Borrowing and renewing a library book | Learn German in English

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Use Borrowing and renewing a library book to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Wie lange kann ich dieses Buch behalten?

vee LAHNG-uh kahn ikh DEE-zus boohkh buh-HAHL-ten? How long can I keep this book?

Der Zettel zeigt das Rückgabedatum.

dair TSET-tel tsaykt das RUEK-gah-bah-dah-TOOM. The slip shows the due date.

Was soll ich tun, wenn ich mehr Zeit brauche?

vass zoll ikh toon, venn ikh mair tsayt BROW-khuh? What should I do if I need more time?

Du kannst die Leihfrist online verlängern, wenn niemand anderes auf das Buch wartet.

doo kahnst dee LIE-frist on-LINE fehr-LENG-ern, venn NEE-mahnt AHN-deh-rus owf das boohkh VAR-tet. You can extend the loan online if no one else is waiting for the book.

Kann ich das von zu Hause aus machen?

kahn ikh dahs fohn tsoo HOW-zuh owss MAKH-en? Can I do that from home?

Melde dich von zu Hause aus in deinem Bibliothekskonto an.

MEL-duh dikh fohn tsoo HOW-zuh owss in DYE-num bee-blee-oh-TEHKS-kohn-toh AHN. Log in to your library account from home.

Dann sollte ich den Zettel beim Buch aufbewahren.

dahn ZOL-tuh ikh dayn TSET-tel byme boohkh OWF-buh-VAH-ren. Then I should keep the slip with the book.

Er hilft dir, das Buch pünktlich zurückzugeben.

air hilft deer, dahs boohkh PUENKT-likh tsoo-RUEK-gay-ben. It will help you return it on time.

Word by Word

Wie “Wie” means “how” in the question “Wie lange kann ich dieses Buch behalten?”. Together with “lange”, it asks about duration. This pattern is useful when asking how long something lasts or can be kept.

lange “lange” means “long” and specifies a duration in “Wie lange”. The combination “Wie lange” asks for the length of time, not the length of an object. Use it with a verb when asking about duration.

kann “kann” expresses “can” or “is able to” for the speaker in “kann ich dieses Buch behalten?”. It is the form of “können” used with “ich”; the modal verb comes before the other verb, while “behalten” stays at the end. This pattern is useful for asking whether you may or are able to do something.

ich “ich” means “I” and identifies the person asking the question in “kann ich dieses Buch behalten?”. It is the subject of “kann” and appears directly after the modal verb in this question. Use it whenever you refer to yourself as the person doing something.

dieses “dieses” means “this” in “dieses Buch” and points to the particular book being discussed. It appears directly before “Buch” as part of the noun phrase. Use “dieses” with a neuter noun in a phrase such as this one.

Buch “Buch” means “book” in “dieses Buch” and refers to the library item. It is also the object of “behalten” and appears again in “das Buch”. This word is useful for talking about a book that someone is reading, borrowing, or returning.

behalten “behalten” means “to keep” in “dieses Buch behalten”, here asking how long the speaker may keep the book. It follows the modal verb “kann” in the question. Use the pattern “etwas behalten” when someone continues to have something instead of giving it back.

Der “Der” means “the” in “Der Zettel” and introduces the slip as the subject of the sentence. It stands before the masculine noun “Zettel” at the beginning of the statement. Use an article before a specific noun when identifying an item.

Zettel “Zettel” means “slip” or “note” in “Der Zettel” and refers to the paper showing the return date. It is the subject of “zeigt” and is referred to later by “Er”. This word is useful for talking about a small written paper or reminder.

zeigt “zeigt” means “shows” in “Der Zettel zeigt das Rückgabedatum”. The slip is the thing that presents the information, and “das Rückgabedatum” is what it shows. Use “zeigt” with a subject and the information or object that is displayed.

das “das” means “the” in “das Rückgabedatum” and “das Buch”, where it introduces a neuter noun. In “Kann ich das von zu Hause aus machen?”, it refers back to the action of extending the loan. Its meaning depends on whether it accompanies a noun or stands for something already mentioned.

Rückgabedatum “Rückgabedatum” means “return date” or “due date” in “das Rückgabedatum”. It is the date shown on the slip and indicates when the book should be returned. Use this compound noun when referring to the required return date of an item.

