Waiting for Your Turn | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Waiting for Your Turn to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich warte immer noch auf meinen Aufruf.

ikh VAR-tuh IM-er nokh owf MY-nen OWF-roof I am still waiting for my turn.

Heute brauchen sie lange, um jede Person aufzurufen.

HOY-tuh BROW-khen zee LAHNG-uh, oom YAY-duh per-ZOHN OWF-tsoo-ROO-fen They are taking a long time to call each person today.

Dann sollte ich in der Nähe bleiben.

dahn ZHOL-tuh ikh in dair NAY-uh BLY-ben So I should stay nearby.

Sie rufen dich vielleicht bald auf.

zee ROO-fen dikh fee-LYKHT bahlt owf They may call you soon.

Auf welchen Schalter soll ich achten?

owf VEL-khen SHAL-ter zhol ikh AKH-ten Which counter should I watch?

Der Bildschirm zeigt den richtigen Schalter an.

dair BILT-shirm TSEYKT den RIKH-ti-gen SHAL-ter ahn The screen will show the right counter.

Dann behalte ich das Ticket in der Hand.

dahn beh-AL-tuh ikh dahs TIK-et in dair HAHNT Then I'll keep the ticket in my hand.

Das macht es leichter, wenn du an der Reihe bist.

dahs makht es LYKH-ter, ven doo ahn dair RYE-uh bist That makes it easier when your turn comes.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” and is the person who is waiting in “Ich warte immer noch auf meinen Aufruf.” It is the subject of the sentence. A reusable pattern is to begin a sentence with “Ich” when describing your own action or situation.

warte “warte” means “am waiting” here and describes the speaker’s ongoing wait. It is the form of warten used with “Ich.” The exact sentence uses the pattern “Ich warte immer noch auf meinen Aufruf” for waiting for a turn or call.

immer In “immer noch,” “immer” helps express that the situation continues. Together with “noch,” the phrase means “still,” not “always” in this dialogue. “Immer noch” is a reusable way to describe something that has not changed yet.

noch In “immer noch,” “noch” contributes the meaning “still” or “yet,” showing that the speaker continues to wait. Its meaning here comes from the combination with “immer,” rather than from “noch” alone. “Immer noch” can describe any situation that is continuing.

auf In “auf meinen Aufruf,” “auf” introduces what the speaker is waiting for. With warten, this is the pattern used for waiting for a person, event, or call. The dialogue uses “auf meinen Aufruf” for waiting for one’s turn to be called.

meinen “meinen” means “my” before “Aufruf” in “auf meinen Aufruf.” It identifies the call or turn as belonging to the speaker. This exact form is used before the masculine noun “Aufruf” in this phrase.

Aufruf “Aufruf” means the call or announcement that brings the speaker’s turn in the waiting area. In “meinen Aufruf,” it refers to being called rather than to a general public appeal. The phrase is useful when waiting for your number or turn to be announced.

Heute “Heute” means “today” and sets the time for the statement “Heute brauchen sie lange.” It appears at the beginning of the sentence to establish the time before the subject and verb. This position is common for a time expression describing the whole sentence.

brauchen In “Heute brauchen sie lange,” “brauchen” contributes the idea of taking or needing a long time. The subject is “sie,” and “lange” specifies the duration. This pattern can describe how long people or activities take.

sie “sie” means “they” here and refers to the people calling each person in the waiting area. It is the subject of “Heute brauchen sie lange.” The lowercase form in this dialogue refers to several people, not to the person being addressed.

lange “lange” means “a long time” in “Heute brauchen sie lange.” It tells how much time the calling process takes. It can be reused with verbs such as waiting or needing time to describe a long duration.

um “um” begins the purpose expression “um jede Person aufzurufen,” meaning “in order to call each person.” It connects the time-taking action with its purpose. A reusable pattern is “um” followed by an infinitive construction to explain why an action is done.

jede “jede” means “each” or “every” in “jede Person.” It presents the people being called one by one as individual members of the group. The exact pattern “jede Person” is useful when referring to every person separately.

Person “Person” means “person” and is the individual being called in “jede Person aufzurufen.” It is the object connected with the action of calling. The dialogue uses it in the reusable expression “jede Person.”

aufzurufen “aufzurufen” means “to call up” in “um jede Person aufzurufen.” It completes the purpose expression after “um.” This is the zu-infinitive form of the separable verb aufrufen, used here for calling people forward or announcing their turn.

