Changing picnic plans because of weather | Learn German in English

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Use Changing picnic plans because of weather to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Das Wetter kann unsere Pläne ändern.

dahss VET-er kahn OON-zuh-ruh PLEH-nuh EN-durn. The weather may change our plans.

Das Picknick könnte schwierig werden, wenn es regnet.

dahss PIK-nik KURN-tuh SHVEE-rikh VAYR-dun, vehn ess RAYG-net. The picnic could be difficult if it rains.

Sollen wir absagen oder stattdessen etwas drinnen planen?

ZOL-en veer AHP-zah-gen OH-der shtat-DESS-en AYT-vahs DRIN-en PLAH-nen? Should we cancel or plan something indoors instead?

Lass uns flexibel bleiben und uns drinnen treffen.

LAHSS oons flek-SEE-bel BLYE-ben oont oons DRIN-en TREF-en. Let's stay flexible and meet inside.

Das klingt besser, als draußen nass zu werden.

dahss KLINKT BESS-er, ahls DROW-sen nahss tsoo VAYR-dun. That sounds better than getting wet outside.

Wir können trotzdem in der Nähe zusammen zu Mittag essen.

veer KURN-en TROTS-dem in dair NAY-uh tsoo-ZAH-men tsoo MIT-tahk ESS-en. We can still have lunch together nearby.

Ich schreibe den anderen wegen der Änderung.

ikh SHRYE-buh dayn AHN-deh-run VAY-gen dair EN-deh-roong. I will message the others about the change.

Das hilft allen bei der Planung, besonders wenn sich das Wetter ändert.

dahss HILFT AH-len bye dair PLAH-noong, beh-ZON-ders vehn zikh dahss VET-er EN-durt. That helps everyone plan, especially with the weather changing.

Word by Word

Das In Das Wetter and Das Picknick, Das means “the”; in Das klingt, it refers to the suggested option and means “that.” It is used before a noun in the first two phrases and as the subject in the last phrase. A reusable pattern is Das klingt ... for giving an opinion about a suggestion.

Wetter Wetter means “weather” here, referring to the conditions that may affect the picnic. The exact form appears in Das Wetter and das Wetter. A common pattern is Das Wetter ändert ... when weather changes a situation.

kann kann means “can” or “may” in Das Wetter kann unsere Pläne ändern, expressing a possible effect. It is the dialogue form of können used with the subject Das Wetter. Use kann + an infinitive for a possibility, as in kann ... ändern.

unsere unsere means “our” and identifies the plans as belonging to the speakers. In unsere Pläne, it comes directly before the plural noun Pläne. Reuse unsere + a noun when referring to something shared by the speaker and others.

Pläne Pläne means “plans,” specifically the arrangements that the weather may change. The exact form is used after unsere in unsere Pläne. A reusable pattern is Pläne ändern for changing arrangements.

ändern ändern means “to change” in unsere Pläne ändern. This is the infinitive form used after kann, and its citation form is also ändern. Use ändern with a direct object when something changes another thing, such as Pläne ändern.

Picknick Picknick means “picnic,” the planned outdoor activity in the dialogue. In Das Picknick, it names the activity being discussed. A common pattern is ein Picknick planen for arranging a picnic.

könnte könnte means “could” or “might” in Das Picknick könnte schwierig werden, expressing a possible result. It is a form of können used to make the possibility less direct or certain. Reuse könnte + an infinitive when suggesting a possible outcome.

schwierig schwierig means “difficult” in schwierig werden, describing the picnic as becoming hard to manage. It comes before werden in this expression. A reusable pattern is etwas ist schwierig when saying that something is difficult.

werden werden means “become” or “get” in schwierig werden, showing a change into a difficult situation. This infinitive follows könnte, and its citation form is werden. Use werden with an adjective to describe a change, such as schwierig werden.

wenn wenn introduces the condition if it rains in wenn es regnet. It connects the possible difficulty with the weather condition that may cause it. Reuse wenn + a clause to state a condition, as in wenn es regnet.

es es means “it” in es regnet, where it is the subject used with the weather verb. The exact form is part of the fixed weather expression es regnet. A common pattern is es + a weather verb, as in es regnet.

regnet regnet means “rains” in es regnet. It is the dialogue form of regnen used with es to describe rain, and its citation form is regnen. Use es regnet when stating that rain is falling.

