Organizing a Suitcase Before a Trip | Learn German in English

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Use Organizing a Suitcase Before a Trip to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Mein Koffer ist unordentlich, und wir fahren morgen los.

mine KOFF-er ist oon-ORD-nunt-likh, oont veer FAH-ren MOR-gen lohs. My suitcase is messy, and we leave tomorrow.

Falte zuerst die Hemden, damit du Platz sparst.

FAL-tuh tsoo-AIRST dee HEM-den, dah-MIT doo plats shpahrst. Fold the shirts first to save space.

Soll ich die Flüssigkeiten von der Kleidung trennen?

zoll ikh dee FLYOO-sikh-kite-en fon dair KLY-doong TREN-nen? Should I separate liquids from clothes?

Pack die Flüssigkeiten in einen Plastikbeutel, bevor du sie einpackst.

pahk dee FLYOO-sikh-kite-en in EYE-nen PLAS-tik-boy-tl, beh-FOR doo zee EYN-pahkst. Put liquids in a plastic bag before you pack them.

Der Koffer ist fast an der Gewichtsgrenze.

dayr KOFF-er ist fahst ahn dair guh-VIKHTS-gren-tsuh. The suitcase feels close to the weight limit.

Dann leg die schweren Bücher in deinen Rucksack.

dahn layk dee SHVAIR-en BYOO-kher in DYE-nen ROOK-zahk. Then move heavy books to your backpack.

So kannst du den Koffer leichter schließen.

zoh kahnst doo dayn KOFF-er LYKHT-er SHLEE-sen. That makes the suitcase easier to close.

Jetzt sollte er für die Reise bereit sein.

yetst ZOLL-tuh air fyoor dee RYE-zuh beh-RYTE zine. It should be ready for the trip now.

Word by Word

Mein “Mein” means “my” in “Mein Koffer” and identifies the suitcase as belonging to the speaker. It is used directly before the noun it describes. A common pattern is “mein + noun” when referring to something belonging to you.

Koffer “Koffer” means “suitcase” in “Mein Koffer”. It names the item being organized for the trip. You can reuse it with actions such as “einen Koffer packen” in a new example.

ist “ist” means “is” in “Mein Koffer ist unordentlich”. It links the suitcase to its current condition and is the form of “sein” used here. It commonly appears before a description, as in “Der Koffer ist bereit” in a new example.

unordentlich “unordentlich” means “messy” and describes the condition of the suitcase in “ist unordentlich”. It is used after “ist” to describe something. You can use it for a messy room or another disorganized place in a new example.

und “und” means “and” and connects the two statements in “Mein Koffer ist unordentlich, und wir fahren morgen los”. It joins related information without changing the meaning of either clause. It can connect two actions or statements in the same way.

wir “wir” means “we” and is the subject of “wir fahren morgen los”. It refers to the speaker and at least one other person traveling together. It commonly appears before a verb when talking about what a group does.

fahren “fahren” supplies the travel or departure meaning in “wir fahren morgen los”. Together with “los”, the separated expression “fahren morgen los” says that they are leaving tomorrow. It can be reused with a destination or time in a new example.

morgen “morgen” means “tomorrow” and says when “wir fahren morgen los” will happen. It is a time word that can be placed with the sentence describing the action. You can use it when arranging a future departure or appointment.

los “los” completes the departure expression in “wir fahren morgen los” and adds the sense of setting off. The word appears at the end because the separable verb is split in this sentence. It is useful when telling someone that a journey is beginning.

Falte “Falte” means “fold” as a direct instruction in “Falte zuerst die Hemden”. It is the imperative form of “falten” addressed to “du”. You can use it when telling one person to fold clothes or another flexible item.

zuerst “zuerst” means “first” and tells the listener when to fold the shirts in “Falte zuerst die Hemden”. It marks the first step in a sequence. It can be used before another action when giving instructions.

die In “die Hemden”, “die” means “the” and introduces the shirts being folded. Here it accompanies the plural noun “Hemden”. It is used before a specific group of items.

Hemden “Hemden” means “shirts” in “Falte zuerst die Hemden”. It is the plural form of “Hemd” and names the clothing to be folded. It can be used with verbs such as folding, packing, or washing in a new example.

damit “damit” means “so that” and introduces the purpose in “damit du Platz sparst”. The whole clause explains why the shirts should be folded: to save space. It commonly introduces a result or purpose clause with a person who carries out the action.

du “du” means “you” and is the person who saves space in “damit du Platz sparst”. It refers to one person addressed informally. It commonly appears as the subject before a verb in direct conversation.