Dann “Dann” means “then” and introduces the speaker’s consequence: “Dann sollte ich in der Nähe bleiben.” It links the decision to the information given just before it. A sentence-initial “Dann” is useful when stating what will happen or what you will do next.

sollte “sollte” means “should” in “Dann sollte ich in der Nähe bleiben.” It expresses the speaker’s sensible recommendation to stay nearby. It is a form of sollen used with “ich,” and the pattern “Ich sollte ...” can introduce advice about one’s own next action.

in In “in der Nähe,” “in” is part of the expression for being nearby or in the surrounding area. It places the speaker within that nearby area rather than naming a specific location. “In der Nähe bleiben” is a useful pattern for saying that someone will remain close by.

der In “in der Nähe,” “der” is the article used with “Nähe.” Together they form the phrase meaning “nearby” or “in the vicinity.” The exact combination “in der Nähe” is commonly used to describe a nearby place or area.

Nähe “Nähe” means the nearby area or vicinity in “in der Nähe.” The full phrase says that the speaker should remain close to the waiting area. “In der Nähe bleiben” is a reusable expression for staying close by.

bleiben “bleiben” means “stay” or “remain” in “in der Nähe bleiben.” It is the action recommended after “sollte.” The exact phrase “in der Nähe bleiben” is useful when someone must remain close enough to notice an announcement.

rufen “rufen” provides the action of calling in “Sie rufen dich vielleicht bald auf.” With the separated particle “auf,” the full verb means calling someone up. This wording is used when staff or another person calls someone forward for their turn.

dich “dich” means “you” and identifies the person who may be called in “Sie rufen dich vielleicht bald auf.” It is the person affected by the calling action. The sentence uses it when speaking directly to the person waiting.

vielleicht “vielleicht” means “perhaps” or “maybe” in “Sie rufen dich vielleicht bald auf.” It makes the prediction uncertain rather than definite. It is useful when suggesting that something may happen without promising that it will happen.

bald “bald” means “soon” in “Sie rufen dich vielleicht bald auf.” It places the possible call in the near future. The phrase “vielleicht bald” combines uncertainty with the idea of an imminent event.

welchen “welchen” means “which” in the question “Auf welchen Schalter soll ich achten?” It asks the listener to identify one counter among several. The form appears before the masculine noun “Schalter” after “Auf” in this question.

Schalter “Schalter” means “counter” in the waiting-area context. It refers to the service desk shown on the screen. The dialogue also uses “den richtigen Schalter” for the counter the person should find.

soll “soll” means “should” in “Auf welchen Schalter soll ich achten?” It asks what the speaker is supposed or advised to watch. This form of sollen is used with “ich,” and the question pattern asks which action or object is appropriate.

achten In “Auf welchen Schalter soll ich achten?”, “achten” means “pay attention” or “watch.” The construction uses “auf” to show what the attention is directed toward. A reusable pattern is “auf etwas achten” when monitoring a sign, screen, or other important detail.

Bildschirm “Bildschirm” means “screen” and is the subject of “Der Bildschirm zeigt den richtigen Schalter an.” It refers to the display that provides the needed counter information. This word is useful when talking about information shown on a monitor.

zeigt “zeigt” means “shows” or “displays” in “Der Bildschirm zeigt den richtigen Schalter an.” It is the form of zeigen used with “Der Bildschirm.” Together with “an,” it forms the separable expression for displaying information.

den In “den richtigen Schalter,” “den” means “the” and introduces the counter being displayed. It belongs to the noun phrase that identifies the correct counter. The exact phrase “den richtigen Schalter” names the counter the learner needs to watch for.

richtigen “richtigen” means “right” or “correct” in “den richtigen Schalter.” It distinguishes the needed counter from other counters. The form appears before “Schalter” in the noun phrase “den richtigen Schalter.”

an “an” is the separable particle that completes “zeigt ... an” in “Der Bildschirm zeigt den richtigen Schalter an.” Together, zeigt ... an means “shows” or “displays.” In this sentence, the particle moves to the end because the verb is used in a main clause.

behalte “behalte” means “keep” or “hold on to” in “Dann behalte ich das Ticket in der Hand.” It describes the speaker keeping the ticket readily available. It is the form of behalten used with “ich,” and the sentence provides a practical pattern for keeping an item at hand.

das In “das Ticket,” “das” means “the” and introduces the ticket being held. In the sentence-initial “Das macht es leichter,” “Das” refers back to the action or situation and means “that.” The same spelling therefore has two related reference functions in the dialogue.