Was “Was” means “what” in “Was soll ich tun?”. It asks which action the speaker should take. This question word is useful when asking what to do in a particular situation.

soll “soll” expresses what the speaker should do in “Was soll ich tun?”. It presents the action being requested as advice or an instruction to find out. With “ich”, it is the form of “sollen”; a following verb such as “tun” remains at the end.

tun “tun” means “do” in “Was soll ich tun?”. It names the action the speaker is asking about, while “soll” expresses what is advisable. The pattern “Was soll ich tun?” is useful when asking for guidance.

wenn “wenn” introduces the condition “wenn ich mehr Zeit brauche”, meaning “if I need more time”. It connects the possible situation to the question about what to do. Use it to introduce a condition or a recurring time situation.

mehr “mehr” means “more” in “mehr Zeit” and indicates an amount beyond the time already available. It comes directly before the noun “Zeit”. Use “mehr” before a noun when asking for or describing an increased amount.

Zeit “Zeit” means “time” in “mehr Zeit brauche”. It is the thing the speaker needs more of. Use it with “brauchen” in the pattern “mehr Zeit brauchen” when additional time is required.

brauche “brauche” means “need” in “wenn ich mehr Zeit brauche”. It describes the speaker’s need for additional time; the citation form is “brauchen”. Use “etwas brauchen”, as in “mehr Zeit brauche”, when saying that something is necessary for you.

Du “Du” means “you” and addresses one person informally in “Du kannst die Leihfrist online verlängern”. It is the subject of “kannst”. Use it when speaking directly to one person in an informal context.

kannst “kannst” expresses “can” or “are able to” for the person addressed in “Du kannst die Leihfrist online verlängern”. It is the form of “können” used with “du”, and the action verb “verlängern” comes at the end. This pattern is useful for telling someone what they are able or allowed to do.

Leihfrist “Leihfrist” means “loan period” in “die Leihfrist online verlängern”. It is the period during which the borrower may keep the book. Use it with “verlängern” when requesting or describing extra borrowing time.

online “online” means “online” in “die Leihfrist online verlängern” and describes where the renewal is carried out. It appears between the object and the verb at the end of the sentence. Use it to specify that an action is completed through an internet service.

verlängern “verlängern” means “extend” or “renew” in “die Leihfrist online verlängern”. The object being extended is “die Leihfrist”, so the loan period becomes longer. Use the pattern “etwas verlängern” when extending a period or deadline.

niemand “niemand” means “no one” in “wenn niemand anderes auf das Buch wartet”. It identifies the absence of another person waiting for the book. Use it as the subject when saying that no person is involved in an action.

anderes “anderes” means “another” or “else” in “niemand anderes”. It specifies that no other person is waiting, not the person currently being addressed. The pattern “niemand anderes” is useful when excluding everyone else from a situation.

auf “auf” is part of the expression “auf das Buch wartet”, meaning “waits for the book”. With “warten”, it introduces the thing or person being awaited. Preserve “auf” with “warten” when naming what someone is waiting for.

wartet “wartet” means “waits” or “is waiting” in “niemand anderes auf das Buch wartet”. The subject is “niemand anderes”, and “auf das Buch” identifies what is awaited. Use “warten auf” with the object of the waiting.

von “von” contributes the meaning “from” in the fixed expression “von zu Hause aus”. Together with “zu Hause” and “aus”, it describes the starting place as home. Use this complete expression when saying that an action is done remotely from home.

zu “zu” is part of the fixed expression “zu Hause”, meaning “at home”. In “von zu Hause aus”, it helps identify home as the place from which the action is carried out. Keep “zu Hause” together when referring to being at home.

Hause “Hause” appears in the fixed expression “zu Hause” and refers to home. In “von zu Hause aus”, the whole phrase means “from home”, while “Hause” contributes the place being referred to. Use the complete expression rather than treating “Hause” as a separate everyday phrase here.

aus “aus” completes “von zu Hause aus”, which means “from home”. It marks home as the place from which the action is done. Use the full expression when contrasting remote action with action at another location.

machen “machen” means “do” in “Kann ich das von zu Hause aus machen?”. Here it refers back to the action of extending the loan rather than naming that action again. Use “etwas machen” when referring to carrying out an action or task.

