Apologizing for a plan change | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: While adjusting plans with a friend, one person apologizes for an unexpected change and they choose another day..

EN → DE / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Apologizing for a plan change to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Es tut mir leid, ich muss unseren Plan ändern.

ess TOOT meer LYTE, ikh moos OON-zuh-run plahn EN-durn. I'm sorry, I need to change our plan.
B

Gut, dass du mir Bescheid gesagt hast, bevor ich losgegangen bin.

GOOT, dahss doo meer beh-SHYTE geh-ZAHKT hahst, beh-FOHR ikh LOHSS-geh-gahn-un bin. I'm glad you told me before I left.
A

Etwas Unerwartetes ist passiert.

ET-vahs oon-er-VAR-tuh-tuss ist pah-ZEERT. Something unexpected came up.
B

Das ist in Ordnung. Wir können einen anderen Tag wählen.

DAHSS ist in ORT-noong. veer KUR-nun EYE-nun AHN-duh-run tahk VAY-lun. That's all right. We can choose another day.
A

Würde es dir später in dieser Woche passen?

VUR-duh ess deer SHPAY-tuh in DEE-zuh VOH-khuh PAH-sun? Would later this week work for you?
B

Später in dieser Woche passt es mir gut.

SHPAY-tuh in DEE-zuh VOH-khuh pahst ess meer GOOT. Later this week is fine for me.
A

Ich kann dir den neuen Plan schicken.

ikh kahn deer dayn NOY-un plahn SHIK-un. I can send you the new plan.
B

Das hilft mir, meinen Zeitplan anzupassen.

DAHSS hilft meer, MY-nun TSEYT-plahn AHN-tsoo-pah-sun. That helps me adjust my schedule.

