Checking the weather before leaving | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Checking the weather before leaving to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Kannst du die Wetter-App prüfen, bevor wir losgehen?

KAHNST doo dee VET-er ap PRYOO-fen, beh-FOHR veer LOHS-gay-en? Can you check the weather app before we leave?

Die App sagt, dass es vielleicht regnet.

dee ap ZAHKT, dahss ess fee-LYKHT RAYG-net. It says there is some chance of rain.

Der Himmel ist schon bewölkt.

dayr HIM-uhl ist shohn beh-VURLKT. The sky looks cloudy already.

Die Temperatur wird heute Abend auch sinken.

dee tem-peh-rah-TOOR virt HOY-tuh AH-bent owkh ZINK-en. The temperature will also drop this evening.

Soll ich eine leichte Jacke mitnehmen?

zohl ikh EYE-nuh LYKHT-uh YAH-kuh MIT-nay-men? Should I carry a light jacket?

Eine leichte Jacke und ein kleiner Regenschirm würden helfen.

EYE-nuh LYKHT-uh YAH-kuh oont eye-n KLY-nur RAY-gen-shirm VYUR-den HEL-fen. A light jacket and a small umbrella would help.

Dann kann ich beides in meine Tasche packen.

dahn kahn ikh BYE-dus in MY-nuh TAH-shuh PAHK-en. Then I can put both in my bag.

Das sollte für den Regen und den kühleren Abend reichen.

dahs ZHOHL-tuh fyoor dayn RAY-gen oont dayn KYOO-luh-run AH-bent RY-khen. That should be enough for the rain and the cooler evening.

Word by Word

Kannst “Kannst” means “can” in the question “Kannst du die Wetter-App prüfen”. It is used with “du” and an infinitive to ask whether someone is able or willing to do something. New example: “Kannst du mir helfen?”

du “du” means “you” when speaking to one person informally. Here it is the person being asked to check the weather app. It commonly appears with “Kannst du ...?” for an informal request.

die “die” means “the” before “Wetter-App”; the capitalized form “Die” means “the” before “App” in “Die App sagt”. The form depends on the noun and its role in the sentence. Learn it together with the noun phrase “die Wetter-App” or “Die App”.

Wetter-App “Wetter-App” means “weather app”, the app used to check the forecast. It is a compound word combining “Wetter” and “App”. A useful pattern is “die Wetter-App prüfen” when checking a weather app.

prüfen “prüfen” means “to check” in “die Wetter-App prüfen”. It is the infinitive used after “Kannst du”. A common pattern is “etwas prüfen”, with the thing being checked after the verb.

bevor “bevor” means “before” and introduces the action “bevor wir losgehen”. It connects the weather check with the later departure. In this clause, the verb appears at the end: “bevor wir losgehen”.

wir “wir” means “we” in “bevor wir losgehen”. It refers to the two people who are going to leave together. It commonly appears as the subject before a plural verb.

losgehen “losgehen” means “to leave” or “to set off” in “bevor wir losgehen”. It is the infinitive at the end of the clause introduced by “bevor”. A useful pattern is “Wir gehen los”, meaning “We set off”.

sagt “sagt” means “says” in “Die App sagt”. It describes what the weather app reports. It is used with a statement introduced by “dass”, as in “Die App sagt, dass ...”.

dass “dass” means “that” and introduces the statement “dass es vielleicht regnet”. It links what the app says to the information being reported. A useful pattern is “sagen, dass ...”.

es “es” is the “it” used in the weather statement “es vielleicht regnet”. Here it does not refer to a specific object; it is part of the expression about rain. Weather expressions commonly use “es” with a weather verb.

vielleicht “vielleicht” means “perhaps” or “maybe” in “es vielleicht regnet”. It shows that rain is possible rather than certain. It can be placed before the verb in a statement such as “Vielleicht regnet es”.

regnet “regnet” means “is raining” in “es vielleicht regnet”. It describes the possible weather being reported by the app. The weather expression is used with “es”: “Es regnet” means “It is raining”.

Der “Der” means “the” before “Himmel” in “Der Himmel”. The capitalized form appears because it begins the sentence. Learn it as part of the noun phrase “Der Himmel”.

