Finding a quiet work area | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: In a library, one person asks for a quiet work area and learns where silent study and phone calls are allowed..

EN → DE / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Finding a quiet work area to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Gibt es einen ruhigen Bereich, in dem ich arbeiten kann?

gipt ess EYE-nen ROO-ig-en beh-RYKH, in daym ikh AR-bye-ten kahn? Is there a quiet area where I can work?
B

Oben links gibt es Tische zum stillen Lernen.

OH-ben links gipt ess TISH-uh tsoom SHTIL-en LAIR-nen. There are desks for quiet study upstairs on the left.
A

Kann ich dort kurz telefonieren?

kahn ikh dort koorts teh-leh-foh-NEER-en? Could I take a short call there?
B

Diese Tische sind nur zum stillen Lernen.

DEE-zuh TISH-uh zint noor tsoom SHTIL-en LAIR-nen. Those desks are only for silent study.
A

Dann telefoniere ich woanders.

dahn teh-leh-foh-NEER-uh ikh voh-AHN-ders. I'll take phone calls somewhere else, then.
B

Die Eingangshalle ist besser zum Telefonieren.

dee EYE-ngahngs-HAH-luh ist BES-ser tsoom teh-leh-foh-NEER-en. The lobby is better for calls.
A

Ein Tisch oben ist für mich in Ordnung.

ine tish OH-ben ist fyoor mikh in ORT-noong. An upstairs desk will work for me.
B

Am Nachmittag ist es dort meistens ruhig.

ahm NAHKH-mit-tahk ist ess dort MY-stens ROO-ikh. It is usually calm in the afternoon.