Word by Word

Es tut mir leid The expression "Es tut mir leid" means “I’m sorry” and is used here to apologize for changing the plan. "Es" presents the situation, "tut" contributes the idea of something affecting someone, "mir" means “to me,” and "leid" supplies the sense of regret. Use the whole expression when acknowledging that your action has inconvenienced someone.
ich The exact form "ich" means “I” and identifies the speaker in "ich muss unseren Plan ändern". It is the subject before the verb here; at the beginning of a sentence, the same word appears as "Ich" in "Ich kann dir den neuen Plan schicken". Use ich + verb when speaking about your own action or need.
muss In "ich muss unseren Plan ändern", "muss" expresses that the speaker needs to or has to change the plan. It is followed by the infinitive "ändern", which comes at the end of this clause. Use this pattern to state a necessary action.
unseren The exact form "unseren" means “our” in "unseren Plan" and shows that the plan belongs to the speaker and the other person together. It comes directly before the noun "Plan". Use it when referring to something shared by the speaker and others.
Plan "Plan" means “plan” in "unseren Plan ändern" and "den neuen Plan schicken". It names the arrangement that is being changed and later sent to the other person. Use Plan when discussing an intended arrangement or schedule.
ändern In "ich muss unseren Plan ändern", "ändern" means “to change” the existing plan. It stays in the infinitive after the modal verb "muss". Use muss + infinitive when explaining that a planned arrangement has to be changed.
Gut At the beginning of "Gut, dass du mir Bescheid gesagt hast", "Gut" means “good” and evaluates the fact that the other person gave notice. Together with "dass" and the following clause, it expresses that the information arrived at a helpful time. Use "Gut, dass ..." when responding positively to something someone has done.
dass In "Gut, dass du mir Bescheid gesagt hast", "dass" introduces the fact being evaluated: the other person gave notice. The clause after "dass" places its verb group at the end, as in "Bescheid gesagt hast". Use dass to connect an evaluation with the situation that explains it.
du The exact form "du" means “you” and identifies the friend who gave notice in "du mir Bescheid gesagt hast". It addresses one familiar person directly. Use du when speaking to a friend or another person with whom this form of address is appropriate.
Bescheid gesagt The phrase "Bescheid gesagt" means “told someone” or “gave notice” in "du mir Bescheid gesagt hast". "Bescheid" contributes the idea of information or notice, while "gesagt" is the form used for saying or telling in this completed action. Use the phrase when someone informs another person about a situation or change.
hast In "du mir Bescheid gesagt hast", "hast" helps form the completed report that the friend gave notice. It appears at the end of the verb group after "gesagt" with the subject "du". Use this word order when reporting that someone has already informed you.
bevor In "bevor ich losgegangen bin", "bevor" means “before” and introduces the earlier action of setting off. The clause after it explains that the notice arrived before the speaker left. Use bevor to place one action earlier than another.
losgegangen The exact form "losgegangen" means “set off” or “left” in "ich losgegangen bin". It describes the action that had not yet happened when the other person gave notice. Use it when referring to someone starting out or leaving.
bin In "ich losgegangen bin", "bin" is the form used with "ich" in the verb group describing the completed action of setting off. It comes after "losgegangen" at the end of the clause. Use this form with ich in the same completed-action pattern.
Etwas The exact form "Etwas" means “something” in "Etwas Unerwartetes ist passiert". It introduces an unspecified event that the speaker does not identify more precisely. Use Etwas before a description when referring to an unspecified thing or event.
Unerwartetes In "Etwas Unerwartetes", "Unerwartetes" means “unexpected” and describes the unspecified thing that occurred. Together with "Etwas", it refers to something the speaker did not expect. Use this combination when an event is surprising but its details are not being stated.
ist In "Etwas Unerwartetes ist passiert", "ist" is the verb form used in the statement that the unexpected event occurred. It works together with "passiert" to describe what has happened. Use the pattern "Etwas Unerwartetes ist passiert" when reporting an unexpected event.
passiert In "Etwas Unerwartetes ist passiert", "passiert" means “happened” and states that the unexpected thing occurred. It follows "ist" in the expression describing the event. Use it to report that something has happened.
Das At the beginning of "Das ist in Ordnung", "Das" means “that” or “it” and refers back to the situation that was just explained. It makes the whole situation the subject of the reassurance. Use Das to point back to a situation already known in the conversation.
in Ordnung The expression "in Ordnung" means “all right” or “okay” in "Das ist in Ordnung". "in" contributes the relation “in”, while "Ordnung" contributes the idea of order; together, they reassure the other person that the situation is acceptable. Use the whole phrase when accepting an explanation, change, or inconvenience.
Wir The exact form "Wir" means “we” in "Wir können einen anderen Tag wählen" and refers to the two people deciding together. It is capitalized because it begins the sentence. Use Wir when describing a shared action or decision.
können In "Wir können einen anderen Tag wählen", "können" means “can” and expresses the possibility of choosing another day. It is followed by the infinitive "wählen". Use können + infinitive to suggest an available option or shared possibility.
einen In "einen anderen Tag", "einen" introduces one possible day as the object being chosen. It comes before the description "anderen" and the noun "Tag". Use this article pattern when selecting one option from several possibilities.
anderen The exact form "anderen" means “another” or “different” in "einen anderen Tag". It marks the proposed day as an alternative to the original plan. Use it when offering a replacement option.
Tag "Tag" means “day” in "einen anderen Tag wählen". It identifies the time unit that the speakers will choose for their meeting. Use Tag when selecting or discussing a particular day.
wählen In "Wir können einen anderen Tag wählen", "wählen" means “choose”. It is the infinitive after "können" and names the shared decision the speakers can make. Use können ... wählen when discussing which option to select.
Würde In "Würde es dir später in dieser Woche passen?", "Würde" introduces a polite question about whether a proposed time would suit the other person. It makes the suggestion less direct than a plain statement. Use the pattern "Würde es dir ... passen?" when checking whether a time is convenient.
es In "Würde es dir später in dieser Woche passen?", "es" is the “it” used for the proposed time or arrangement being checked. The person whose availability matters is introduced by "dir". Use this exact pattern when asking whether a suggested time works for someone.
dir In "Würde es dir später in dieser Woche passen?", "dir" means “for you” and identifies the friend whose schedule is being considered. It appears between "es" and the time expression. Use "es dir passen" when asking whether something suits another person.
später The exact form "später" means “later” in "später in dieser Woche". It places the possible meeting after the current or previously discussed time. The same word is capitalized as "Später" when it begins the next sentence. Use "später in dieser Woche" to propose a later time during the current week.
in In "in dieser Woche", "in" forms the time expression meaning “in this week”. It links the later time to the week being discussed. Use it before a time period when locating an event within that period.
dieser In "dieser Woche", "dieser" means “this” and points to the current week. It comes directly before "Woche" in the time expression. Use this phrase when referring to a time later during the current week.
Woche "Woche" means “week” in "später in dieser Woche". It identifies the period during which the alternative meeting could take place. Use it with a time expression to discuss arrangements within a week.
passen In "Würde es dir später in dieser Woche passen?", "passen" means “suit” or “work for” someone. It remains in the infinitive after "Würde" and asks about the suitability of the proposed time. Use "Würde es dir ... passen?" to check whether an appointment is convenient.
passt In "Später in dieser Woche passt es mir gut", "passt" means “suits” or “works” and says that the proposed time is convenient for the speaker. It appears before "es mir gut" in this statement. Use "passt es mir gut" to say that a suggested time works well for you.
kann In "Ich kann dir den neuen Plan schicken", "kann" means “can” and expresses that the speaker is able or willing to send the plan. It is followed by the infinitive "schicken". Use kann + infinitive to offer or state one person’s possible action.
den In "den neuen Plan", "den" means “the” and introduces the specific plan that will be sent. It comes before the description "neuen" and the noun "Plan". Use it when referring to a particular plan already understood in the conversation.
neuen The exact form "neuen" means “new” in "den neuen Plan". It describes the replacement plan that will reflect the changed arrangement. Use it before Plan when referring to an updated plan.
schicken In "Ich kann dir den neuen Plan schicken", "schicken" means “send”. It is the infinitive after "kann" and names the action the speaker offers to do. Use this pattern when offering to send someone a specific document or plan.
hilft In "Das hilft mir, meinen Zeitplan anzupassen", "hilft" means “helps” and says that receiving the new plan makes the speaker’s adjustment easier. It is followed by "mir" for the person helped and an infinitive phrase explaining the purpose. Use "Das hilft mir, ..." when explaining how something supports your next action.
meinen In "meinen Zeitplan", "meinen" means “my” and identifies the schedule belonging to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun "Zeitplan". Use it when referring to something connected with your own plans or arrangements.
Zeitplan "Zeitplan" means “schedule” in "meinen Zeitplan anzupassen". It names the speaker’s planned timetable that must be changed to fit the new arrangement. Use Zeitplan when discussing the timing of your activities.
anzupassen In "Das hilft mir, meinen Zeitplan anzupassen", "anzupassen" means “to adjust” the speaker’s schedule. It keeps the object "meinen Zeitplan" before it and explains what the help makes possible. Use "hilft mir, ... anzupassen" when saying that something helps you modify a plan or schedule.

