Fixing a ride-share pickup mix-up | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: Outside a station, two adults fix a ride-share pickup mix-up by correcting the entrance, messaging the driver, and waiting near the taxi stand..

EN → DE / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Fixing a ride-share pickup mix-up to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Der Fahrer meiner Mitfahrgelegenheit findet den Abholort nicht.

dehr FAH-rer MY-ner MIT-fahr-guh-LAY-guhn-hite FIN-det dehn AHP-hohl-ort nikht. My ride-share driver can't find the pickup point.
B

Prüfe, ob dein Standort-Pin auf derselben Seite des Bahnhofs ist.

PRUE-fuh, ohp dine SHTAHNT-ort pin owf DAYR-zay-buhn ZY-tuh dess BAHN-hohfs ist. Check whether your location pin is on the same side of the station.
A

Der Pin zeigt den Hintereingang, aber ich bin am Haupteingang.

dehr pin tsaykt dehn HIN-ter-ine-gahng, AH-ber ikh bin am HOWPT-ine-gahng. The pin shows the back entrance, but I'm at the main entrance.
B

Schreib dem Fahrer jetzt, bevor die Fahrt storniert wird.

SHRYPE daym FAH-rer yetst, beh-FOHR dee FAHRT shtor-NEERT veert. Message the driver now before the ride gets cancelled.
A

Ich sage, dass ich neben dem Taxistand stehe.

ikh ZAH-guh, dahs ikh NAY-buhn daym TAK-see-shtahnt SHTAY-uh. I'll say I'm beside the taxi stand.
B

Nenne auch die Farbe deiner Jacke, damit der Fahrer dich erkennen kann.

NEN-uh owkh dee FAR-buh DYE-ner YAH-kuh, dah-MIT dehr FAH-rer dikh er-KEN-en kahn. Mention your jacket color too, so the driver can spot you.
A

Was soll ich tun, wenn das Auto wegfährt, bevor es mich findet?

vahs zohl ikh toon, venn dahs OW-toh VAYK-fairt, beh-FOHR ess mikh FIN-det? What should I do if the car leaves before finding me?
B

Erkläre die Verwechslung in der App und fordere eine neue Fahrt an.

er-KLAIR-uh dee fer-VEX-loong oont dehr AP, oont FOR-der-uh EYE-nuh NOY-uh FAHRT ahn. Use the app to explain the mix-up and request another ride.
A

Der Fahrer hat geantwortet und wird bald umkehren.

dehr FAH-rer hat geh-ANT-vor-tet oont veert bahlt oom-KAIR-en. The driver replied and will turn around soon.
B

Bleib in der Nähe des Taxistands, bis das Auto ankommt.

blype in dehr NAY-uh days TAK-see-shtahnts, biss dahs OW-toh AHN-kommt. Stay near the taxi stand until the car arrives.