Platz “Platz” means “space” in “Platz sparst”, the space that the folding is meant to save. The expression “Platz sparen” means to use less space or preserve available space. It is useful when organizing a suitcase, shelf, or room.

sparst “sparst” means “save” in “damit du Platz sparst”. It is the form of “sparen” used with “du” and refers here to saving space. The reusable pattern is “du sparst + object”, such as “du sparst Zeit” in a new example.

Soll “Soll” asks “should” in “Soll ich die Flüssigkeiten ... trennen?”. It requests advice or permission about what the speaker ought to do. It is the form of “sollen” used with “ich” in this question.

ich “ich” means “I” and identifies the person asking whether to separate the liquids in “Soll ich ... trennen?”. It is the subject of the proposed action. It commonly appears with a modal verb when someone asks what they should do.

Flüssigkeiten “Flüssigkeiten” means “liquids” in “die Flüssigkeiten von der Kleidung trennen”. It is the plural form of “Flüssigkeit” and names the items to be separated and packed. It can refer to toiletries or other liquid items when preparing luggage.

von “von” means “from” in “von der Kleidung trennen” and identifies what the liquids should be separated from. With “trennen”, it marks the other side of the separation. A reusable pattern is “etwas von etwas trennen” when separating two things.

der In “von der Kleidung”, “der” means “the” and accompanies “Kleidung” after “von”. At the beginning of “Der Koffer”, the capitalized form “Der” also means “the” before “Koffer”. The exact form therefore appears with both “Kleidung” and “Koffer” in the dialogue.

Kleidung “Kleidung” means “clothing” in “von der Kleidung”. It names the group of clothes from which the liquids should be separated. It is commonly used when discussing packing or organizing what someone wears.

trennen “trennen” means “separate” in “die Flüssigkeiten von der Kleidung trennen”. It is the infinitive used after “Soll ich” and describes the proposed action. The reusable pattern is “etwas von etwas trennen”, as in the dialogue.

Pack “Pack” means “put” or “pack” as a direct instruction in “Pack die Flüssigkeiten in einen Plastikbeutel”. It is the imperative form of “packen” addressed to “du”. You can use it when telling one person to place items into a container.

in “in” means “into” in “in einen Plastikbeutel” because the liquids are being placed inside the bag. It introduces the container receiving the items. It commonly appears before a container or place when describing movement into it.

einen “einen” means “a” in “einen Plastikbeutel” and introduces one unspecified plastic bag. It is the form used before “Plastikbeutel” in this placement expression. It commonly appears before a single item that receives an action.

Plastikbeutel “Plastikbeutel” means “plastic bag” in “in einen Plastikbeutel”. It names the container for the liquids before they are packed into the suitcase. It can be used when discussing storing or protecting small items during travel.

bevor “bevor” means “before” and introduces the earlier action in “bevor du sie einpackst”. The clause says that the liquids should be put in the plastic bag before they are packed. It commonly introduces an action that must happen earlier than another action.

sie “sie” means “them” in “bevor du sie einpackst” and refers back to “die Flüssigkeiten”. It is the object being packed by the person addressed as “du”. It can be used to avoid repeating a plural object after it has already been mentioned.

einpackst “einpackst” means “pack” in “du sie einpackst”. It is the form of the separable verb “einpacken” used with “du”; in this subordinate clause, the verb appears together at the end. A reusable pattern is “du packst etwas ein” in a new example.

fast “fast” means “almost” in “fast an der Gewichtsgrenze”. It shows that the suitcase is very close to the weight limit but has not clearly reached it. It commonly modifies a measure, limit, or point that is nearly reached.

an “an” contributes “at” in “an der Gewichtsgrenze” and places the suitcase in relation to the weight limit. Together, the phrase says that the suitcase is nearly at that limit. It can be reused with a boundary or limit in a new example.

Gewichtsgrenze “Gewichtsgrenze” means “weight limit” in “an der Gewichtsgrenze”. It names the maximum weight that the suitcase is approaching. The compound combines the ideas of weight and a boundary.