Word by Word

Gibt In “Gibt es einen ruhigen Bereich?” and “gibt es Tische...” this form introduces the existence of something: “is there” or “there are.” It is useful when asking whether a place, object, or option exists.
es In “Gibt es...” this is a placeholder used in the expression for saying that something exists; it does not refer to a specific object here. Use it with “gibt” when asking or stating whether something is available.
einen In “einen ruhigen Bereich,” this form introduces one unspecified area. It is the form of “ein” used here before “Bereich,” so the phrase means “a quiet area.”
ruhigen In “einen ruhigen Bereich,” this form describes the area as quiet. It takes this form because it appears directly with “einen” and “Bereich”; use it when describing a specific quiet place.
Bereich “Bereich” means an area or section, here a quiet area in which the speaker can work. The phrase “einen ruhigen Bereich” is useful when asking for a particular part of a building.
in In “in dem ich arbeiten kann,” “in” places the work inside the area being described. It commonly introduces a location, as in the exact pattern “in dem...” for a place where something happens.
dem In “in dem ich arbeiten kann,” this form refers back to “Bereich” and connects the place with the information about working there. Use “in dem...” to describe what happens in a particular place.
ich “Ich” means “I”; in “in dem ich arbeiten kann,” it identifies the person who can work there. It is used when the speaker talks about their own action or ability.
arbeiten “Arbeiten” means “to work” in “in dem ich arbeiten kann.” It remains at the end of this subordinate clause after “kann,” and it is useful for describing work done in a place.
kann In “ich arbeiten kann,” this form expresses that the speaker is able or allowed to work there. With an action such as “arbeiten,” it is useful for asking about what is possible in a particular place.
Oben “Oben” means upstairs or above in “Oben links gibt es Tische.” At the beginning of this sentence, it helps give the location of the desks; it is useful when directing someone within a building.
links In “Oben links,” “links” means on the left and specifies the direction of the desks. Combined with a location word such as “Oben,” it helps someone find a place.
Tische “Tische” means desks or tables in “Tische zum stillen Lernen” and “Diese Tische.” The plural form refers to more than one desk, and it is useful when describing available furniture in a room.
zum In “zum stillen Lernen” and “zum Telefonieren,” “zum” introduces the activity something is intended for, meaning “for.” It is useful before an activity when explaining the purpose of a place or object.
stillen In “zum stillen Lernen,” this form describes the learning as silent or quiet. It appears directly before “Lernen,” and the phrase is useful for describing study that should not disturb other people.
Lernen The capitalized form “Lernen” names studying or learning as an activity in “zum stillen Lernen.” It is used here after “zum” to state the purpose of the desks.
dort “Dort” means “there,” referring to the desks or area already mentioned. In “Kann ich dort kurz telefonieren?” it points to a previously identified place, which is useful when the location is clear from context.
kurz In “kurz telefonieren,” “kurz” means briefly, so the speaker asks about making a short call. It is useful before an activity when emphasizing that it will take little time.
telefonieren “Telefonieren” means to make phone calls in “Kann ich dort kurz telefonieren?” and appears as the activity in “zum Telefonieren.” Use it when talking about making a call rather than naming a particular person being called.
Diese In “Diese Tische,” “Diese” points to the desks just mentioned and means “these” or “those” in context. It is useful when identifying particular nearby or previously indicated objects.
sind In “Diese Tische sind nur zum stillen Lernen,” “sind” means “are” and links the desks with their permitted purpose. Use it to describe what a person, place, or object is like or intended for.
nur In “nur zum stillen Lernen,” “nur” means “only” and limits the desks’ permitted use to silent study. It is useful when stating a restriction or excluding other activities.
Dann At the start of “Dann telefoniere ich woanders,” “Dann” means “then” or “in that case” and connects the speaker’s response to the previous restriction. It is useful for introducing a decision or consequence after new information.
telefoniere In “Dann telefoniere ich woanders,” this form describes the speaker’s decision to make phone calls elsewhere. The sentence is useful when responding to a rule by stating what action will be taken instead.
woanders “Woanders” means somewhere else or elsewhere in “Dann telefoniere ich woanders.” It is useful when moving an activity to a different location without naming that location.
Die In “Die Eingangshalle,” “Die” means “the” and introduces the specific lobby being discussed. It is useful when referring to a particular known place or object.
Eingangshalle “Eingangshalle” means lobby or entrance hall, here the place recommended for phone calls. The phrase “Die Eingangshalle ist besser zum Telefonieren” is useful when directing someone to a suitable area in a building.
ist In “ist besser,” “ist” means “is” and links the entrance hall with the judgment that it is more suitable for calls. Use it to describe a place or object and then give its quality or suitability.
besser In “Die Eingangshalle ist besser zum Telefonieren,” “besser” means better or more suitable for the stated purpose. It is useful when recommending one place or option over another.
Ein In “Ein Tisch oben,” “Ein” introduces one nonspecific desk or table. It is useful when suggesting an available object without identifying a particular one in advance.
Tisch “Tisch” means desk or table; here “Ein Tisch oben” refers to one desk upstairs. It is useful when identifying a piece of furniture as a possible place to work.
für In “für mich,” “für” marks the person for whom something is suitable or acceptable. It is useful when explaining who benefits from or approves of an option.
mich “Mich” means “me” in “für mich,” referring to the speaker. Together with “für,” it identifies the person for whom the upstairs desk is acceptable.
in Ordnung As a whole, “in Ordnung” means okay or acceptable in “Ein Tisch oben ist für mich in Ordnung.” The component “in” contributes the idea of being within a state, while “Ordnung” names order; together they form the expression used to accept an option.
Am “Am” introduces the time expression “Am Nachmittag,” meaning in the afternoon. It is useful at the beginning of a sentence to state when something usually happens or is true.
Nachmittag “Nachmittag” means afternoon in “Am Nachmittag.” Together with “Am,” it gives the time when the place is usually calm.
meistens In “meistens ruhig,” “meistens” means usually or most of the time. It qualifies the statement so that the place is calm during the afternoon in general, not necessarily every time.
ruhig In “es dort meistens ruhig,” “ruhig” describes the place as calm or quiet. It is useful when describing a peaceful atmosphere, especially in a library or another work area.

Grammar Points

für + Akkusativ

für mich

fyoor mikh

for me

The preposition für takes the accusative case: ich changes to mich after für.

German Vocabulary

arbeiten verb
AR-bye-ten to work
Bereich noun
beh-RYKH area
dann adv
dahn then
dort adv
dort there
kurz adv
koorts briefly, short
Lernen noun
LAIR-nen studying, learning
links adv
links on the left, left
oben adv
OH-ben upstairs, above
ruhig adj
ROO-ikh quiet, calm ruhigen

einen ruhigen Bereich

still adj
shtil silent, quiet stillen

zum stillen Lernen

telefonieren verb
teh-leh-foh-NEER-en to make phone calls
Tisch noun
tish desk, table Tische

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Could I take a short call there?

Show AnswerKann ich dort kurz telefonieren?

I'll take phone calls somewhere else, then.

Show AnswerDann telefoniere ich woanders.

The lobby is better for calls.

Show AnswerDie Eingangshalle ist besser zum Telefonieren.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

desk, table

Show AnswerTische

studying, learning

Show AnswerLernen

silent, quiet

Show Answerstillen

to make phone calls

Show Answertelefonieren