Word by Word

Der “Der” means “the” here and introduces “Fahrer” at the beginning of the sentence. It is used directly before the person being discussed.
Fahrer “Fahrer” means driver here, specifically the driver assigned to the ride-share. It can be used for a person who drives a car or another vehicle.
meiner “meiner” means my in “meiner Mitfahrgelegenheit,” identifying whose ride-share it is. It comes directly before the noun it describes.
Mitfahrgelegenheit “Mitfahrgelegenheit” means ride-share or shared ride here. It names the arranged ride connected with the driver, as in “der Fahrer meiner Mitfahrgelegenheit.”
findet “findet” means finds here, describing the driver’s unsuccessful attempt to locate the pickup point. The pattern “findet den Abholort nicht” is useful for saying that someone cannot find a specific place.
den “den” means the here and introduces the specific place being sought in “den Abholort.” It appears directly before the object of “findet.”
Abholort “Abholort” means pickup location or pickup point here. It identifies the place where the driver is supposed to collect the passenger.
nicht “nicht” makes the statement negative: the driver does not find the pickup point. It comes after “findet” and the object in “findet den Abholort nicht.”
Prüfe “Prüfe” means check here and gives a direct instruction to examine the location pin. It is used at the beginning of the instruction before the clause introduced by “ob.”
ob “ob” introduces an indirect yes-or-no question, meaning whether here. In “ob dein Standort-Pin ... ist,” it introduces the thing that should be checked.
dein “dein” means your here and identifies the location pin as belonging to the person being addressed. It comes directly before “Standort-Pin.”
Standort-Pin “Standort-Pin” means location pin here, referring to the map marker that shows a position. It is the subject of the clause describing where the pin is.
auf “auf” means on here in the location expression “auf derselben Seite.” It combines with “Seite” to describe the side on which the pin is located.
derselben “derselben” means the same here and specifies that the location pin is on the station’s matching side. It appears directly before “Seite” in “auf derselben Seite.”
Seite “Seite” means side here, referring to one side of the station. The reusable expression “auf derselben Seite” describes being on the same side.
des “des” means the here in “des Bahnhofs.” It introduces the station as the noun that specifies which side is meant.
Bahnhofs “Bahnhofs” means station here, specifically the station whose side is being compared. It follows “des” in “die Seite des Bahnhofs.”
ist “ist” means is here and states the location of the pin. It links “dein Standort-Pin” with “auf derselben Seite des Bahnhofs.”
Pin “Pin” means pin here and refers to the map marker mentioned in the explanation of the entrance problem. It is the subject of “zeigt” in “Der Pin zeigt den Hintereingang.”
zeigt “zeigt” means shows here, describing what the map pin indicates. It can be used with an object to say what a map, sign, or display shows.
Hintereingang “Hintereingang” means back entrance here, the entrance indicated by the pin. It is the object of “zeigt” in “Der Pin zeigt den Hintereingang.”
aber “aber” means but here and contrasts the back entrance shown by the pin with the speaker’s actual position. It connects the two contrasting statements in the sentence.
ich “ich” means I here and identifies the speaker as the person at the entrance. It is the subject in “ich bin am Haupteingang.”
bin “bin” means am here and states where the speaker is located. It is used with a place expression such as “am Haupteingang.”
am “am” means at the here in “am Haupteingang.” It is used directly before the named place where the speaker is waiting.
Haupteingang “Haupteingang” means main entrance here, the entrance where the speaker is actually standing. It follows “am” in the location expression “am Haupteingang.”
Schreib “Schreib” means write or message here and gives a direct instruction to contact the driver. It is followed by “dem Fahrer” to identify the person receiving the message.
dem “dem” means to the here in “dem Fahrer,” identifying the recipient of the message. It comes directly before the person being contacted.
jetzt “jetzt” means now here and emphasizes that the driver should be contacted immediately. It appears between the instruction and the time-related clause.
bevor “bevor” means before here and introduces the event that should be prevented from happening first. In this sentence, it introduces “bevor die Fahrt storniert wird.”
die “die” means the here and introduces “Fahrt,” the ride that may be cancelled. It appears directly before that noun in the subordinate clause.
Fahrt “Fahrt” means ride here, referring to the current ride-share trip. It is the subject of the clause about cancellation.
storniert “storniert” means cancelled here and describes what may happen to the ride. Together with “wird,” it forms the statement that the ride gets cancelled.
wird “wird” helps form the passive statement “storniert wird,” meaning that the ride gets cancelled. In this subordinate clause, it comes after “storniert.”
sage “sage” means say here and introduces what the speaker plans to tell the driver. It is followed by “dass” and the information to be communicated.
dass “dass” means that here and introduces the content of what the speaker will say. In “sage, dass ich ...,” it connects the speaking verb with the message.
neben “neben” means beside or next to here and gives the speaker’s position relative to the taxi stand. It comes directly before “dem Taxistand.”
Taxistand “Taxistand” means taxi stand here, the place beside which the speaker is standing. It follows “neben” in the location expression.
stehe “stehe” means am standing here and describes the speaker’s position beside the taxi stand. It follows “ich” in the clause “dass ich neben dem Taxistand stehe.”
Nenne “Nenne” means mention or name here and gives an instruction to provide the jacket’s color. It is followed by the information that should be given.
auch “auch” means also or too here and adds the jacket color to the information already being sent. It appears before “die Farbe deiner Jacke.”
Farbe “Farbe” means color here, specifically the color of the passenger’s jacket. It is followed by “deiner Jacke,” which identifies whose color is meant.
deiner “deiner” means your here and identifies the jacket as belonging to the person being addressed. It comes directly before “Jacke.”
Jacke “Jacke” means jacket here, whose color can help the driver identify the passenger. The phrase “die Farbe deiner Jacke” names this identifying detail.
damit “damit” means so that here and introduces the purpose of mentioning the jacket color. It connects that information with the driver’s ability to recognize the passenger.
dich “dich” means you here and refers to the passenger whom the driver should recognize. It is the person affected by “erkennen kann.”
erkennen “erkennen” means recognize or identify here, describing how the driver will spot the passenger. It follows “kann” in the purpose clause “damit der Fahrer dich erkennen kann.”
kann “kann” means can here and expresses the driver’s ability to recognize the passenger. It comes after the infinitive “erkennen” in the subordinate clause.
Was “Was” means what here and asks for the action the speaker should take. It begins the question “Was soll ich tun?”
soll “soll” means should here and asks what action is appropriate in the possible situation. It is used with the infinitive “tun” in “Was soll ich tun?”
tun “tun” means do here and completes the question about the appropriate action. The reusable pattern “Was soll ich tun?” asks what someone should do.
wenn “wenn” means if here and introduces a possible situation involving the car leaving. It connects that condition with the question about what action to take.
das “das” means the here and introduces “Auto,” the car that might leave. It appears directly before the noun in the conditional clause.
Auto “Auto” means car here, referring to the ride-share vehicle. It is the subject of “wegfährt” and later the thing that should arrive.
wegfährt “wegfährt” means leaves or drives away here, describing the car departing before it finds the passenger. It is used after “wenn” to state the possible condition.
es “es” means it here and refers back to the car in the phrase “bevor es mich findet.” It is the subject of the clause describing what the car has not yet done.
mich “mich” means me here and refers to the passenger whom the car is supposed to find. It appears directly before the verb “findet” in the subordinate clause.
Erkläre “Erkläre” means explain here and gives a direct instruction to describe the pickup problem. It is followed by “die Verwechslung” as the thing to explain.
Verwechslung “Verwechslung” means mix-up or confusion here, referring to the mismatch between the pin and the actual entrance. It is the object of “Erkläre” in “Erkläre die Verwechslung.”
in “in” means in here and identifies the app as the place or channel where the explanation should be made. It comes directly before “der App.”
App “App” means app here, specifically the ride-share application used to explain the problem and request another ride. It follows “in” in the expression “in der App.”
und “und” means and here and connects the two instructions: explain the mix-up and request another ride. It joins the verbs “Erkläre” and “fordere ... an.”
fordere “fordere” means request here and tells the listener to ask for another ride. It works together with the separated particle “an” in “fordere eine neue Fahrt an.”
eine “eine” means a here and introduces the new ride being requested. It appears directly before “neue Fahrt.”
neue “neue” means new here and describes the replacement ride being requested. It comes directly before “Fahrt.”
an “an” completes the separable expression “fordere ... an,” meaning request here. In this sentence, “fordere” appears before the object and “an” comes at the end.
hat “hat” means has here and helps form the completed statement “hat geantwortet,” meaning has replied. It comes before “geantwortet” in this past-time expression.
geantwortet “geantwortet” means replied here and reports that the driver sent a response. Together with “hat,” it describes a completed reply.
bald “bald” means soon here and indicates that the driver will turn around in a short time. It appears between “wird” and “umkehren.”
umkehren “umkehren” means turn around here and describes the driver changing direction to return. It follows “wird” as the action that will happen soon.
Bleib “Bleib” means stay here and gives a direct instruction not to leave the waiting area. It is followed by the location expression “in der Nähe des Taxistands.”
Nähe “Nähe” means vicinity or nearby area here and identifies the area around the taxi stand. The reusable expression “in der Nähe” means nearby.
Taxistands “Taxistands” means taxi stand here and identifies the place near which the passenger should remain. It appears after “des” in “in der Nähe des Taxistands.”
bis “bis” means until here and introduces the event that marks how long the passenger should stay. It is followed by the clause “bis das Auto ankommt.”
ankommt “ankommt” means arrives here and describes the car reaching the waiting place. The pattern “bis das Auto ankommt” states the event that ends the waiting period.

