Choosing a Gift for a Coworker | Learn German in English

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Use Choosing a Gift for a Coworker to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Wir müssen ein Geschenk für unsere Kollegin aussuchen.

veer MUHS-en ayn geh-SHENK fyoor OON-zeh-reh OWS-zoo-khoo-zen. We need to choose a gift for our coworker.

Soll es nützlich oder eher persönlich sein?

ZAWL ess NUHTS-likh OH-der AY-er per-ZURN-likh zine? Should it be useful or more personal?

Sie mag Tee, also könnte ein Teeset passen.

zee mahk TAY, AHL-zoh KURR-tuh ayn TAY-zet PAHSS-en. She likes tea, so a tea set might work.

Das wirkt persönlich, ist aber trotzdem nützlich.

dahs veerkt per-ZURN-likh, ist AH-ber TROHTS-dem NOOTZ-likh. That feels personal but still useful.

Legen wir auch eine kleine Karte dazu.

LAY-gen veer owkh EYE-neh KLYE-neh KAR-teh dah-TSOO. Let's add a small card too.

Alle können unterschreiben, bevor wir ihr das Geschenk geben.

AH-leh KUR-nen OON-ter-SHRY-ben, beh-FOHR veer eer dahs geh-SHENK GAY-ben. Everyone can sign it before we give her the gift.

Word by Word

Wir “Wir” means “we” and is the subject in “Wir müssen ein Geschenk für unsere Kollegin aussuchen.” It refers to the people choosing the gift together. A common reuse pattern is “Wir müssen …” for something a group needs to do.

müssen “müssen” means “need to” or “must” here, expressing a necessary action. It is used with the other verb at the end of the clause: “Wir müssen … aussuchen.” Use “müssen” when explaining an obligation or necessity.

ein “ein” means “a” in “ein Geschenk” and introduces one unspecified gift. It comes before the noun “Geschenk” in this sentence. A common pattern is “ein” plus a singular noun when introducing something for the first time.

Geschenk “Geschenk” means “gift” in “ein Geschenk für unsere Kollegin.” The word names the item they plan to give. It can be reused in the pattern “ein Geschenk für …” when describing a gift for someone.

für “für” means “for” and shows who the gift is intended for in “für unsere Kollegin.” It is placed directly before the person or thing that receives the gift. Use “für” in patterns such as “ein Geschenk für …”.

unsere “unsere” means “our” in “unsere Kollegin,” referring to a female coworker connected with the speakers. Here it appears after “für” and before “Kollegin.” A common reuse pattern is “unsere” plus a noun for something belonging to or associated with a group.

Kollegin “Kollegin” means “female coworker” in “unsere Kollegin.” It identifies the person who will receive the gift. Use it when referring to a woman who works with you.

aussuchen “aussuchen” means “choose” or “select” in “ein Geschenk … aussuchen.” It is the action required after “müssen” and appears at the end of the clause. A common pattern is “etwas aussuchen,” meaning to choose something.

Soll “Soll” asks what the gift should be like in “Soll es nützlich oder eher persönlich sein?” It presents a choice or asks what is appropriate. Use “Soll … sein?” when asking whether something should have a particular quality.

es “es” means “it” and refers to the gift in “Soll es nützlich oder eher persönlich sein?” It is the subject of the question about the gift’s qualities. A common pattern is “Soll es … sein?” when asking how something should be.

nützlich “nützlich” means “useful” in the question about the gift. It describes a gift that has a practical use. Use “etwas ist nützlich” to say that something is useful.

oder “oder” means “or” and connects the two possible qualities “nützlich” and “eher persönlich.” It introduces an alternative in the question. Use “oder” to link choices or alternatives.

eher “eher” means “rather” or “more” here, making “persönlich” the preferred alternative in “eher persönlich.” It softens the choice rather than presenting it as absolute. Use “eher” before an adjective when expressing a preference or tendency.

persönlich “persönlich” means “personal” in “eher persönlich,” describing a gift with a personal character. It is one of the two qualities being considered. Use it after “sein” to describe what something is like, as in “etwas ist persönlich.”

sein “sein” means “be” in “Soll es nützlich oder eher persönlich sein?” It follows “Soll” and completes the question about the gift’s qualities. A common pattern is “soll … sein” for asking what something should be like.

Sie “Sie” means “she” in “Sie mag Tee,” referring to the female coworker. It is the person whose preferences guide the gift choice. Use “Sie” as a subject when talking about one woman.

mag “mag” means “likes” in “Sie mag Tee.” It expresses the coworker’s preference for tea. The citation form is “mögen”; “mag” is the exact form used here with “Sie.”

Tee “Tee” means “tea” in “Sie mag Tee.” It is the thing the coworker likes and the reason a tea set is suggested. Use it after “mögen” or “mag” when talking about liking tea.

also “also” means “so” or “therefore” in “also könnte ein Teeset passen.” It introduces the suggestion that follows from her liking tea. Use “also” to connect a reason with a resulting conclusion.

könnte “könnte” means “might” or “could” in “könnte ein Teeset passen,” presenting the tea set as a possible choice. It is the conditional form of “können” used to make the suggestion less definite. Use “könnte …” when proposing a possibility.

