Renegotiating a Deadline with Clear Priorities | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: At work, two colleagues plan how to request a short extension after a project scope expands..

EN → DE / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Renegotiating a Deadline with Clear Priorities to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Die Frist ist morgen, aber der Umfang des Projekts hat sich heute Morgen erweitert.

dee frihst ist MOR-ghen, AH-ber dair OOM-fahng dess proh-YEKTS hat zikh HOY-tuh MOR-ghen air-VY-tert. The deadline is tomorrow, but the project scope expanded this morning.
B

Welchen Teil braucht der Kunde zuerst?

VEL-khen tile browkht dair KOON-duh tsoo-AIRST? Which part does the client need first?
A

Der Kunde braucht zuerst die Zusammenfassung, aber die detaillierten Diagramme können warten.

Dair KOON-duh browkht tsoo-AIRST dee tsoo-ZAH-men-fahs-soong, AH-ber dee day-TIE-lee-air-ten dee-ah-GRAH-muh KUR-nen VAR-ten. They need the summary first, but the detailed charts can wait.
B

Dann bitte um eine kurze Verlängerung für die Abschnitte mit niedrigerer Priorität.

Dahn BIT-tuh oom EYE-nuh KOR-tsuh fair-LENG-er-oong fyoor dee AP-shnit-tuh mit NEE-dree-ger-er pree-oh-ree-TAIT. Then ask for a short extension on the lower-priority sections.
A

Ich möchte nicht, dass es so klingt, als hätte ich meine Zeit nicht gut eingeteilt.

Ikh MUR-hy-tuh nikht, dahss ess zoh klinkt, ahls HET-tuh ikh MY-nuh tsite nikht goot EYE-n-guh-TILED. I don't want it to sound like I failed to manage my time.
B

Stell es so dar, dass es um die Qualität und die neuen Informationen geht, die du bekommen hast.

Shtell ess zoh dahr, dahss ess oom dee kva-lee-TAIT oont dee NOY-en in-for-mah-TSYOH-nen gayt, dee doo buh-KOM-men hahst. Frame it around quality and the new information you received.
A

Ich kann sagen, dass ich die Zusammenfassung morgen und die Diagramme am darauffolgenden Tag liefere.

Ikh kahn ZAH-gen, dahss ikh dee tsoo-ZAH-men-fahs-soong MOR-ghen oont dee dee-ah-GRAH-muh ahm dah-OWF-fol-gen-den tahk LEE-fer-uh. I can say I'll deliver the summary tomorrow and the charts the following day.
B

Das gibt dem Kunden einen realistischen Zeitplan und eine klare Wahl.

Dahss geept daym KOON-den EYE-nen ray-ah-LIS-tish-en TSITE-plahn oont EYE-nuh KLAH-ruh vahl. That gives them a realistic timeline and a clear choice.
A

Ich schicke die Nachricht bald, damit der Kunde Zeit zum Antworten hat.

Ikh SHIK-uh dee NAHKH-rikht bahlt, dah-MIT dair KOON-duh tsite tsoom AHNT-vor-ten hahst. I'll send the message soon so they have time to respond.
B

So ist die Änderung des Zeitplans bis morgen klar.

Zoh ist dee END-er-oong dess TSITE-plahns biss MOR-ghen klahr. That way, the schedule change is clear before tomorrow.

