Checking ingredients before cooking | Learn German in English

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Use Checking ingredients before cooking to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Bevor wir anfangen zu kochen, welche Zutaten haben wir?

buh-FOHR veer AHN-fahng-en tsoo KOH-khen, VEL-khuh tsoo-TAH-ten HAH-ben veer? Before we start cooking, what ingredients do we have?

Das Rezept braucht Zwiebeln und Tomaten.

dahs REH-tsaypt browkht TSVEE-bel-n oont toh-MAH-ten. The recipe needs onions and tomatoes.

Wir haben Tomaten, aber wir haben keine Zwiebeln mehr.

veer HAH-ben toh-MAH-ten, AH-ber veer HAH-ben KAI-nuh TSVEE-bel-n MAIR. We have tomatoes, but we're out of onions.

Können wir stattdessen Frühlingszwiebeln nehmen?

KURN-en veer SHTAHT-dehssen FROO-lings-tsvee-bel-n NAY-men? Can we use green onions instead?

Vielleicht, aber der Geschmack wird anders sein.

fee-LIEKHT, AH-ber dair guh-SHMAHK veert AHN-ders zাইন. Maybe, but the taste will be different.

Dann kaufe ich Zwiebeln im Laden an der Ecke.

DAHN KOW-fuh ikh TSVEE-bel-n im LAH-den ahn dair ECK-uh. Then I'll buy onions from the corner shop.

Wir müssen noch den Reis abmessen.

veer MUHS-en NOKH den RICE AHP-mehssen. We still need to measure the rice.

Ich messe genug Reis für vier Personen ab, wenn ich zurück bin.

ikh MEH-suh guh-NOOKH RICE fyoor FEER per-ZOH-nen AHP, ven ikh tsoo-ROOK bin. I'll measure enough rice for four people after I get back.

Word by Word

Bevor “Bevor” means “before” and introduces an action that happens earlier than another action. Here it introduces “Bevor wir anfangen zu kochen”, meaning before we start cooking. A reusable pattern is “Bevor ich ...”, followed by the earlier action.

wir “wir” means “we” and refers here to the two people speaking together. It appears in “wir anfangen” and “haben wir” to identify who performs the action or has the ingredients. A new example is: “Wir kochen heute.”

anfangen “anfangen” means “start” in “Bevor wir anfangen zu kochen”. With “zu kochen”, it identifies the action that is about to begin. A reusable pattern is “anfangen zu” followed by an action, such as the new example “anfangen zu lernen”.

zu In “anfangen zu kochen”, “zu” marks “kochen” as the action that is being started. The complete pattern is “anfangen zu” plus an action. A new example is: “Wir fangen an zu essen.”

kochen “kochen” means “cook” in “anfangen zu kochen”. It names the activity that the speakers are about to start. A reusable pattern is “zu kochen” after an expression such as “anfangen”.

welche “welche” means “which” and asks for specific items in “welche Zutaten haben wir?”. It is used here to ask which ingredients are available. A reusable pattern is “Welche ... haben wir?”, such as the new example “Welche Getränke haben wir?”.

Zutaten “Zutaten” means “ingredients” in “welche Zutaten haben wir?”. It refers to the food items needed for the recipe. A common reuse point is “Zutaten für” followed by a dish or recipe, as in the new example “Zutaten für die Suppe”.

haben “haben” means “have” in “welche Zutaten haben wir?” and “Wir haben Tomaten”. It describes what ingredients are available. The dialogue uses both the question pattern “haben wir?” and the statement pattern “Wir haben ...”.

Das In “Das Rezept”, “Das” means “the” and points to the specific recipe being discussed. It is the article used directly before “Rezept” here. A reusable pattern is “Das ...”, followed by a specific thing, such as the new example “Das Essen ist fertig.”

Rezept “Rezept” means “recipe” in “Das Rezept braucht Zwiebeln und Tomaten”. It refers to the instructions and ingredient requirements for the dish. A common reuse pattern is “Das Rezept braucht ...”, followed by an ingredient.

braucht “braucht” means “needs” in “Das Rezept braucht Zwiebeln und Tomaten”. It states that the recipe requires the named ingredients. A reusable pattern is “... braucht ...”, with the needed item after the verb.

Zwiebeln “Zwiebeln” means “onions” in “Zwiebeln und Tomaten” and “keine Zwiebeln mehr”. It names the onions required by the recipe and later identifies the ingredient that has run out. A common reuse pattern is “Zwiebeln kaufen”, as in the dialogue’s “kaufe ich Zwiebeln”.

und “und” means “and” and connects items in “Zwiebeln und Tomaten”. It joins the two ingredients required by the recipe. A reusable pattern is “A und B” when listing two related items.

