Practicing a role-play together | Learn German in English

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Use Practicing a role-play together to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Können wir dieses Rollenspiel zusammen üben?

KUR-nen veer DEE-zes ROL-en-shpeel tsoo-ZAH-men YUU-ben Can we practice this role-play together?

Ich kann die andere Rolle spielen.

ikh kahn dee AHN-duh-ruh ROL-uh SHPEE-len I can take the other role.

Bitte mach nach jeder Frage eine Pause.

BIT-uh mahkh nahkh YAY-duh FRAH-guh EYE-nuh POW-zuh Please pause after each question.

So hast du Zeit, natürlich zu antworten.

zoh hahst doo TSITE, nah-TYUU-likh tsoo AHNT-vor-ten That will give you time to answer naturally.

Wenn ich einen Fehler mache, wiederhole bitte den Satz.

ven ikh EYE-nen FAY-luh MAH-khuh, vee-duh-HOH-luh BIT-uh dehn ZATS If I make a mistake, please repeat the line.

Ich sage es langsam und zeige dir eine wichtige Korrektur.

ikh ZAH-guh ess LAHNG-zahm oont TSY-guh deer EYE-nuh VIKH-tig-uh kor-rek-TOOR I will say it slowly and point out one important correction.

Das hilft mir, nicht so nervös zu sein.

dahs hilfft meer, nikht zoh nair-VURSS tsoo zine That helps me feel less nervous.

Fang mit dieser Szene an.

fahng mitt DEE-zuh SHTSAY-nuh ahn Start with this scene.

Ich mache in deinem Tempo mit.

ikh MAH-khuh in DYE-num TEM-poh mitt I will follow your pace.

Word by Word

Können In this dialogue, “Können” asks whether the speakers can or may practice together. It is the form of können used with wir in “Können wir dieses Rollenspiel zusammen üben?” A reusable pattern is “Können wir …?” when asking about a shared activity.

wir “wir” means “we” and refers to the two people practicing together. It is the subject in “Können wir dieses Rollenspiel zusammen üben?” Use “wir” when describing an action done by yourself and at least one other person.

dieses “dieses” means “this” and points to the particular role-play the speakers are about to practice. It directly describes “Rollenspiel” in “dieses Rollenspiel.” Use this pattern to identify one specific thing nearby or already understood.

Rollenspiel “Rollenspiel” means “role-play,” the practice activity in this classroom dialogue. The word is used as the object of “üben” in “dieses Rollenspiel.” It is useful when learners act out assigned parts to practice a situation.

zusammen “zusammen” means “together” and shows that both speakers will practice the role-play jointly. In “Können wir dieses Rollenspiel zusammen üben?”, it describes how the activity is done. Use it with a shared action, such as “zusammen lernen.”

üben “üben” means “to practice” and names the activity the speakers want to do with the role-play. It appears after the modal verb in “Können wir dieses Rollenspiel zusammen üben?” After a modal verb, use the action verb in this form at the end of the clause.

Ich “Ich” means “I” and identifies the speaker who can take the other role. It is the subject in “Ich kann die andere Rolle spielen.” Use “Ich” to introduce something you can do, want, or plan to do.

kann “kann” means “can” or “am able to” here, saying that the speaker is able to take the other role. It is used with “Ich” in “Ich kann die andere Rolle spielen.” A reusable pattern is “Ich kann …” followed by an action.

die “die” means “the” and introduces the specific other role in “die andere Rolle.” Together with the following words, it identifies which role the speaker will play. Use it before a known feminine noun such as “Rolle” when referring to a particular one.

andere “andere” means “other” and distinguishes the role the speaker will take from the role already being taken. It describes “Rolle” in “die andere Rolle.” Use it before a noun when selecting the different one from two or more understood options.

Rolle “Rolle” means “role,” meaning the part a person takes in the role-play. It appears in “die andere Rolle spielen,” where “spielen” expresses taking or acting out that role. This pattern is useful when assigning parts in a role-play or performance.

spielen “spielen” means “to play”; with “Rolle,” it means to play or take a role. It appears after “kann” in “Ich kann die andere Rolle spielen.” Use “eine Rolle spielen” when describing the part someone acts out.

Bitte “Bitte” means “please” and makes the following request polite. It introduces “Bitte mach nach jeder Frage eine Pause.” Use it at the beginning of a request when asking someone to do something.

mach “mach” tells the informal singular addressee to make a pause after each question. In “Bitte mach nach jeder Frage eine Pause,” it is the request form of machen. The reusable construction is “eine Pause machen,” meaning to take or make a pause.

nach “nach” means “after” here and places the pause after each question. It appears in “nach jeder Frage.” Use “nach” before an event or time point to say that something happens afterward.

jeder “jeder” means “each” or “every” and applies the instruction to every question, not just one. It appears before “Frage” in “nach jeder Frage.” Use this pattern when an action should happen after each individual item in a sequence.

