Returning to work with better focus | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: After a break at work, two adults return to a file, a chart section, and team comments with better focus..

EN → DE / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Returning to work with better focus to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ich fühle mich jetzt erholter.

ikh FUU-luh mikh yetst air-HOHL-ter. I feel more refreshed now.
B

Fangen wir mit dem wichtigsten Teil an.

FANG-en veer mit dem VIKH-tikh-sten TAIL ahn. Let's start with the part that matters most.
A

Sollen wir mit dem Abschnitt zum Diagramm weitermachen?

ZOL-len veer mit dem AP-shnit tsoom dee-ah-GRAHM VAI-ter-MAH-khen? Should we continue from the chart section?
B

Dieser Teil braucht die meiste Konzentration.

DEE-zer TAIL browkht dee MY-stuh kon-tsen-tra-TSYOHN. That part needs the most focus.
A

Ich öffne die Datei und schaue sie mir an.

ikh UEF-nuh dee dah-TAI oont SHOW-uh zee meer ahn. I'll open the file and check it.
B

Ich lese die Kommentare vom Team, während du das Diagramm prüfst.

ikh LAY-zuh dee kom-men-TAH-ruh fohm TEEM, VAIR-ent doo dahs dee-ah-GRAHM PRUUFST. I'll read the team comments while you check the chart.
A

Ich kann den Details jetzt besser folgen.

ikh kahn den duh-TAIS yetst BES-ser FOHL-gen. I can follow the details better now.
B

Die Pause hat die Arbeit leichter gemacht.

