Deciding Which Task to Do First | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Deciding Which Task to Do First to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich habe heute Morgen zu viele Aufgaben.

ikh HAH-buh HOY-tuh MOR-gun tsoo FEE-luh OWF-gah-bun. I have too many tasks this morning.

Ordne sie zuerst nach Priorität.

ORD-nuh zee TSOO-airst nahkh pree-oh-ree-TEHT. List them by priority first.

Diese E-Mail ist dringend.

DEE-zuh AY-mail ist DRING-unt. This email is urgent.

Der Bericht ist wichtig.

dair buh-RIKHT ist VIKH-tikh. The report is important.

Wann ist die Frist für den Bericht?

vahn ist dee FRIST fyoor dane buh-RIKHT? When is the report deadline?

Er muss morgen Nachmittag fertig sein.

air moos MOR-gun NAKH-mit-tahk FAIR-tikh zine. It is due tomorrow afternoon.

Dann beantworte zuerst die dringende E-Mail.

dahn buh-ANT-vor-tuh TSOO-airst dee DRING-un-duh AY-mail. Then answer the urgent email first.

Danach arbeite ich am Bericht.

dah-NAHKH AR-bye-tuh ikh am buh-RIKHT. After that I will work on the report.

Das sollte dir helfen, dich weniger gestresst zu fühlen.

dahs SHOL-tuh deer HEL-fun, dikh VAY-nee-guh guh-SHTREST tsoo FYOO-lun. That should help you feel less stressed.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” and is the speaker referring to themself in “Ich habe heute Morgen zu viele Aufgaben.” It is used as the subject before the verb. A new example is “Ich arbeite heute.”

habe “habe” means “have” in “Ich habe heute Morgen zu viele Aufgaben.” The citation form is haben; “habe” is the form used with “Ich”. A new example is “Ich habe eine Frage.”

heute “heute” means “today” in “Ich habe heute Morgen zu viele Aufgaben.” It identifies the day when the tasks occur and commonly comes before a time expression such as “heute Morgen”. A new example is “Heute arbeite ich zu Hause.”

Morgen “Morgen” means “morning” in “heute Morgen”. The capital letter shows the noun meaning “morning”; the lowercase form “morgen” in “morgen Nachmittag” means “tomorrow”. A new example is “Am Morgen lese ich meine E-Mails.”

zu “zu” means “too” in “zu viele Aufgaben”, showing that the number of tasks is excessive. Here it is part of the quantity pattern “zu viele” and is not an infinitive marker. A new example is “Das ist zu teuer.”

viele “viele” means “many” in “zu viele Aufgaben”, referring to a large number of tasks. It comes before the plural noun “Aufgaben”. A new example is “Ich habe viele Fragen.”

Aufgaben “Aufgaben” means “tasks” in “zu viele Aufgaben”. The citation form is Aufgabe; “Aufgaben” is the plural form used for several tasks. A new example is “Ich erledige meine Aufgaben.”

Ordne “Ordne” tells one person to arrange or list something in “Ordne sie zuerst nach Priorität.” The citation form is ordnen, and “Ordne” is the direct-command form used here. A new example is “Ordne die Dateien nach Datum.”

sie “sie” means “them” in “Ordne sie zuerst nach Priorität”, referring back to the tasks. It is placed after the command verb as its object. A new example is “Ich sehe sie.”

zuerst “zuerst” means “first” in “Ordne sie zuerst nach Priorität.” It marks the first step in the suggested order of work. A new example is “Lies zuerst die E-Mail.”

nach “nach” means “according to” in “nach Priorität”, explaining the basis for arranging the tasks. The reusable pattern is “etwas nach Priorität ordnen”. A new example is “Wir sortieren die Aufgaben nach Datum.”

Priorität “Priorität” means “priority” in “nach Priorität.” It names the criterion used to decide which task comes first. A new example is “Diese Aufgabe hat hohe Priorität.”

Diese “Diese” means “this” in “Diese E-Mail ist dringend”, pointing to one specific email. It appears directly before the feminine noun “E-Mail”. A new example is “Diese Aufgabe ist wichtig.”

E-Mail “E-Mail” means “email” in “Diese E-Mail ist dringend” and “die dringende E-Mail.” It is the work message that needs an early answer. A new example is “Ich schreibe eine E-Mail.”

ist “ist” means “is” in “Diese E-Mail ist dringend” and “Der Bericht ist wichtig.” The citation form is sein; “ist” is the form used with a singular subject. A new example is “Der Termin ist morgen.”

dringend “dringend” means “urgent” in “Diese E-Mail ist dringend”, so the email needs attention soon. After “ist”, it describes the email without an ending. A new example is “Die Antwort ist dringend.”

Der “Der” means “the” in “Der Bericht ist wichtig”, identifying a specific report. It stands before the masculine noun “Bericht” in this sentence. A new example is “Der Termin ist wichtig.”

Bericht “Bericht” means “report” in “Der Bericht ist wichtig” and “am Bericht.” It is the document that must be finished by tomorrow afternoon. A new example is “Ich lese den Bericht.”

wichtig “wichtig” means “important” in “Der Bericht ist wichtig.” It expresses the report’s importance, while the email is described as urgent. A new example is “Diese Aufgabe ist wichtig.”

Wann “Wann” means “when” in “Wann ist die Frist für den Bericht?” It asks for the time or date of the report deadline. A new example is “Wann beginnt die Besprechung?”

Frist “Frist” means “deadline” in “die Frist für den Bericht”, the required latest time for the report. The reusable pattern is “die Frist für” plus the relevant task or document. A new example is “Die Frist für die Aufgabe ist morgen.”

für “für” means “for” in “die Frist für den Bericht”, linking the deadline to the report. The pattern is “die Frist für etwas”. A new example is “Das ist wichtig für den Bericht.”

den “den” means “the” in “den Bericht” after “für”. It identifies the specific report connected to the deadline. A new example is “Ich lese den Bericht.”