Word by Word

Die Die is the definite article meaning “the” in Die Frist. It introduces the deadline being discussed; the same article form also appears before plural nouns such as die detaillierten Diagramme.
Frist Frist means “deadline” in Die Frist. Here it is the time limit for the project, and it is used with the definite article in Die Frist ist morgen. This word is useful when discussing a due date at work.
ist ist means “is” and links Die Frist with morgen in Die Frist ist morgen. It states the deadline’s timing. The same form is used in simple statements about what something is or when it is.
morgen morgen means “tomorrow” in Die Frist ist morgen and in die Zusammenfassung morgen. It places the deadline or delivery in the next day. In the dialogue, Morgen with a capital letter in heute Morgen means “morning,” so capitalization distinguishes the two meanings.
aber aber means “but” and introduces a contrast between the deadline and the expanded project scope. In Die Frist ist morgen, aber der Umfang des Projekts ... the second clause adds an important problem. It commonly connects two contrasting statements.
der der is the definite article meaning “the” before Kunde in Der Kunde braucht zuerst ... . It marks the client as the person who needs something. The capital letter here is required because it begins the sentence.
Umfang Umfang means “scope” in der Umfang des Projekts. It refers to how much the project includes. The phrase der Umfang des Projekts is useful when explaining that the amount of work has changed.
des des means “of the” in des Projekts. It links the project to its scope: der Umfang des Projekts means “the scope of the project.” This form is used before a masculine or neuter noun in this type of possessive relationship.
Projekts Projekts means “of the project” in der Umfang des Projekts. The ending shows that Projekt identifies what the scope belongs to. This exact form is useful in expressions describing part or scope of a project.
hat hat means “has” in hat sich heute Morgen erweitert. Together with erweitert, it describes the scope as having expanded. In the dialogue, it forms the completed change that happened this morning.
sich sich is the reflexive pronoun in hat sich ... erweitert. It shows that the project scope itself underwent the expansion. The complete pattern hat sich ... erweitert describes something changing or becoming larger.
heute heute means “today” in heute Morgen. Together, heute Morgen means “this morning,” identifying when the project scope expanded. It is useful for anchoring a recent event in time.
erweitert erweitert means “expanded” in hat sich heute Morgen erweitert. With hat and sich, it describes the project scope becoming larger. This form is useful when reporting that the amount or range of work has increased.
Welchen Welchen means “which” in Welchen Teil braucht der Kunde zuerst? It asks the listener to select one part from several possibilities. It comes directly before the masculine noun Teil in this question.
Teil Teil means “part” in Welchen Teil. It refers to one section or component of the client’s requested work. Welchen Teil braucht der Kunde zuerst? is a useful question pattern when deciding which part should be handled first.
braucht braucht means “needs” in Welchen Teil braucht der Kunde zuerst? It asks what the client requires first. The form appears after the question object and before der Kunde in this question.
Kunde Kunde means “client” in der Kunde. Here it is the person receiving the work and needing the summary first. The word is useful for discussing requests, priorities, and delivery with a client.
zuerst zuerst means “first” in Welchen Teil braucht der Kunde zuerst? and Der Kunde braucht zuerst die Zusammenfassung. It identifies the highest immediate priority. It is useful when arranging tasks or deliveries in order.
Zusammenfassung Zusammenfassung means “summary” in die Zusammenfassung. It is the shorter overview that the client should receive first. The phrase die Zusammenfassung liefern is useful when talking about delivering a summary.
detaillierten detaillierten means “detailed” in die detaillierten Diagramme. It describes the charts as containing more detail than the summary. In the dialogue, it helps distinguish lower-priority material that can wait.
Diagramme Diagramme means “charts” in die detaillierten Diagramme. These are the detailed visual materials that can wait until after the summary. The phrase die Diagramme können warten shows how to refer to work that is not immediately urgent.
können können means “can” in die detaillierten Diagramme können warten. It expresses that waiting is possible or acceptable for the charts. The modal verb is followed by the infinitive warten.
warten warten means “wait” in die Diagramme können warten. It says that the charts do not need to be delivered immediately. After können, warten appears as the action that is possible.
Dann Dann means “then” in Dann bitte um eine kurze Verlängerung. It presents the request for an extension as the next step after identifying the priorities. It is useful for linking a conclusion to a proposed action.
bitte bitte means “ask” in bitte um eine kurze Verlängerung. Here it is the command form of asking for something, not merely a politeness word. The reusable construction is bitte um ... when requesting an extension or another specific thing.
um um has two relevant functions in the dialogue. In bitte um eine kurze Verlängerung, it belongs to the expression for asking for something; in dass es um die Qualität ... geht, it means “about” or “concerning.” The surrounding construction determines which meaning applies.
eine eine means “a” in eine kurze Verlängerung. It introduces one requested extension without identifying a specific extension already known. It appears before the adjective and noun in the phrase eine kurze Verlängerung.