Frage “Frage” means “question,” referring to each question in the role-play. It appears in “nach jeder Frage,” which means after each question. Use it when talking about something someone asks or when practicing question-and-answer exchanges.

eine “eine” means “a” here and introduces one pause in “eine Pause.” It is part of the reusable expression “eine Pause machen.” Use it before a singular noun when referring to one non-specific item or event.

Pause “Pause” means “pause” or “break,” the short stop requested after each question. In “eine Pause machen,” it names the break the partner should take. This expression is useful in lessons, conversations, or other activities that need a short stop.

So “So” means “in this way” or “so” and connects the requested pauses with the result for the learner. In “So hast du Zeit, natürlich zu antworten,” it means that following this method gives the listener time. Use it to introduce a result or consequence of the preceding action.

hast “hast” means “have” in “So hast du Zeit,” telling the partner that they will have time to answer. It is the form used with “du.” A reusable pattern is “Du hast Zeit, …” when saying that someone has enough time for an action.

du “du” means “you” and refers to the partner who needs time to answer. It is the person who has time in “So hast du Zeit, natürlich zu antworten.” Use “du” when speaking directly to one familiar person.

Zeit “Zeit” means “time,” specifically the time the partner receives to answer naturally. It appears in “hast du Zeit, natürlich zu antworten.” Use “Zeit haben, etwas zu tun” to say that someone has time to do something.

natürlich “natürlich” means “naturally” and describes the way the partner should answer. In “natürlich zu antworten,” it modifies the answering action. Use it to describe an action that should happen in a natural, unforced way.

zu “zu” marks the infinitive in “zu antworten,” which is linked to “Zeit haben.” Together, “Zeit haben, zu antworten” means to have time to answer. Use “Zeit haben, zu …” before an infinitive when specifying what someone has time to do.

antworten “antworten” means “to answer” and names the action for which the partner gets time. It appears as “zu antworten” after “Zeit haben.” Use it with a question or another statement that someone responds to.

Wenn “Wenn” means “if” here and introduces the condition that the speaker makes a mistake. It begins “Wenn ich einen Fehler mache, wiederhole bitte den Satz.” Use “Wenn …” to state what should happen when a condition occurs.

einen “einen” means “a” or “one” and introduces one mistake in “einen Fehler.” It is part of the expression “einen Fehler machen,” meaning to make a mistake. Use this pattern when referring to an unspecified mistake.

Fehler “Fehler” means “mistake” or “error,” referring to an incorrect part of the speaker’s practice. It appears in “einen Fehler machen.” This expression is useful when acknowledging or discussing an error in speech or another activity.

mache “mache” means “make” in the expression “einen Fehler mache,” so the speaker is saying “if I make a mistake.” It is the form used with “ich” in the condition introduced by “Wenn.” Use “einen Fehler machen” to describe making an error.

wiederhole “wiederhole” asks the informal singular addressee to repeat the line. In “wiederhole bitte den Satz,” it is a polite request supported by “bitte.” Use this form when asking one familiar person to say something again.

den “den” means “the” and introduces the specific sentence or line that should be repeated in “den Satz.” It points to the line just spoken or being practiced. Use it before a particular known masculine noun in a phrase like this.

Satz “Satz” means “sentence” and, in this role-play context, refers to a spoken line. It is the object of “wiederhole” in “wiederhole bitte den Satz.” Use it when referring to a sentence or a line that someone has said.

sage “sage” means “say” in “Ich sage es langsam,” describing how the speaker will repeat the line. It is used with “es” for the thing being said. A reusable pattern is “Ich sage es …” when explaining how you will say something.

es “es” means “it” and refers to the sentence or line that the partner should repeat. In “Ich sage es langsam,” it is the thing the speaker will say. Use it when the referred-to content is already clear from the conversation.

langsam “langsam” means “slowly” here and describes the manner of saying the line. It appears in “Ich sage es langsam.” Use it to request or describe a reduced speaking speed during practice or conversation.

und “und” means “and” and joins the two actions in “Ich sage es langsam und zeige dir eine wichtige Korrektur.” It connects saying the line with pointing out a correction. Use it to link related actions or pieces of information.

zeige “zeige” means “show” or “point out” in “Ich zeige dir eine wichtige Korrektur.” It introduces information the speaker will bring to the partner’s attention. The reusable pattern is “jemandem etwas zeigen,” with the person receiving the information before the thing shown.

dir “dir” means “to you” and identifies the partner who receives the correction in “zeige dir eine wichtige Korrektur.” It appears with “zeige” in the pattern of showing something to someone. Use “dir” when addressing one familiar person as the recipient of an action.

wichtige “wichtige” means “important” and describes the correction the speaker will point out. It appears before “Korrektur” in “eine wichtige Korrektur.” Use it before a noun when identifying something as especially relevant.