Himmel “Himmel” means “sky” in “Der Himmel ist schon bewölkt”. It is the thing being described as cloudy. A useful pattern is “Der Himmel ist ...” when describing the sky.

ist “ist” means “is” in “Der Himmel ist schon bewölkt”. It links the sky with its current description. It commonly appears before an adjective in a statement such as “ist bewölkt”.

schon “schon” means “already” in “ist schon bewölkt”. It indicates that the sky is cloudy at this point, before they leave. It is commonly placed before the adjective or description it modifies.

bewölkt “bewölkt” means “cloudy” in “Der Himmel ist schon bewölkt”. It describes the current condition of the sky. A useful pattern is “Der Himmel ist bewölkt” when reporting cloudy weather.

Temperatur “Temperatur” means “temperature” in “Die Temperatur wird heute Abend auch sinken”. It is the thing whose level is expected to change. A common pattern is “Die Temperatur steigt” or “Die Temperatur sinkt” when discussing temperature changes.

wird “wird” helps express what is expected to happen in “Die Temperatur wird heute Abend auch sinken”. Together with the infinitive “sinken”, it points to a future change. The reusable pattern is “wird ... sinken” for something expected to drop.

heute “heute” means “today” in “heute Abend”. It places the evening in the current day. The common time expression is “heute Abend”, meaning “this evening”.

Abend “Abend” means “evening” in “heute Abend”. Together with “heute”, it specifies when the temperature will drop. A useful pattern is “am Abend” for a general evening time.

auch “auch” means “also” in “heute Abend auch sinken”. It adds the temperature drop to the other weather information already mentioned. It usually comes near the action or information being added.

sinken “sinken” means “to drop” or “to fall” in “wird ... sinken”. It describes the expected decrease of the temperature. After “wird”, it stays in the infinitive form at the end of the clause.

Soll “Soll” means “should” in the question “Soll ich eine leichte Jacke mitnehmen?” It asks whether taking a light jacket is advisable. A useful pattern is “Soll ich ...?” when asking for advice about an action.

ich “ich” means “I” in “Soll ich eine leichte Jacke mitnehmen?” It identifies the person who may take the jacket. It commonly appears after “Soll” in a question about what the speaker should do.

eine “eine” means “a” or “an” before “leichte Jacke” and “Eine” is the capitalized form at the start of “Eine leichte Jacke”. It introduces one unspecified jacket. Learn the phrase “eine leichte Jacke” as a complete noun phrase.

leichte “leichte” means “light” in “eine leichte Jacke”. Here it describes a jacket that is not heavy or thick, suitable for carrying. The adjective is placed before the noun: “leichte Jacke”.

Jacke “Jacke” means “jacket” in “eine leichte Jacke”. It is the clothing item they consider taking because the evening may be cooler. A useful pattern is “eine Jacke mitnehmen”, meaning to take a jacket along.

mitnehmen “mitnehmen” means “to take along” in “eine leichte Jacke mitnehmen”. It is the infinitive used after “Soll ich”. A common pattern is “etwas mitnehmen” when bringing an item with you.

und “und” means “and” in “Eine leichte Jacke und ein kleiner Regenschirm”. It joins the jacket and the umbrella as two useful items. It can connect two nouns or noun phrases in the same sentence.

ein “ein” means “a” or “an” before “kleiner Regenschirm”. It introduces one unspecified umbrella. The phrase “ein kleiner Regenschirm” is the subject of the statement about what would help.

kleiner “kleiner” means “small” in “ein kleiner Regenschirm”. It describes the umbrella as small and easy to carry. The adjective comes before the noun in “kleiner Regenschirm”.

Regenschirm “Regenschirm” means “umbrella” in “ein kleiner Regenschirm”. It is the second item suggested for possible rain. A useful pattern is “einen Regenschirm mitnehmen” when taking an umbrella along.

würden “würden” means “would” in “würden helfen”. It presents the jacket and umbrella as things that would be useful in this situation. It is used with the infinitive “helfen” to form this conditional statement.

helfen “helfen” means “to help” in “würden helfen”. Here the jacket and umbrella would help with the expected weather. A useful pattern is “etwas hilft” or “etwas würde helfen” when describing something useful.