dee POW-zuh haht dee AR-bite LYKH-ter guh-MAHKHT. The break made the work feel lighter.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Ich fühle mich jetzt erholter.” It is used as the subject before the verb. A new example is “Ich lese die Datei.”
fühle “fühle” expresses “feel” in “Ich fühle mich jetzt erholter.” With this meaning, it is used with “mich” to describe the speaker’s condition. A new example is “Ich fühle mich besser.”
mich “mich” refers back to the speaker in “Ich fühle mich jetzt erholter.” Together, “fühle mich” means that the speaker feels a certain way. A new example is “Ich fühle mich müde.”
jetzt “jetzt” means “now” and places the feeling in the present moment in “Ich fühle mich jetzt erholter.” It commonly appears near the verb or the expression it specifies. A new example is “Ich bin jetzt bereit.”
erholter “erholter” means “more refreshed” or “more rested” in “Ich fühle mich jetzt erholter.” It describes an improved condition after the break. A new example is “Nach der Pause fühle ich mich erholter.”
Fangen “Fangen” begins the suggestion in “Fangen wir mit dem wichtigsten Teil an.” Together with the final “an”, “Fangen ... an” means “let’s start”. This word order is used for a suggestion addressed to “wir”. A new example is “Fangen wir mit der Aufgabe an.”
wir “wir” means “we” in “Fangen wir mit dem wichtigsten Teil an.” It identifies the group that will start the work. It commonly appears with a suggestion such as “Fangen wir ... an.”
mit “mit” means “with” in “Fangen wir mit dem wichtigsten Teil an.” Here it introduces the part where the group will begin. It is commonly used before the thing or person involved in an action. A new example is “Wir beginnen mit der ersten Aufgabe.”
dem “dem” means “the” in “mit dem wichtigsten Teil” and belongs to the phrase introduced by “mit.” The form “dem” is used here after “mit” before “wichtigsten Teil.” A new example is “mit dem Bericht.”
wichtigsten “wichtigsten” means “most important” in “dem wichtigsten Teil.” It identifies the part that has the highest priority. It appears before the noun it describes. A new example is “der wichtigsten Frage.”
Teil “Teil” means “part” in “dem wichtigsten Teil.” It refers to one section of the work that the speakers want to begin with. It commonly appears after a describing word, as in “der erste Teil.”
an “an” completes the starting expression in “Fangen wir mit dem wichtigsten Teil an.” It also completes the checking expression in “schaue sie mir an.” In these expressions, the particle appears at the end of the clause.
Sollen “Sollen” introduces the suggestion or question in “Sollen wir mit dem Abschnitt zum Diagramm weitermachen?” It asks whether the speakers should continue. It is used before the subject “wir” in this question. A new example is “Sollen wir jetzt anfangen?”
Abschnitt “Abschnitt” means “section” in “mit dem Abschnitt zum Diagramm.” It refers to a distinct part of the material. It commonly appears with “ein” or “der” when naming a section. A new example is “ein Abschnitt im Bericht.”
zum “zum” means “to the” in “zum Diagramm.” It connects the section with the chart it concerns. “zum Diagramm” is a reusable pattern for identifying what a section is about. A new example is “ein Abschnitt zum Thema Arbeit.”
Diagramm “Diagramm” means “chart” or “diagram” in “dem Abschnitt zum Diagramm” and “das Diagramm prüfst.” It refers to the visual work material being discussed and checked. A new example is “Ich öffne das Diagramm.”
weitermachen “weitermachen” means “continue” in “Sollen wir mit dem Abschnitt zum Diagramm weitermachen?” It expresses continuing the work from the named section. It commonly appears with “mit” and the activity or material being continued. A new example is “Wir machen mit der Aufgabe weiter.”
Dieser “Dieser” points to the part just mentioned in “Dieser Teil braucht die meiste Konzentration.” Here it means “that” or “this” part in the conversation. It appears directly before “Teil” to identify it. A new example is “Dieser Abschnitt ist wichtig.”
braucht “braucht” means “needs” in “Dieser Teil braucht die meiste Konzentration.” It states what the part requires. It commonly appears before the thing that is needed, as in “braucht Zeit.”
die “die” means “the” in “die meiste Konzentration” and “die Kommentare vom Team.” The same written form also appears at the start of “Die Pause.” Its meaning depends on the noun phrase it introduces.
meiste “meiste” means “most” in “die meiste Konzentration.” It indicates that this part requires the greatest amount of concentration. It appears before the noun describing what is needed. A new example is “die meiste Zeit.”
Konzentration “Konzentration” means “concentration” or “focus” in “die meiste Konzentration.” It names the mental attention needed for this part of the work. It commonly appears after “brauchen”, as in “braucht Konzentration.”
öffne “öffne” means “open” in “Ich öffne die Datei und schaue sie mir an.” It describes the speaker’s action of opening the file. It commonly appears before the object being opened. A new example is “Ich öffne den Bericht.”
Datei “Datei” means “file” in “Ich öffne die Datei.” It refers to the digital document the speaker will open. It commonly appears after verbs such as “öffnen” or “prüfen.” A new example is “die Datei speichern.”
und “und” means “and” in “Ich öffne die Datei und schaue sie mir an.” It links the opening of the file with the following checking action. It commonly joins two actions performed by the same speaker. A new example is “Ich lese und prüfe den Text.”
schaue “schaue” contributes the meaning “look at” or “check” in “schaue sie mir an.” Together with “sie”, “mir”, and “an”, the expression says that the speaker will look at the file. This expression is useful when checking something directly. A new example is “Ich schaue mir den Bericht an.”
sie “sie” refers to the file in “schaue sie mir an.” It is the thing that the speaker looks at or checks. It commonly appears between the verb and the final particle in this expression. A new example is “Ich öffne sie.”
mir “mir” means “to me” in “schaue sie mir an.” It identifies the person who is doing the looking in this expression. The pattern “schaue ... mir an” is used when someone looks at something themselves. A new example is “Schau mir das bitte an.”
lese “lese” means “read” in “Ich lese die Kommentare vom Team.” It describes the speaker’s action of reading the comments. It commonly appears before the material being read. A new example is “Ich lese den Bericht.”
Kommentare “Kommentare” means “comments” in “die Kommentare vom Team.” It refers to written remarks from the team. It commonly appears with a source phrase such as “vom Team.” A new example is “Ich lese die Kommentare.”
vom “vom” means “from the” in “vom Team.” It identifies the team as the source of the comments. The pattern “Kommentare vom Team” is useful for naming who provided comments. A new example is “eine Nachricht vom Team.”
Team “Team” means “team” in “vom Team.” It identifies the group that provided the comments. It commonly appears after “vom” when naming the source. A new example is “Das Team arbeitet weiter.”
während “während” means “while” in “während du das Diagramm prüfst.” It introduces an action happening at the same time as the main action. It commonly introduces a clause with its own subject and verb. A new example is “Ich lese, während du arbeitest.”
du “du” means “you” in “während du das Diagramm prüfst.” It identifies the person carrying out the checking action. It commonly appears before the verb in this clause. A new example is “Du liest den Text.”
das “das” means “the” in “das Diagramm prüfst.” It introduces “Diagramm”, the thing being checked. It appears directly before the noun in this phrase. A new example is “das Dokument öffnen.”
prüfst “prüfst” means “check” or “inspect” in “das Diagramm prüfst.” It describes examining the chart carefully. It commonly appears after the subject “du” in a clause such as “du ... prüfst.” A new example is “Du prüfst die Datei.”
kann “kann” means “can” in “Ich kann den Details jetzt besser folgen.” It expresses the speaker’s ability to follow the details. It is followed by the other verb “folgen” at the end of the clause. A new example is “Ich kann den Text lesen.”
den “den” introduces “Details” in “den Details ... folgen.” Here it belongs to the phrase that identifies the details being followed. The pattern “den Details folgen” is useful for saying that someone can follow details or an explanation.
Details “Details” means “details” in “den Details jetzt besser folgen.” It refers to the individual pieces of information the speaker can understand and follow. It commonly appears with “folgen” in this expression. A new example is “Ich erkläre die Details.”
besser “besser” means “better” in “Ich kann den Details jetzt besser folgen.” It shows that the speaker can follow the details more successfully after the break. It commonly appears before the action or ability being improved. A new example is “Jetzt kann ich besser arbeiten.”
folgen “folgen” means “follow” in “den Details jetzt besser folgen.” Here it means keeping track of the details or understanding their progression. It is used in the pattern “den Details folgen.” A new example is “Ich kann der Erklärung folgen.”
Pause “Pause” means “break” in “Die Pause hat die Arbeit leichter gemacht.” It refers to the rest period that affected how the work felt. It commonly appears with verbs such as “machen” or “haben.” A new example is “Wir machen eine Pause.”
hat “hat” helps form the completed statement in “Die Pause hat die Arbeit leichter gemacht.” Together with “gemacht”, it says that the break made the work feel easier. It appears after the subject in this sentence pattern. A new example is “Die Pause hat geholfen.”
Arbeit “Arbeit” means “work” in “Die Pause hat die Arbeit leichter gemacht.” It identifies what became easier after the break. It commonly appears after “die” when referring to the work as a known activity. A new example is “Ich beginne die Arbeit.”
leichter “leichter” means “easier” or “lighter” in “die Arbeit leichter gemacht.” It describes the changed feeling of the work after the break. It appears after the object and before “gemacht” in this construction. A new example is “Die Aufgabe wird leichter.”
gemacht “gemacht” contributes the meaning “made” in “Die Pause hat die Arbeit leichter gemacht.” Together with “hat”, it expresses that the break caused the work to feel easier. It commonly appears after the result or description in this construction. A new example is “Die Pause hat den Tag besser gemacht.”