Ticket “Ticket” means “ticket” and is the item the speaker keeps in the hand while waiting. It is the object of “behalte” in “Dann behalte ich das Ticket in der Hand.” The exact phrase “das Ticket in der Hand” describes keeping the ticket immediately ready.

Hand “Hand” means “hand” in “in der Hand.” The phrase says that the ticket is being held in the speaker’s hand. “In der Hand” is a reusable expression for having something physically held and ready.

macht In “Das macht es leichter,” “macht” means “makes.” It describes the result of keeping the ticket ready: the situation becomes easier. This form of machen is used with “Das,” and “es leichter machen” is a reusable construction for making something easier.

es “es” means “it” in “Das macht es leichter.” It is the element whose difficulty is being described as reduced by the action. The exact construction “Das macht es leichter” is useful when explaining that one action simplifies a situation.

leichter “leichter” means “easier” in “Das macht es leichter.” It describes the improved result of having the ticket ready. The phrase “es leichter machen” can be reused when an action makes a task or situation less difficult.

wenn “wenn” means “when” and introduces the condition or time in “wenn du an der Reihe bist.” It connects the easier preparation with the moment the person’s turn arrives. This conjunction is useful for introducing a related situation or event.

du “du” means “you” and is the person whose turn is discussed in “wenn du an der Reihe bist.” It is the subject of “bist.” The dialogue uses “du” when addressing one person directly in an informal conversation.

an der Reihe “an der Reihe” is the complete expression meaning “to be one’s turn” in “wenn du an der Reihe bist.” In this expression, “an” places someone in the sequence, “der” is the article accompanying “Reihe,” and “Reihe” refers to the order or turn sequence. Together, the full phrase identifies the person who is next to act or be called.

bist “bist” means “are” in “wenn du an der Reihe bist.” It comes from sein and is used with “du.” Here it completes the expression “an der Reihe bist,” which says that it is the person’s turn.

Grammar Points

Trennbare Verben: anzeigen → zeigt ... an

Der Bildschirm zeigt den richtigen Aufruf an.

dair BILT-shirm TSEYKT den RIKH-ti-gen OWF-roof ahn

The screen displays the correct call.

The prefix moves to the end in a main clause: zeigt ... an.

Infinitiv mit zu: aufzurufen

Vielleicht brauchen wir lange, um jede ... aufzurufen.

fee-LYKHT BROW-khen veer LAHNG-uh, oom YAY-duh ... OWF-tsoo-ROO-fen

Perhaps we need a long time to call each one.

With um ... zu, the separable verb combines as aufzurufen.

German Vocabulary

Aufruf noun

OWF-roof call; being called

Ich warte immer noch auf meinen Aufruf.

aufrufen verb

OWF-roo-fen to call; to summon aufzurufen

Heute brauchen sie lange, um jede Person aufzurufen.

bald adv

bahlt soon

Sie rufen dich vielleicht bald auf.

bleiben verb

BLY-ben to stay

Dann sollte ich in der Nähe bleiben.

brauchen verb

BROW-khen to take; to need

Heute brauchen sie lange, um jede Person aufzurufen.

immer noch adv

IM-er nokh still

Ich warte immer noch auf meinen Aufruf.

in der Nähe phrase

in dair NAY-uh nearby

Dann sollte ich in der Nähe bleiben.

jede det

YAY-duh each; every

Heute brauchen sie lange, um jede Person aufzurufen.

lange adv

LAHNG-uh a long time

Heute brauchen sie lange, um jede Person aufzurufen.

Schalter noun

SHAL-ter counter

Auf welchen Schalter soll ich achten?

vielleicht adv

fee-LYKHT perhaps; maybe

Sie rufen dich vielleicht bald auf.

warten verb

VAR-ten to wait warte

Ich warte immer noch auf meinen Aufruf.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

They may call you soon.

Show Answer

Sie rufen dich vielleicht bald auf.

Which counter should I watch?

Show Answer

Auf welchen Schalter soll ich achten?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to call; to summon

Show Answer

aufzurufen

to take; to need

Show Answer

brauchen

to wait

Show Answer

warte

call; being called

Show Answer

Aufruf