Dann “Dann” means “then” and introduces the next recommendation in “Dann leg die schweren Bücher ...”. It connects moving the books with the suitcase being near the weight limit. It is useful when giving the next step in a sequence or response.

leg “leg” means “put” or “place” as a direct instruction in “leg die schweren Bücher in deinen Rucksack”. It is the imperative form of “legen” addressed to “du”. It commonly appears with an object and a place receiving that object.

schweren “schweren” means “heavy” and describes the books in “die schweren Bücher”. Its form is used before the plural noun with the definite article in this phrase. It can describe items that are difficult to carry or that add much weight.

Bücher “Bücher” means “books” in “die schweren Bücher”. It is the plural form of “Buch” and names the items to be moved. It can be used with verbs such as “lesen”, “packen”, or “tragen” in a new example.

deinen “deinen” means “your” in “deinen Rucksack” and identifies the backpack as belonging to the person addressed as “du”. It is the form of “dein” used before “Rucksack” here. It commonly appears directly before a possession belonging to one informal addressee.

Rucksack “Rucksack” means “backpack” in “in deinen Rucksack”. It names the destination where the heavy books should be placed. It is useful when discussing what someone carries during a trip.

So “So” means “that way” or “thus” in “So kannst du den Koffer leichter schließen”. It refers to moving the books to the backpack and presents the resulting benefit. It commonly links an action with the result it makes possible.

kannst “kannst” means “can” in “kannst du den Koffer leichter schließen”. It expresses that the person addressed is able to close the suitcase more easily after moving the books. It is the form of “können” used with “du”.

den “den” means “the” in “den Koffer” and introduces the specific suitcase being closed. It appears before “Koffer” as the object of “schließen”. It is used here for a definite object affected by the action.

leichter “leichter” means “more easily” in “den Koffer leichter schließen”. It compares the closing action after the heavy books have been moved with how difficult it was before. It can describe an action becoming easier in a new example.

schließen “schließen” means “close” in “den Koffer leichter schließen”. It is the infinitive used after “kannst” and names the action that becomes easier. It can be reused for closing a suitcase, door, or container in a new example.

Jetzt “Jetzt” means “now” in “Jetzt sollte er für die Reise bereit sein”. It places the expected state after the packing changes have been made. It is commonly used to mark the current point in a process.

sollte “sollte” expresses “should” or an expectation in “Jetzt sollte er ... bereit sein”. The speaker expects the suitcase to be ready after the previous steps. It commonly appears with “sein” when describing an expected condition.

er “er” means “it” here and refers back to the masculine noun “Koffer” in “Jetzt sollte er ... bereit sein”. It keeps the sentence from repeating “Koffer”. It can refer to a previously mentioned masculine noun in German.

für “für” means “for” in “für die Reise” and identifies the trip for which the suitcase should be ready. It connects the state of being ready with its purpose. It commonly appears before an event, task, or person that something is intended for.

Reise “Reise” means “trip” in “für die Reise”. It names the upcoming journey that the suitcase is being prepared for. It can be used when discussing preparations, timing, or plans for a journey.

bereit “bereit” means “ready” in “bereit sein”. It describes the suitcase as prepared for the trip. The reusable expression is “bereit sein für + noun”, as in “bereit sein für die Reise” in a new example.

sein “sein” means “be” in “bereit sein”. It is the infinitive used after “sollte” and completes the expression describing the suitcase’s expected condition. It commonly follows a modal verb when stating what someone or something should be.

Grammar Points

Trennbare Verben: Präfix am Satzende

Morgen fahren wir los.

MOR-gen FAH-ren veer lohs.

Tomorrow we set off.

Bei trennbaren Verben steht das Präfix im Hauptsatz am Ende: losfahren → wir fahren ... los.

German Vocabulary

falten verb

FAL-ten to fold Falte

Flüssigkeit noun

FLYOO-sikh-kite liquid Flüssigkeiten

Hemd noun

HEMT shirt Hemden

Kleidung noun

KLY-doong clothing

Koffer noun

KOFF-er suitcase

losfahren verb

LOHS-fah-ren to leave; to set off fahren ... los

morgen adv

MOR-gen tomorrow

Platz noun

plats space

sparen verb

SHPAH-ren to save sparst

trennen verb

TREN-nen to separate

unordentlich adj

oon-ORD-nunt-likh messy

zuerst adv

tsoo-AIRST first

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

messy

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unordentlich

first

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zuerst

shirt

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Hemden

to fold

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Falte