Grammar Points

etwas Unerwartetes

etwas Unerwartetes

ET-vahs oon-er-VAR-tuh-tuss

something unexpected

After etwas, an adjective can become a noun. It is capitalized and takes the ending -es.

unseren + masculine noun

unseren Plan

OON-zuh-run plahn

our plan

Unseren is the accusative form of unser before a masculine noun, such as Plan.

German Vocabulary

ändern verb
EN-durn to change

unseren Plan ändern

Bescheid sagen phrase
beh-SHYT ZAH-gen to let someone know Bescheid gesagt

Gut, dass du mir Bescheid gesagt hast.

bevor conj
beh-FOHR before

bevor ich losgegangen bin

Das ist in Ordnung phrase
DAHSS ist in ORT-noong That's all right

Das ist in Ordnung.

einen anderen det
EYE-nun AHN-duh-run another

einen anderen Tag

Es tut mir leid phrase
ess TOOT meer LYTE I'm sorry

Es tut mir leid, ich muss unseren Plan ändern.

etwas pron
ET-vahs something

Etwas Unerwartetes ist passiert.

losgehen verb
LOHSS-gay-un to leave; to set off losgegangen

bevor ich losgegangen bin

passieren verb
pah-SEER-un to happen passiert

Etwas Unerwartetes ist passiert.

Plan noun
plahn plan

unseren Plan

unerwartet adj
oon-er-VAR-tet unexpected Unerwartetes

Etwas Unerwartetes

unseren det
OON-zuh-run our

unseren Plan

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Something unexpected came up.

Show AnswerEtwas Unerwartetes ist passiert.

That helps me adjust my schedule.

Show AnswerDas hilft mir, meinen Zeitplan anzupassen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

something

Show Answeretwas

to change

Show Answerändern

our

Show Answerunseren

before

Show Answerbevor