Melde “Melde” begins the informal command “Melde dich ... an”, meaning “log in” or “sign in”. The complete verb is “sich anmelden”, and “an” appears at the end of the command. Use this construction when telling one person to access an account.

dich “dich” means “yourself” in “Melde dich ... an” and refers back to the person being addressed. It is required with the reflexive expression “sich anmelden”, which means to log in. Use it with an informal command addressed to one person.

deinem “deinem” means “your” in “deinem Bibliothekskonto” and identifies the account as belonging to the person addressed. It appears directly before “Bibliothekskonto”. Use it before a noun when referring informally to something owned or associated with one person.

Bibliothekskonto “Bibliothekskonto” means “library account” in “deinem Bibliothekskonto”. It is the account into which the person should log in to manage the loan. Use this compound noun when referring to a user account at a library.

an “an” is the separable particle that completes “Melde dich ... an”, meaning “log in” or “sign in”. In the command, it moves to the end of the sentence while “Melde” stays at the beginning. Keep this particle with “anmelden” when using the login construction.

Dann “Dann” means “then” in “Dann sollte ich den Zettel beim Buch aufbewahren”. It marks the speaker’s conclusion after hearing the instructions. Use it to introduce a resulting action or the next step.

sollte “sollte” means “should” in “Dann sollte ich den Zettel ... aufbewahren”. It expresses the speaker’s understanding of the advisable action. Use it before an infinitive when stating what would be sensible or appropriate to do.

den “den” means “the” in “den Zettel” and introduces the specific slip being kept. It appears before “Zettel”, which is the object of “aufbewahren” in this sentence. Use an article before a specific object when referring to a known item.

beim “beim” means “with the” or “by the” in “beim Buch”; it is the shortened form of “bei dem”. Here it places the slip with the book. Use “beim” before a noun when expressing location or association with a specific item.

aufbewahren “aufbewahren” means “keep” or “store” in “den Zettel beim Buch aufbewahren”. It describes putting the slip somewhere safe so it remains with the book. Use the pattern “etwas aufbewahren” when storing an item for later use.

Er “Er” refers to the slip in “Er hilft dir”, so it means “it” in the English sense of referring to the masculine noun “Zettel”. It is the subject of “hilft”. Use this pronoun to refer back to “der Zettel” without repeating the noun.

hilft “hilft” means “helps” in “Er hilft dir, das Buch pünktlich zurückzugeben”. The slip helps the person carry out the action of returning the book on time; the citation form is “helfen”. Use “jemandem helfen” with a person such as “dir”, followed here by “zu” plus an infinitive.

dir “dir” means “to you” in “hilft dir” and identifies the person receiving the help. It is used with “helfen” in the pattern “jemandem helfen”. Use it when saying that something helps one person informally.

pünktlich “pünktlich” means “on time” in “das Buch pünktlich zurückzugeben”. It describes returning the book by the required time. Use it with an action such as “zurückzugeben” when emphasizing that a deadline is met.

zurückzugeben “zurückzugeben” means “to return” or “to give back” in “das Buch pünktlich zurückzugeben”. It is the “zu” form of “zurückgeben” and follows “hilft”, expressing the action the slip helps with. Use it with an object such as “das Buch” when saying that something must be returned.

Grammar Points

sich anmelden: trennbares Verb im Imperativ

Melde dich online an.

MEL-duh dikh on-LINE AHN.

Bei trennbaren Verben steht die Vorsilbe im Imperativ am Satzende: anmelden → Melde dich ... an.

German Vocabulary

behalten verb

buh-HAHL-ten to keep

dieses Buch behalten

brauchen verb

BROW-khen to need brauche

wenn ich mehr Zeit brauche

Buch noun

boohkh book

dieses Buch

Leihfrist noun

LIE-frist loan period

die Leihfrist online verlängern

niemand pron

NEE-mahnt no one; nobody

wenn niemand anderes auf das Buch wartet

online adv

on-LINE online

die Leihfrist online verlängern

Rückgabedatum noun

RUEK-gah-bah-dah-TOOM due date; return date

das Rückgabedatum

tun verb

toon to do

Was soll ich tun?

verlängern verb

fehr-LENG-ern to extend; to renew

die Leihfrist online verlängern

zeigen verb

TSY-gen to show zeigt

Der Zettel zeigt das Rückgabedatum.

Zeit noun

tsayt time

mehr Zeit

Zettel noun

TSET-tel slip; note

Der Zettel zeigt das Rückgabedatum.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The slip shows the due date.

Show Answer

Der Zettel zeigt das Rückgabedatum.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to keep

Show Answer

behalten

time

Show Answer

Zeit

to show

Show Answer

zeigt

slip; note

Show Answer

Zettel