Dann “Dann” means “then” in “Dann kann ich beides ... packen”. It shows the consequence of the suggestion: the speaker will put both items in the bag. At the start of this sentence, it is followed by the verb “kann”.

kann “kann” means “can” in “kann ich beides ... packen”. It expresses that the speaker is able to pack both items. It is followed by the subject and an infinitive at the end: “kann ich ... packen”.

beides “beides” means “both things” in “beides in meine Tasche packen”. It refers to the light jacket and the small umbrella together. It is useful when referring back to two previously mentioned items without repeating them.

in “in” means “into” in “in meine Tasche packen”. It indicates the destination of the packing action. With a movement into a container, it is used here with “meine Tasche”.

meine “meine” means “my” in “meine Tasche”. It shows that the bag belongs to the speaker. A useful pattern is “etwas in meine Tasche packen” when putting something into the speaker’s bag.

Tasche “Tasche” means “bag” in “meine Tasche”. It is the container into which the speaker will pack both items. A common pattern is “etwas in die Tasche packen” for putting something into a bag.

packen “packen” means “to put” or “to pack” in “beides in meine Tasche packen”. It is the infinitive after “kann”. The reusable pattern is “etwas in eine Tasche packen”, with the item and destination both included.

Das “Das” means “that” in “Das sollte ... reichen”. It refers to the plan or combination just discussed. It introduces the statement that this should be enough for the expected conditions.

sollte “sollte” means “should” in “Das sollte ... reichen”. It expresses an expectation that the jacket and umbrella will be enough. It is used with the infinitive “reichen” in the pattern “Das sollte reichen”.

für “für” means “for” in “für den Regen und den kühleren Abend”. It identifies the conditions that the jacket and umbrella should be enough for. A useful pattern is “für den Regen” when describing protection intended for rain.

den “den” means “the” before “Regen” and before “kühleren Abend” after “für”. It is the form used in these noun phrases in the dialogue. Learn the complete phrases “für den Regen” and “für den kühleren Abend”.

Regen “Regen” means “rain” in “für den Regen”. It names the weather condition the umbrella should help with. A useful pattern is “Schutz vor dem Regen” for protection from rain.

kühleren “kühleren” means “cooler” in “den kühleren Abend”. It describes the evening as cooler than the current conditions or another reference point. The adjective appears before “Abend” in this phrase.

reichen “reichen” means “to be enough” in “Das sollte ... reichen”. It says that the jacket and umbrella should provide what is needed for the rain and cooler evening. A useful pattern is “Das reicht für ...” when saying that something is sufficient for a purpose.

Grammar Points

Bevor ..., ...

Bevor wir losgehen, prüfen wir die Wetter-App.

beh-FOHR veer LOHS-gay-en, PROO-fen veer dee VET-er ap.

Before we leave, we check the weather app.

After bevor, the conjugated verb goes to the end of the subordinate clause.

mitnehmen → nimmt ... mit

Wir nehmen eine leichte Jacke mit.

veer NAY-men EYE-nuh LYKHT-uh YAH-kuh mit.

We take a light jacket along.

mitnehmen is separable: the prefix mit moves to the end in a main clause.

German Vocabulary

bevor conj

beh-FOHR before

bevor wir losgehen

bewölkt adj

beh-VURLKT cloudy

Der Himmel ist schon bewölkt

Himmel noun

HIM-uhl sky

Der Himmel

leicht adj

LYKHT light leichte

eine leichte Jacke

losgehen verb

LOHS-gay-en to leave; to set off

wir losgehen

prüfen verb

PRYOO-fen to check

die Wetter-App prüfen

regnen verb

RAYG-nen to rain regnet

es regnet

sagen verb

ZAH-gen to say sagt

Die App sagt

sinken verb

ZINK-en to drop; to fall

wird ... sinken

Temperatur noun

tem-peh-rah-TOOR temperature

Die Temperatur

vielleicht adv

fee-LYKHT perhaps; maybe

dass es vielleicht regnet

Wetter-App noun

VET-er ap weather app

die Wetter-App

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The sky looks cloudy already.

Show Answer

Der Himmel ist schon bewölkt.

Should I carry a light jacket?

Show Answer

Soll ich eine leichte Jacke mitnehmen?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to leave; to set off

Show Answer

losgehen

to say

Show Answer

sagt

sky

Show Answer

Himmel

before

Show Answer

bevor