Grammar Points

bevor + Nebensatz: Das konjugierte Verb steht am Ende.

Schreib, bevor der Fahrer wegfährt.

SHRYPE, beh-FOHR dehr FAH-rer VAYK-fairt.

Write before the driver leaves.

In a clause introduced by bevor, the conjugated verb moves to the end.

Imperativ: Verbstamm ohne Pronomen für eine direkte Aufforderung.

Prüfe den Standort-Pin.

PRUE-fuh dehn SHTAHNT-ort pin.

Check the location pin.

German commands often use the verb form without a subject pronoun.

German Vocabulary

Abholort noun
AHP-hohl-ort pickup point

Der Fahrer meiner Mitfahrgelegenheit findet den Abholort nicht.

Bahnhofs noun
BAHN-hohfs station

Auf derselben Seite des Bahnhofs.

bevor conj
beh-FOHR before

Bevor die Fahrt storniert wird.

Fahrer noun
FAH-rer driver

Der Fahrer meiner Mitfahrgelegenheit findet den Abholort nicht.

Fahrt noun
FAHRT ride; journey

Bevor die Fahrt storniert wird.

Haupteingang noun
HOWPT-ine-gahng main entrance

Ich bin am Haupteingang.

Hintereingang noun
HIN-ter-ine-gahng back entrance

Der Pin zeigt den Hintereingang.

Mitfahrgelegenheit noun
MIT-fahr-guh-LAY-guhn-hite ride share

Der Fahrer meiner Mitfahrgelegenheit findet den Abholort nicht.

Prüfe verb
PRUE-fuh check

Prüfe, ob dein Standort-Pin auf derselben Seite des Bahnhofs ist.

Schreib verb
SHRYPE write; message

Schreib dem Fahrer jetzt.

Seite noun
ZY-tuh side

Auf derselben Seite des Bahnhofs.

Standort-Pin noun
SHTAHNT-ort pin location pin

Dein Standort-Pin ist auf derselben Seite des Bahnhofs.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

main entrance

Show AnswerHaupteingang

driver

Show AnswerFahrer

pickup point

Show AnswerAbholort

station

Show AnswerBahnhofs