann kann means “can” or “may” and expresses the possibility that the plan changes in sich der Plan ändern kann. It is the form of können used with the singular subject Plan. Use kann when saying that something is possible or may happen.

Soll Soll means “should” in Soll ich auch eine kurze Nachricht vorbereiten? and asks whether preparing another item is advisable. It is the form of sollen used at the start of this question with ich. Use Soll ich ...? when asking whether you should perform a proposed action.

auch auch means “also” or “too” and adds the short message to the other planned review and handoff actions. In Soll ich auch eine kurze Nachricht vorbereiten?, it shows that this is an additional action. Use auch when adding another task or item.

eine eine means “a” and introduces one short message in eine kurze Nachricht. It is the indefinite article used with Nachricht in this expression. Use eine when referring to one non-specific item of this kind.

kurze kurze means “short” and describes the message in eine kurze Nachricht. Its form agrees with Nachricht in this noun phrase. Use kurze Nachricht when referring to a brief message rather than a long explanation.

Nachricht Nachricht means “message” and names the additional written information to prepare. The exact phrase eine kurze Nachricht refers to a brief workplace message. Use Nachricht for a message that communicates information to another person or team.

vorbereiten vorbereiten means “prepare” and names the action being considered in Soll ich auch eine kurze Nachricht vorbereiten? The form vorbereiten is the infinitive after Soll ich. Use Soll ich ... vorbereiten? when asking whether you should get something ready.

Erkläre Erkläre means “explain” and gives an instruction to describe the changes and the file location. It is the imperative form of erklären used when speaking informally to one person. Use Erkläre ... when asking someone to make information understandable.

was was means “what” and introduces the information about the changes in Erkläre, was sich geändert hat. It refers to the thing that changed rather than naming it directly. Use Erkläre, was ... when asking someone to explain what happened or changed.

geändert geändert means “changed” and describes the information that should be explained in was sich geändert hat. It is the participle form used with hat in this expression. Use was sich geändert hat when asking or explaining which details are different now.

hat hat helps complete the expression was sich geändert hat, meaning “what has changed.” It is the form of haben used with the singular subject was. Use it at the end of this clause when stating what has changed.

und und means “and” and connects the two points to explain: what changed and where to find the file. It joins the clauses in Erkläre, was sich geändert hat und wo man die Datei findet. Use und to link related pieces of information in one instruction.

wo wo means “where” and introduces the information about the file’s location in wo man die Datei findet. It asks for a place or location. Use wo man ... findet when explaining where someone can locate something.

man man refers to people in general in wo man die Datei findet, meaning where people can find the file. It does not name one specific person. Use man for general instructions such as explaining where a file can be found.

Datei Datei means “file” and identifies the digital item whose location should be explained. The exact phrase die Datei appears in wo man die Datei findet. Use Datei when referring to a computer file or document.

findet findet means “finds” or “can find” in wo man die Datei findet and describes locating the file. It is the form of finden used with man. Use wo man die Datei findet when giving directions to a file.

werde werde expresses “will” in Ich werde um eine Prüfung bitten und eine kurze Notiz hinzufügen. It is the first-person form of werden used to announce the speaker’s planned actions. Use Ich werde ... when stating what you intend to do next.

um um is part of um eine Prüfung bitten and marks what the speaker is requesting. The complete expression um etwas bitten means to ask for something. Use um ... bitten when requesting a review, response, or other specific thing.

Prüfung Prüfung means “review” or “check” and names the requested review in um eine Prüfung bitten. The exact phrase um eine Prüfung bitten refers to asking someone to examine the work. Use Prüfung for a review of a task, document, or plan.

bitten bitten means “ask for” or “request” in um eine Prüfung bitten. The form bitten is the infinitive used after werde. Use the pattern um ... bitten when saying that you are requesting a specific action or item.

Notiz Notiz means “note” and names the short written addition in eine kurze Notiz hinzufügen. The dialogue speaker plans to add this note alongside requesting the review. Use Notiz for a brief written reminder or piece of information.

hinzufügen hinzufügen means “add” and describes putting a short note into the work or message in eine kurze Notiz hinzufügen. The form hinzufügen is the infinitive used after werde. Use it with an object when saying that you will add something, as in eine kurze Notiz hinzufügen.

Das Das means “that” and refers to the planned actions mentioned immediately before in Das sollte die Übergabe klarer machen. It presents those actions as the cause of a clearer handoff. Use Das at the start of a sentence to refer back to an earlier action or idea.

Übergabe Übergabe means “handoff” or “transfer” and names the process that should become clearer. In die Übergabe, it refers to passing the work and relevant information to another person or team. Use Übergabe when discussing the transfer of responsibility or work.

klarer klarer means “clearer” and describes the intended result for the handoff in die Übergabe klarer machen. It compares the planned handoff with its less clear state. Use klarer machen when explaining that an action will improve understanding.

machen machen means “make” and completes the expression die Übergabe klarer machen, meaning to make the handoff clearer. The form machen is the infinitive used after sollte. Use machen with an adjective when describing a change in how something is understood or experienced.

Grammar Points

weil + Verb am Satzende

weil sich die Hauptaufgabe ändert

vyle zikh dee HOWPT-owf-gah-buh EN-dairt

because the main task is changing

Nach „weil“ steht das konjugierte Verb am Ende des Nebensatzes.

um etwas bitten

Ich bitte um eine Prüfung.

ikh BIT-tuh oom EYE-nuh PROO-foong.

I ask for a review.

„bitten um“ steht mit dem Akkusativ: um eine Prüfung, um eine kurze Notiz.

German Vocabulary

Erkläre verb

air-KLAIR-uh explain

fertig adj

FAIR-tikh finished; done

mit der Hauptaufgabe fertig

geändert verb

guh-EN-dairt changed

Hauptaufgabe noun

HOWPT-owf-gah-buh main task

mit der Hauptaufgabe

jemandem pron

YAY-mah-dem someone

kurze Nachricht phrase

KOOR-tsuh NAHKH-rikht short message

eine kurze Nachricht

prüfen verb

PROO-fen to review; to check

sich ändern phrase

zikh EN-dern to change

weil sich der Plan ändern kann

Teamleitung noun

TEEM-lie-toong team lead

Frag die Teamleitung

teilst verb

tailst share

vorbereiten verb

for-buh-RIE-ten to prepare

weil conj

vyle because

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I finished the main task.

Show Answer

Ich bin mit der Hauptaufgabe fertig.

Who should review it?

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Wer sollte es prüfen?

That should make the handoff clearer.

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Das sollte die Übergabe klarer machen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to review; to check

Show Answer

prüfen

because

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weil

finished; done

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fertig

main task

Show Answer

Hauptaufgabe