Sollen Sollen means “should we” or “shall we” at the beginning of Sollen wir absagen ..., asking for a joint decision. It is the sentence-initial form of sollen in this question. Reuse Sollen wir + an infinitive when proposing or asking about a shared action.

wir wir means “we,” referring to the two friends as a group. In Sollen wir ...?, it is the subject of the question. A reusable pattern is Wir können ... for saying what the group is able to do.

absagen absagen means “to cancel” in Sollen wir absagen. It is an infinitive after Sollen and refers to cancelling the planned picnic or arrangement. Use absagen for cancelling a meeting, event, or plan.

oder oder means “or” and links the two alternatives in absagen oder stattdessen etwas drinnen planen. It presents a choice between cancelling and making an indoor plan. Reuse oder between two possible actions or options.

stattdessen stattdessen means “instead,” marking the alternative action chosen in place of cancelling. In stattdessen etwas drinnen planen, it introduces the replacement plan. Use stattdessen when replacing one proposed action with another.

etwas etwas means “something” in etwas drinnen planen, referring to an unspecified indoor activity or arrangement. It can stand before a description of what is being planned. A reusable pattern is etwas planen when the exact plan has not yet been decided.

drinnen drinnen means “indoors” or “inside” in etwas drinnen planen and uns drinnen treffen. It describes an activity taking place inside a building or enclosed place. Use drinnen with verbs of planning or meeting when the indoor location is relevant.

planen planen means “to plan” in etwas drinnen planen. This infinitive follows the choice structure and describes arranging an indoor alternative. Use planen with an object, as in etwas planen or ein Treffen planen.

Lass Lass means “let” in Lass uns flexibel bleiben, introducing a suggestion for joint action. It is the dialogue form of lassen used to form this suggestion, and its citation form is lassen. Reuse Lass uns + an infinitive when suggesting that the speakers do something together.

uns uns means “us” in Lass uns flexibel bleiben and uns drinnen treffen. In the first phrase it is part of the suggestion Lass uns ..., and in the second it refers to the people meeting. Reuse Lass uns + an infinitive for a joint suggestion.

flexibel flexibel means “flexible,” describing an approach that allows the friends to adapt their plans. In flexibel bleiben, it follows bleiben and describes the state they want to maintain. A reusable pattern is flexibel bleiben when plans may need to change.

bleiben bleiben means “stay” or “remain” in flexibel bleiben, meaning to continue being flexible. This infinitive follows Lass uns, and its citation form is bleiben. Use bleiben + an adjective to describe continuing in a state, such as flexibel bleiben.

und und means “and” and joins the two suggested actions in flexibel bleiben und uns drinnen treffen. It shows that both actions belong to the same suggestion. Reuse und to connect coordinated words, phrases, or actions.

treffen treffen means “meet” in uns drinnen treffen. This infinitive follows Lass uns, and its citation form is treffen. Use sich treffen for meeting one another, as in uns drinnen treffen.

klingt klingt means “sounds” in Das klingt besser, where it gives an opinion about the proposed indoor plan. It is the dialogue form of klingen used with Das, and its citation form is klingen. Reuse Das klingt ... when evaluating how a suggestion seems.

besser besser means “better” in Das klingt besser, comparing the indoor option with the alternative of getting wet outside. It describes the suggested option as preferable. A reusable pattern is Das ist besser als ... for making a comparison.

als als means “than” in besser, als draußen nass zu werden, introducing the option used for comparison. It links the preferred plan with the less desirable alternative. Reuse besser als + a noun or action when comparing two options.

draußen draußen means “outside” or “outdoors” in draußen nass zu werden. It identifies the outdoor setting where the speakers might get wet. Use draußen with verbs describing activities or conditions outside.

nass nass means “wet” in nass zu werden, describing the result of being outside in bad weather. It comes before werden in this infinitive phrase. A reusable pattern is nass werden for becoming wet.

zu zu marks the infinitive phrase nass zu werden, which is the alternative being compared after als. Here it belongs to the construction zu werden rather than meaning a separate destination. Reuse zu + infinitive after expressions that compare or describe an action.

können können means “can” or “be able to” in Wir können trotzdem ..., expressing the group’s available option. This is the infinitive form after the conjugated subject form in the sentence structure, and its citation form is können. Reuse können + an infinitive to state what someone is able or allowed to do.

trotzdem trotzdem means “still” or “nevertheless” in Wir können trotzdem ..., showing that lunch remains possible despite the changed picnic plan. It connects an action with an earlier difficulty or opposing condition. Use trotzdem when an expected obstacle does not prevent the next action.

in in means “in” in in der Nähe, locating the lunch place in the nearby area. Here it is part of the location phrase in der Nähe. Reuse in + a place expression to state where something happens.

der der means “the” in in der Nähe, as part of the phrase for “nearby” or “in the vicinity.” It comes directly before Nähe in this location expression. Reuse in der Nähe when referring to a place close to the speakers or another reference point.