Tomaten “Tomaten” means “tomatoes” in “Zwiebeln und Tomaten” and “Wir haben Tomaten”. It identifies one ingredient required by the recipe and confirms that it is available. A common reuse pattern is “Wir haben Tomaten” or another available item after “Wir haben”.

aber “aber” means “but” and introduces a contrast in “Wir haben Tomaten, aber wir haben keine Zwiebeln mehr”. It connects the available tomatoes with the unavailable onions. A reusable pattern is “..., aber ...” when contrasting two facts.

keine In “keine Zwiebeln mehr”, “keine” indicates that there are no onions available. It comes directly before the item that is unavailable. A reusable pattern is “keine” plus the unavailable item, such as the new example “keine Milch”.

mehr In “keine Zwiebeln mehr”, “mehr” adds the meaning “any longer” or “any more”. Together with “keine Zwiebeln”, it shows that the onions are no longer available. A common reuse pattern is “keine ... mehr” for something that has run out.

Können “Können” asks whether something is possible in “Können wir stattdessen Frühlingszwiebeln nehmen?”. It is used with “wir” and the action “nehmen” to form a possibility question. A reusable pattern is “Können wir ...?”, such as the new example “Können wir später anfangen?”.

stattdessen “stattdessen” means “instead” and shows that a replacement is being considered in “stattdessen Frühlingszwiebeln nehmen”. Here the green onions are proposed as a replacement for the unavailable onions. A reusable pattern is “stattdessen” followed by the alternative action or item.

Frühlingszwiebeln “Frühlingszwiebeln” means “green onions” in “stattdessen Frühlingszwiebeln nehmen”. It names the alternative ingredient suggested for the recipe. A common reuse pattern is “Frühlingszwiebeln nehmen” when choosing this ingredient for a dish.

nehmen In “Frühlingszwiebeln nehmen”, “nehmen” means “use” or “take” the green onions as the chosen alternative. The complete expression identifies which substitute the speakers may use. A reusable pattern is “etwas nehmen”, such as the new example “Ich nehme die rote Tasse.”

Vielleicht “Vielleicht” means “maybe” and expresses uncertainty in “Vielleicht, aber der Geschmack wird anders sein”. It shows that the speaker considers the substitution possible without giving a definite yes. A reusable pattern is “Vielleicht” at the beginning of a reply when the answer is uncertain.

der In “der Geschmack”, “der” means “the” and is the article used before “Geschmack” here. It identifies the specific taste being discussed. A reusable pattern is “der” followed by a specific masculine noun, such as the new example “der Laden”.

Geschmack “Geschmack” means “taste” or “flavor” in “der Geschmack wird anders sein”. It refers to the flavor of the food after using a different ingredient. A common reuse pattern is “Der Geschmack ist ...”, followed by a description.

wird In “wird anders sein”, “wird” helps express that a change is expected in the future. Together with “sein”, it says that the taste will be different. A reusable pattern is “wird ... sein” for an expected future state.

anders “anders” means “different” in “wird anders sein”. It describes the expected taste as different from the original one. A common reuse pattern is “etwas ist anders”, such as the new example “Heute ist alles anders.”

sein In “wird anders sein”, “sein” means “be” and completes the description of the future state. It links the taste with the description “anders”. A reusable pattern is “wird ... sein” when saying what something is expected to be.

Dann “Dann” means “then” and introduces the next action in “Dann kaufe ich Zwiebeln”. It connects the decision about the alternative ingredient with the plan to buy onions. A reusable pattern is “Dann” at the beginning of a sentence to mark the next step.

kaufe “kaufe” means “buy” in “Dann kaufe ich Zwiebeln”. It states the speaker’s plan to purchase the missing ingredient. A reusable pattern is “Dann kaufe ich ...”, followed by the item to be bought.

ich “ich” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “kaufe ich” and “Ich messe”. It shows who will buy or measure the ingredients. The dialogue uses “ich” at the start of a sentence in “Ich messe” and after “Dann” in “kaufe ich”.

im In “im Laden”, “im” means “in the” and gives the location of the purchase. It is used directly before “Laden” here. A reusable pattern is “im” plus a place, such as the new example “im Supermarkt”.

Laden “Laden” means “shop” in “im Laden an der Ecke”. It identifies the place where the speaker will buy onions. A common reuse pattern is “in den Laden gehen” when talking about going to a shop.

an In “an der Ecke”, “an” helps locate the shop at the corner. It is part of the location expression and works together with “der Ecke”. A reusable pattern is “an der Ecke” when identifying a place near or at a corner.