Grammar Points

Trennbare Verben: anfangen → Fangen ... an

Fangen wir jetzt an?

FANG-en veer yetst ahn?

Are we starting now?

Bei trennbaren Verben steht die Vorsilbe im Hauptsatz am Ende: anfangen → Fangen ... an.

sich etwas anschauen: sich + Pronomen + etwas anschauen

Ich schaue sie mir an.

ikh SHOW-uh zee meer ahn.

I look at it.

Bei sich anschauen stehen das Reflexivpronomen und das Objekt zusammen; die Vorsilbe an steht am Satzende.

German Vocabulary

Abschnitt noun
AP-shnit section
anfangen verb
AHN-fahng-uhn to start; to begin Fangen ... an
brauchen verb
BROW-khen to need braucht
Diagramm noun
dee-ah-GRAHM chart; diagram
dieser det
DEE-zer this; that Dieser
erholt adj
air-HOHLT refreshed; rested erholter
jetzt adv
yetst now
meist adj
MYST most meiste
sich fühlen verb
zikh FUU-luhn to feel fühle mich
Teil noun
TAIL part
weitermachen verb
VAI-ter-MAH-khen to continue
wichtig adj
VIKH-tikh important wichtigsten

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I feel more refreshed now.

Show AnswerIch fühle mich jetzt erholter.

That part needs the most focus.

Show AnswerDieser Teil braucht die meiste Konzentration.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

important

Show Answerwichtigsten

part

Show AnswerTeil

chart; diagram

Show AnswerDiagramm

to continue

Show Answerweitermachen