kurze kurze means “short” in eine kurze Verlängerung. It limits the requested extension to a small amount of additional time. Here it directly describes Verlängerung.
Verlängerung Verlängerung means “extension” in eine kurze Verlängerung. It refers to extra time requested for the lower-priority sections. This word is useful when asking to move a deadline slightly later.
für für means “for” in eine kurze Verlängerung für die Abschnitte. It identifies which sections the extension applies to. The phrase für die Abschnitte is useful when limiting a request to particular parts of a project.
Abschnitte Abschnitte means “sections” in die Abschnitte mit niedrigerer Priorität. It refers to separate parts of the project’s content or work. The phrase identifies exactly which parts can receive the extension.
mit mit means “with” in Abschnitte mit niedrigerer Priorität. It connects the sections with their characteristic of having lower priority. This pattern is useful for describing items by an associated feature.
niedrigerer niedrigerer means “lower” in mit niedrigerer Priorität. It compares the priority of these sections with the priority of the material needed first. The phrase mit niedrigerer Priorität is useful for identifying less urgent work.
Priorität Priorität means “priority” in niedrigerer Priorität. It describes how urgently a section should be handled. The phrase mit niedrigerer Priorität is useful when deciding what can be postponed.
Ich Ich means “I” in Ich möchte nicht ... and Ich kann sagen ... . It identifies the speaker as the person who is concerned about the wording and will make the delivery proposal. It is the normal subject form for the speaker.
möchte möchte means “would like” or “want” in Ich möchte nicht, dass es so klingt. It expresses the speaker’s wish about how the message should be perceived. The form is useful for stating a preference or concern in a relatively soft way.
nicht nicht means “not” in Ich möchte nicht ... . It negates the speaker’s wish: the speaker does not want the message to create a certain impression. It appears before the dass-clause that explains what should not happen.
dass dass means “that” in nicht, dass es so klingt. It introduces the clause explaining what the speaker does not want. In this subordinate clause, the conjugated verb klingt appears at the end.
es es means “it” in dass es so klingt. It functions as the subject in the expression about how something sounds, without naming the message again. The complete phrase es klingt, als ... describes the impression created by a statement.
so so means “in this way” in es so klingt and “that way” in So ist die Änderung des Zeitplans ... . It refers to the way the message or situation is presented. In the dialogue, it helps describe an impression and later the result of communicating clearly.
klingt klingt means “sounds” in es so klingt, als hätte ich meine Zeit ... . It describes how the proposed message might be perceived. The pattern es klingt, als ... is useful when saying that something gives a particular impression.
als als means “as if” in als hätte ich meine Zeit nicht gut eingeteilt. It introduces the impression the speaker wants to avoid creating. Together with hätte, it presents the situation as hypothetical or only apparently true.
hätte hätte means “had” in als hätte ich meine Zeit nicht gut eingeteilt. It marks the hypothetical situation in the as-if clause: the message should not sound as though the speaker had managed time badly. The exact pattern als hätte ich ... describes an unwanted impression.
meine meine means “my” in meine Zeit. It shows that the time being discussed belongs to the speaker. The phrase meine Zeit einteilen is used when talking about organizing one’s available time.
Zeit Zeit means “time” in meine Zeit nicht gut eingeteilt. Here it is the time the speaker had available for planning or working. The phrase meine Zeit einteilen is useful when discussing time management.
gut gut means “well” in meine Zeit nicht gut eingeteilt. It describes the quality of how the speaker allocated time. The phrase nicht gut eingeteilt means that the time was not organized effectively.
eingeteilt eingeteilt means “allocated” or “managed” in meine Zeit nicht gut eingeteilt. It describes organizing available time among tasks. In als hätte ich meine Zeit nicht gut eingeteilt, it appears with hätte to describe a hypothetical impression.
Stell Stell is the command form in Stell es so dar. It tells the listener to present or frame the matter in a particular way. The complete expression is useful when advising someone how to explain a situation.
dar dar completes the separable expression Stell es so dar, meaning “present or frame it this way.” It works together with Stell rather than carrying the whole meaning alone. The expression is useful when recommending a particular way to present information.
Qualität Qualität means “quality” in um die Qualität ... geht. It is one of the reasons the message should focus on the work rather than on poor time management. The construction es geht um die Qualität means that the topic or concern is quality.
und und means “and” in die Qualität und die neuen Informationen. It joins the two points around which the message should be framed. It is used here to combine two related reasons.
neuen neuen means “new” in die neuen Informationen. It describes the information that the speaker received and that changed the situation. The phrase die neuen Informationen is useful when explaining why a plan needs to be reconsidered.
Informationen Informationen means “information” in die neuen Informationen, die du bekommen hast. It refers to new facts received by the speaker. This phrase is useful when explaining that a change in circumstances affected the work plan.