Teeset “Teeset” means “tea set” and is the suggested gift in “ein Teeset.” It combines tea-related items into one gift idea. Use it after “ein” when introducing a tea set as a possible present.

passen “passen” means “fit” in the sense of being suitable in “ein Teeset passen.” The sentence says that a tea set might be an appropriate choice for her. A common pattern is “Das könnte passen” when suggesting something that may be suitable.

Das “Das” means “that” or “it” in “Das wirkt persönlich,” referring to the tea set just mentioned. It introduces the item being evaluated. Use “Das wirkt …” to give an impression of something already under discussion.

wirkt “wirkt” means “seems” or “comes across as” in “Das wirkt persönlich.” It describes the impression the gift gives, rather than stating a direct physical effect. The citation form is “wirken”; “wirkt” is the exact form used here with “Das.”

ist “ist” means “is” in “ist aber trotzdem nützlich.” It states that the gift is useful while contrasting this with its personal character. The citation form is “sein”; “ist” is the exact form used here.

aber “aber” means “but” and introduces the contrasting point that the gift is still useful. In “ist aber trotzdem nützlich,” it links the personal impression with the practical quality. Use “aber” to mark a contrast between two statements.

trotzdem “trotzdem” means “still” or “nevertheless” in “ist aber trotzdem nützlich.” It emphasizes that the gift remains useful despite being personal. Use “trotzdem” when a result continues to hold despite a contrasting point.

Legen “Legen” means “put” or “add” in “Legen wir auch eine kleine Karte dazu.” Together with “dazu,” it suggests adding a card to the gift. The form begins the group suggestion “Legen wir …,” used when proposing an action for everyone present.

auch “auch” means “also” or “too” in “auch eine kleine Karte.” It adds the card as an additional item alongside the gift. Use “auch” to include another person, thing, or action.

eine “eine” means “a” in “eine kleine Karte,” introducing one unspecified card. It appears before the feminine noun “Karte” and its adjective. A common pattern is “eine” plus a singular feminine noun when introducing an item.

kleine “kleine” means “small” in “eine kleine Karte.” It describes the size of the card. Use it before a noun when describing a small item, as in “eine kleine …”.

Karte “Karte” means “card” in “eine kleine Karte.” It is the additional item that will be signed and given with the gift. Use it when referring to a card for a message or signature.

dazu “dazu” means “to it” or “along with it” in “Legen wir auch eine kleine Karte dazu.” It shows that the card is added to the gift already being discussed. A common pattern is “etwas dazu legen,” meaning to add something alongside another item.

Alle “Alle” means “everyone” or “all people” in “Alle können unterschreiben.” It refers to all the people who are contributing to the card. Use “Alle können …” when saying that everyone in a group can do something.

können “können” means “can” or “are able to” in “Alle können unterschreiben.” It expresses that everyone has permission or ability to sign. It is followed here by the action “unterschreiben”; a common pattern is “können” plus another verb.

unterschreiben “unterschreiben” means “sign” in “Alle können unterschreiben.” It refers to adding each person’s signature to the card. Use the pattern “etwas unterschreiben” when signing a card or document.

bevor “bevor” means “before” and introduces the action that must happen before the gift is given. In “bevor wir ihr das Geschenk geben,” it starts a subordinate clause. Use “bevor” to connect an earlier action with a later one.

ihr “ihr” means “to her” in “wir ihr das Geschenk geben.” It identifies the female coworker as the recipient of the gift. Use “ihr” before the thing being given in a pattern such as “jemandem etwas geben.”

geben “geben” means “give” in “wir ihr das Geschenk geben.” The sentence describes giving the gift to the coworker after the card has been signed. A common pattern is “jemandem etwas geben,” with the recipient before the item.

Grammar Points

etwas aussuchen

Ich suche ein Geschenk aus.

ikh ZOO-khuh ayn geh-SHENK owss.

I choose a gift.

aussuchen is separable: in a main clause, the prefix aus moves to the end.

Trotzdem + Verb + Subjekt

Trotzdem passt das Teeset.

TROHTS-dem PAHST dahs TAY-zet.

Nevertheless, the tea set works.

When trotzdem starts the sentence, the finite verb comes directly after it.

German Vocabulary

aussuchen verb

OWS-zoo-khoo-zen choose; select

eher adv

AY-er rather; more

Geschenk noun

geh-SHENK gift

Kollegin noun

koh-LEH-geen female coworker

legen verb

LAY-gen put; add Legen

nützlich adj

NOOTZ-likh useful

passen verb

PAHSS-en fit; work; be suitable

persönlich adj

per-ZURN-likh personal

Tee noun

TAY tea

Teeset noun

TAY-zet tea set

trotzdem adv

TROHTS-dem nevertheless; still

wirken verb

VEER-ken seem; feel wirkt

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

choose; select

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aussuchen

fit; work; be suitable

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passen

rather; more

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eher

tea set

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Teeset