Er “Er” refers to the report in “Er muss morgen Nachmittag fertig sein.” It is used because “Bericht” is masculine in German. A new example is “Er ist fast fertig.”

muss “muss” expresses a requirement in “Er muss morgen Nachmittag fertig sein”: the report has to be finished by then. The citation form is müssen; “muss” is the form used with “Er”. A new example is “Der Bericht muss heute fertig sein.”

Nachmittag “Nachmittag” means “afternoon” in “morgen Nachmittag.” It specifies the part of tomorrow by which the report must be finished. A new example is “Am Nachmittag habe ich Zeit.”

fertig “fertig” means “finished” or “ready” in “fertig sein”, describing the required state of the report. The reusable pattern is “etwas muss fertig sein”. A new example is “Die Aufgabe ist fertig.”

sein “sein” means “be” in “fertig sein”, completing the state that the report must reach. It is the citation form and infinitive used after “muss”. A new example is “Der Bericht soll fertig sein.”

Dann “Dann” means “then” in “Dann beantworte zuerst die dringende E-Mail.” It connects the deadline information to the next recommended action. A new example is “Dann arbeite ich am Bericht.”

beantworte “beantworte” means “answer” in the command “beantworte zuerst die dringende E-Mail.” The citation form is beantworten, and “beantworte” is the direct-command form used with one person. A new example is “Beantworte bitte die Frage.”

die “die” means “the” in “die dringende E-Mail”, identifying the specific urgent email. It comes before the feminine noun phrase “dringende E-Mail”. A new example is “Ich lese die E-Mail.”

dringende “dringende” means “urgent” in “die dringende E-Mail.” The ending appears because the adjective stands before the feminine noun with “die”. A new example is “Ich beantworte die dringende Frage.”

Danach “Danach” means “after that” in “Danach arbeite ich am Bericht.” It shows that working on the report happens after answering the urgent email. A new example is “Danach mache ich eine Pause.”

arbeite “arbeite” means “work” in “arbeite ich am Bericht.” The citation form is arbeiten; “arbeite” is the form used with “ich”. The reusable pattern is “an etwas arbeiten”. A new example is “Ich arbeite an einer Aufgabe.”

am “am” means “on the” in “am Bericht”, as in working on the report. It is the contracted form of “an dem” and commonly appears with “arbeiten”. A new example is “Ich arbeite am Computer.”

Das “Das” means “that” in “Das sollte dir helfen”, referring to the plan just described. It introduces the thing expected to help the other person feel less stressed. A new example is “Das ist eine gute Idee.”

sollte “sollte” expresses an expectation or suggestion in “Das sollte dir helfen”, meaning that the plan is expected to help. The citation form is sollen; “sollte” is the form used here for a cautious “should”. A new example is “Das sollte funktionieren.”

dir “dir” means “to you” in “Das sollte dir helfen.” It identifies the person who is expected to receive the help. The verb “helfen” commonly appears with this kind of recipient. A new example is “Ich helfe dir.”

helfen “helfen” means “help” in “dir helfen, dich weniger gestresst zu fühlen.” It describes the expected effect of the plan on the other person. A reusable pattern is “jemandem helfen, etwas zu tun”. A new example is “Das kann dir helfen, besser zu arbeiten.”

dich “dich” means “yourself” in “dich weniger gestresst zu fühlen”, referring back to the person being helped. It is used with “fühlen” when describing how someone feels. A new example is “Du kannst dich ausruhen.”

weniger “weniger” means “less” in “weniger gestresst”, describing a lower level of stress. It comes before the adjective “gestresst” to show the intended change. A new example is “Ich möchte weniger müde sein.”

gestresst “gestresst” means “stressed” in “dich weniger gestresst zu fühlen.” It describes the person’s emotional state after the tasks are put in order. A new example is “Heute fühle ich mich gestresst.”

fühlen “fühlen” means “feel” in “dich weniger gestresst zu fühlen.” It is the infinitive in the pattern “sich ... fühlen”, used here to describe an expected emotional state. A new example is “Ich möchte mich besser fühlen.”

Grammar Points

Imperativ: Ordne ..., beantworte ..., arbeite ...

Ordne zuerst.

ORD-nuh TSOO-airst.

List first.

The imperative gives a direct instruction. For many verbs, use the verb stem without a subject pronoun.

für + Zeitangabe

Frist für morgen Nachmittag

FRIST fyoor MOR-gun NAKH-mit-tahk

deadline for tomorrow afternoon

für can introduce the time or purpose connected to a noun, such as a deadline.

German Vocabulary

Aufgabe noun

OWF-gah-buh task Aufgaben

zu viele Aufgaben

Bericht noun

buh-RIKHT report

dringend adj

DRING-unt urgent

E-Mail noun

AY-mail email

Frist noun

frist deadline

für prep

fyoor for

heute Morgen phrase

HOY-tuh MOR-gun this morning

morgen Nachmittag phrase

MOR-gun NAKH-mit-tahk tomorrow afternoon

ordnen verb

ORD-nun to list; to arrange Ordne

Priorität noun

pree-oh-ree-TEHT priority

wichtig adj

VIKH-tikh important

zuerst adv

TSOO-airst first

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

List them by priority first.

Show Answer

Ordne sie zuerst nach Priorität.

This email is urgent.

Show Answer

Diese E-Mail ist dringend.

The report is important.

Show Answer

Der Bericht ist wichtig.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

first

Show Answer

zuerst

report

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Bericht

task

Show Answer

Aufgaben

to list; to arrange

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Ordne