geht geht means “is about” in dass es um die Qualität und die neuen Informationen geht. Here it does not describe physical movement; it identifies the subject or focus of the matter. In the subordinate clause, geht appears at the end.
du du means “you” in die ... Informationen, die du bekommen hast. It identifies the person who received the new information. In this dialogue, the speaker addresses a colleague directly.
bekommen bekommen means “received” in die neuen Informationen, die du bekommen hast. It describes the colleague receiving the information. Together with hast, it forms the expression for having received something.
hast hast means “have” in die du bekommen hast. It works with bekommen to describe the information that the colleague received. In the relative clause, hast appears at the end after bekommen.
kann kann means “can” in Ich kann sagen. It expresses that the speaker is able or prepared to make the proposed statement. The modal verb is followed by the infinitive sagen.
sagen sagen means “say” in Ich kann sagen, dass ich die Zusammenfassung morgen ... liefere. It identifies the communication the speaker can give to the client. After kann, sagen remains in the infinitive form.
am am means “on the” in am darauffolgenden Tag. It introduces the day on which the charts will be delivered. This form is used in the time expression am ... Tag.
darauffolgenden darauffolgenden means “following” in am darauffolgenden Tag. It identifies the day after the day mentioned previously. The phrase am darauffolgenden Tag is useful for giving a sequential delivery date.
Tag Tag means “day” in am darauffolgenden Tag. It specifies the time unit for the later delivery. The phrase contrasts the delivery tomorrow with the delivery on the following day.
liefere liefere means “deliver” in die Zusammenfassung morgen und die Diagramme am darauffolgenden Tag liefere. It states what the speaker plans to provide and when. Although the form is present, the time expressions make the delivery plan future-oriented.
Das Das means “that” in Das gibt dem Kunden einen realistischen Zeitplan. It points back to the delivery proposal just described. It is useful for referring to a plan or action as a whole.
gibt gibt means “gives” or “provides” in Das gibt dem Kunden einen realistischen Zeitplan. It describes the proposal as providing the client with useful planning information. The recipient appears in dem Kunden.
dem dem means “to the” in dem Kunden. It marks the client as the recipient of the realistic timeline and clear choice. The phrase Das gibt dem Kunden ... is useful for describing what a plan provides to someone.
Kunden Kunden means “client” in dem Kunden. Here the client receives the proposed timeline and choice. This form appears after dem in the phrase dem Kunden.
einen einen means “a” in einen realistischen Zeitplan. It introduces one realistic timeline provided to the client. It comes directly before the adjective and noun in this phrase.
realistischen realistischen means “realistic” in einen realistischen Zeitplan. It describes the timeline as achievable rather than overly optimistic. The phrase einen realistischen Zeitplan is useful when proposing workable deadlines.
Zeitplan Zeitplan means “timeline” or “schedule” in einen realistischen Zeitplan. It organizes when the summary and charts will be delivered. This word is useful for discussing planned work dates.
klare klare means “clear” in eine klare Wahl. It describes the choice as easy to understand. Here it refers to the client being given an understandable delivery option.
Wahl Wahl means “choice” in eine klare Wahl. It refers to the option presented through the proposed delivery schedule. The phrase eine klare Wahl is useful when a plan makes the available option easy to decide on.
schicke schicke means “send” in Ich schicke die Nachricht bald. It states that the speaker will send the message soon. The present form works with bald to express a planned near-future action.
Nachricht Nachricht means “message” in Ich schicke die Nachricht bald. It is the communication that will explain the revised delivery plan. The phrase eine Nachricht schicken is useful when sending an update to a colleague or client.
bald bald means “soon” in Ich schicke die Nachricht bald. It indicates that the message will be sent in the near future. It is useful when promising a prompt follow-up without giving an exact time.
damit damit means “so that” in damit der Kunde Zeit zum Antworten hat. It introduces the purpose of sending the message soon. In this purpose clause, the conjugated verb hat appears at the end.
zum zum means “for the” in Zeit zum Antworten. It connects Zeit with the activity of answering and is the contracted form used before the nominalized action. The phrase Zeit zum Antworten means “time to respond.”
Antworten Antworten means “responding” or “answering” in Zeit zum Antworten. It is the action for which the client needs time. The capital letter shows the infinitive used as a noun in this expression.
Änderung Änderung means “change” in die Änderung des Zeitplans. It refers to the revised schedule communicated to the client. The phrase die Änderung des Zeitplans is useful when announcing that planned dates have been altered.
Zeitplans Zeitplans means “of the schedule” in die Änderung des Zeitplans. It identifies what has been changed: the schedule. The ending marks the relationship in the phrase Änderung des Zeitplans.
bis bis means “by” in bis morgen. It sets tomorrow as the latest point by which the schedule change should be clear. It is useful for stating a deadline or latest time.
klar klar means “clear” in So ist die Änderung des Zeitplans bis morgen klar. It says that the schedule change will be understood by tomorrow. The phrase etwas ist klar is useful when confirming that information is understandable.