Korrektur “Korrektur” means “correction,” referring to an important change or improvement the partner will point out. It appears in “zeige dir eine wichtige Korrektur.” This word is useful when discussing an error and the form that should replace it.

Das “Das” means “that” here and refers to the partner’s method of repeating the line slowly and giving a correction. In “Das hilft mir,” it makes that preceding action the thing that helps. Use it to refer back to an action or situation just mentioned.

hilft “hilft” means “helps” and says that the partner’s support makes the speaker feel less nervous. It appears in “Das hilft mir,” using the common pattern “jemandem helfen.” Use this pattern when saying that an action benefits or supports someone.

mir “mir” means “to me” and identifies the person who receives the help in “Das hilft mir.” It is used with “helfen” in the pattern “Das hilft mir.” Use it when describing help or benefit directed toward yourself.

nicht “nicht” means “not” and negates the state described in “nicht so nervös zu sein.” It shows that the support reduces the speaker’s nervousness. Use “nicht” before the part of a sentence that should be negated.

nervös “nervös” means “nervous,” describing the speaker’s emotional state during the practice. In “nicht so nervös zu sein,” the speaker says they do not feel as nervous. Use it with “sein” to describe how someone feels.

sein “sein” means “to be” and completes the infinitive expression “nicht so nervös zu sein.” It describes the state that the help changes. Use “zu sein” after a phrase such as “helfen, …” when specifying the state or action involved.

Fang “Fang” tells the informal singular addressee to start. In “Fang mit dieser Szene an,” it is part of the separable verb anfangen and means “start with this scene.” Use this request when directing one familiar person to begin an activity.

mit “mit” means “with” in “Fang mit dieser Szene an,” identifying the scene as the starting point. Together with “anfangen,” the construction means to start with something. Use “mit etwas anfangen” when naming what an activity begins with.

dieser “dieser” means “this” and points to the particular scene that should be practiced first. It describes “Szene” in “mit dieser Szene.” Use it to identify one specific nearby or already understood item.

Szene “Szene” means “scene,” referring to the selected section of the role-play. It appears in “Fang mit dieser Szene an,” meaning start with this scene. Use it when choosing a part of a play, role-play, or other staged situation.

an “an” is the separable part of anfangen in “Fang mit dieser Szene an,” completing the meaning “start.” It appears at the end of this request because the verb is separated there. Keep “Fang … an” together when reusing this command.

in “in” means “in” in “in deinem Tempo,” which expresses doing something at the other person’s pace. It introduces the pace phrase rather than a physical location here. Use “in … Tempo” when describing the speed or rhythm followed during an activity.

deinem “deinem” means “your” and identifies the pace as belonging to the person being addressed. It appears in “in deinem Tempo.” Use this possessive pattern when referring to one familiar person’s pace or another thing associated with them.

Tempo “Tempo” means “pace” or “speed” in “in deinem Tempo.” The full phrase says that the speaker will participate at the partner’s pace. Use “in jemandem’s Tempo” carefully as a reusable idea for matching another person’s speed, with the appropriate German possessive form.

Grammar Points

mitmachen → mache ... mit

mache ... mit

MAH-khuh ... mitt

to join in; to follow along

The prefix mit- separates from the verb and moves to the end in this form.

zu + Infinitiv

zu antworten

tsoo AHNT-vor-ten

to answer

zu comes directly before the infinitive: zu antworten.

German Vocabulary

antworten verb

AHNT-vor-ten to answer zu antworten

Fehler noun

FAY-luh mistake einen Fehler

Frage noun

FRAH-guh question

langsam adv

LAHNG-zahm slowly

Pause noun

POW-zuh pause

Rolle noun

ROL-uh role

Rollenspiel noun

ROL-en-shpeel role-play

Satz noun

ZATS sentence; line den Satz

spielen verb

SHPEE-len to play

üben verb

YUU-ben to practice

wiederholen verb

vee-duh-HOH-len to repeat wiederhole

zeigen verb

TSY-gen to point out; to show zeige

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can we practice this role-play together?

Show Answer

Können wir dieses Rollenspiel zusammen üben?

I can take the other role.

Show Answer

Ich kann die andere Rolle spielen.

Start with this scene.

Show Answer

Fang mit dieser Szene an.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to play

Show Answer

spielen

to repeat

Show Answer

wiederhole

question

Show Answer

Frage

role-play

Show Answer

Rollenspiel