Ecke “Ecke” means “corner” in “an der Ecke”. It specifies where the shop is located. The complete reusable expression is “an der Ecke”, as in the new example “Die Bäckerei ist an der Ecke.”

müssen “müssen” expresses necessity in “Wir müssen noch den Reis abmessen”. It says that measuring the rice is still required. A reusable pattern is “Wir müssen” followed by the action that has to be done.

noch In “Wir müssen noch den Reis abmessen”, “noch” means “still” or “yet” and shows that the task remains to be done. It emphasizes that measuring the rice is an additional unfinished task. A common reuse pattern is “noch” with an action that has not been completed.

den In “den Reis”, “den” means “the” and marks “Reis” as the specific item being measured. It appears directly before the object of the action. A reusable pattern is “den” plus a specific object, such as the new example “den Tisch”.

Reis “Reis” means “rice” in “den Reis abmessen” and “genug Reis”. It identifies the ingredient that must be measured for the meal. A common reuse pattern is “Reis abmessen” when preparing a portion.

abmessen “abmessen” means “measure out” in “den Reis abmessen”. It describes measuring a particular amount of an ingredient. A reusable pattern is “etwas abmessen”, such as the new example “Mehl abmessen.”

messe “messe” means “measure” in “Ich messe genug Reis für vier Personen ab”. It is the speaker’s action, while the separated “ab” completes the meaning “measure out”. A reusable pattern is “Ich messe ... ab”, with the ingredient or amount in the middle.

genug “genug” means “enough” in “genug Reis”. It specifies that the amount of rice should be sufficient for the stated group. A common reuse pattern is “genug” before a quantity or item, such as the new example “genug Wasser”.

für “für” means “for” in “für vier Personen”. It identifies who the measured amount of rice is intended for. A reusable pattern is “für” plus the intended person or group.

Personen “Personen” means “people” in “für vier Personen”. It identifies the group for whom the rice is being measured. A common reuse pattern is a number plus “Personen”, such as “für zwei Personen”.

ab In “messe ... ab”, “ab” is the separated part that completes “abmessen” and gives the action the meaning “measure out”. It appears at the end of the clause after the measured amount. A reusable pattern is “Ich messe etwas ab”, with “ab” at the end.

wenn “wenn” means “when” in “wenn ich zurück bin”. It introduces the time condition for measuring the rice: the measuring will happen after the speaker returns. A reusable pattern is “wenn” followed by the situation or time that must occur first.

zurück “zurück” means “back” in “wenn ich zurück bin”. Together with “bin”, it describes the speaker’s return. A common reuse pattern is “zurück sein”, such as the new example “Ich bin bald zurück.”

bin In “wenn ich zurück bin”, “bin” means “am” and completes the expression “am back”. It is the first-person form used with “ich” to describe the speaker’s state after returning. A reusable pattern is “Ich bin ...”, followed by a state or location.

Grammar Points

Bevor + Nebensatz, Verb ...

Bevor wir anfangen zu kochen, kaufen wir Zutaten.

buh-FOHR veer AHN-fahng-en tsoo KOH-khen, KOW-fen veer tsoo-TAH-ten.

Before we start cooking, we buy ingredients.

After „Bevor“, the conjugated verb goes to the end of the subordinate clause.

keine + Nomen + mehr

Das Rezept braucht keine Tomaten mehr.

dahs REH-tsaypt browkht KAI-nuh toh-MAH-ten MAIR.

The recipe does not need any more tomatoes.

„Keine ... mehr“ means that something is no longer needed or available.

German Vocabulary

anfangen verb

AHN-fahng-en to start

Bevor conj

buh-FOHR before

braucht verb

browkht needs

keine det

KAI-nuh no

kochen verb

KOH-khen to cook

mehr adv

MAIR anymore

Rezept noun

REH-tsaypt recipe

stattdessen adv

SHTAHT-dehssen instead

Tomaten noun

toh-MAH-ten tomatoes

welche det

VEL-khuh which

Zutaten noun

tsoo-TAH-ten ingredients

Zwiebeln noun

TSVEE-bel-n onions

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The recipe needs onions and tomatoes.

Show Answer

Das Rezept braucht Zwiebeln und Tomaten.

Can we use green onions instead?

Show Answer

Können wir stattdessen Frühlingszwiebeln nehmen?

We still need to measure the rice.

Show Answer

Wir müssen noch den Reis abmessen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

tomatoes

Show Answer

Tomaten

to start

Show Answer

anfangen

onions

Show Answer

Zwiebeln

before

Show Answer

Bevor