Nähe Nähe means “vicinity” or “nearby area” in in der Nähe, identifying a location close to the speakers. The exact form appears after in der. A reusable pattern is in der Nähe + a place or activity when specifying that something is nearby.

zusammen zusammen means “together” in zusammen zu Mittag essen, showing that the friends will share the meal. It describes the action as involving the speakers jointly. Use zusammen with verbs such as essen or treffen to express a shared activity.

Mittag Mittag means “noon” or “lunchtime” in zu Mittag essen, the expression for having lunch. It is part of the meal expression rather than the object of essen. Reuse zu Mittag essen when referring to eating lunch.

essen essen means “eat” or “have a meal” in zu Mittag essen. This infinitive completes the expression for having lunch, and its citation form is essen. Use zu Mittag essen for lunch, or use essen with a food object when naming what someone eats.

Ich Ich means “I,” referring to the speaker who will contact the others. In Ich schreibe ..., it is the subject of the sentence. A reusable pattern is Ich schreibe ... when saying that you will write or message someone.

schreibe schreibe means “write” or “message” in Ich schreibe den anderen, where the speaker will contact the other people in writing. It is the dialogue form of schreiben used with Ich, and its citation form is schreiben. Reuse Ich schreibe + a person or group when saying whom you will message.

den den means “the” in den anderen, referring to the other people who are not part of the current exchange. It appears directly before anderen in this phrase. Reuse den + a plural group description when referring to a specific group of people or things.

anderen anderen means “the others” or “other people” in den anderen, identifying the people who need to hear about the change. Together with den, it functions as the group receiving the message. Use den anderen when referring to other members of a group already understood from the context.

wegen wegen means “because of” or “about” in wegen der Änderung, giving the reason or subject for the message. It introduces der Änderung, the change being communicated. Reuse wegen + a cause or topic when explaining why something happens or what it concerns.

Änderung Änderung means “change,” specifically the change from the picnic plan to the indoor option. In wegen der Änderung, it names the change that the speaker will communicate. A reusable pattern is über eine Änderung schreiben when writing about a change.

hilft hilft means “helps” in Das hilft allen, saying that the message makes planning easier for everyone. It is the dialogue form of helfen used with Das, and its citation form is helfen. Reuse helfen + a person when saying that something benefits or assists someone.

allen allen means “everyone” or “all people” in hilft allen, identifying all the people who benefit from the information. It follows hilft as the people receiving the help. Reuse hilft allen when describing something useful to an entire group.

bei bei means “with” or “in the context of” in bei der Planung, connecting the help with the planning process. It introduces the activity that becomes easier. Reuse bei + an activity or situation when describing support in that context.

Planung Planung means “planning” in bei der Planung, referring to the process of arranging what everyone will do. It is the activity supported by the information about the change. A reusable pattern is bei der Planung helfen for helping with planning.

besonders besonders means “especially” in besonders wenn sich das Wetter ändert, emphasizing the condition that makes the information useful. It highlights one situation within the broader planning context. Use besonders before a word, phrase, or clause that deserves special emphasis.

sich sich is the reflexive pronoun in sich das Wetter ändert, linking the change to the weather itself. It is part of the reflexive expression sich ändern, meaning that something changes. Reuse sich ändern with a subject when describing something changing on its own or changing state.

ändert ändert means “changes” in sich das Wetter ändert, describing the weather becoming different. It is the dialogue form of ändern used with the reflexive construction sich ändern, and its citation form is ändern. Reuse sich ändert after wenn when stating a condition involving a change.

Grammar Points

wenn + Nebensatz: Verb am Ende

Wenn das Wetter schwierig wird.

vehn dahss VET-er SHVEE-rikh veert.

If the weather becomes difficult.

In a clause introduced by wenn, the conjugated verb comes at the end.

Trotzdem + Verb + Subjekt

Trotzdem klingt der Plan besser.

TROTS-dem KLINKT dair PLAHN BESS-er.

Nevertheless, the plan sounds better.

When trotzdem starts the sentence, the verb comes before the subject.

German Vocabulary

absagen verb

AHP-zah-gen to cancel

ändern verb

EN-durn to change

das Picknick noun

dahss PIK-nik picnic Das Picknick

das Wetter noun

dahss VET-er the weather Das Wetter

der Plan noun

dair PLAHN plan Pläne

drinnen adv

DRIN-en indoors; inside

planen verb

PLAH-nen to plan

regnen verb

RAYG-nen to rain regnet

schwierig adj

SHVEE-rikh difficult

stattdessen adv

shtat-DESS-en instead

wenn conj

vehn if; when

werden verb

VAYR-dun to become; to get

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The weather may change our plans.

Show Answer

Das Wetter kann unsere Pläne ändern.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to change

Show Answer

ändern

to cancel

Show Answer

absagen

if; when

Show Answer

wenn

difficult

Show Answer

schwierig