Grammar Points

Das Perfekt mit einem reflexiven Verb: hat sich erweitert

hat sich erweitert

hat zikh air-VY-tert

has expanded

The reflexive pronoun sich appears between the auxiliary hat and the participle erweitert.

Trennbares Verb im Imperativ: dar-stellen → Stell es so dar

Stell es so dar

Shtell ess zoh dahr

Frame it that way.

In the imperative, the separable prefix dar moves to the end of the sentence.

German Vocabulary

Abschnitt noun
AP-shnitt section
detailliert adj
day-TIE-lee-airt detailed detaillierten
Diagramm noun
dee-ah-GRAHM chart
Frist noun
fRIHST deadline
Kunde noun
KOON-duh client
niedrig adj
NEE-dreehy low niedrigerer
Priorität noun
pree-oh-ree-TAIT priority
Projekt noun
proh-YEKT project Projekts
sich erweitern verb
zikh air-VY-ter(n) to expand hat sich ... erweitert
Umfang noun
OOM-fahng scope
Verlängerung noun
fair-LENG-er-oong extension
Zusammenfassung noun
tsoo-ZAH-men-fahs-soong summary

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Which part does the client need first?

Show AnswerWelchen Teil braucht der Kunde zuerst?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

project

Show AnswerProjekts

extension

Show AnswerVerlängerung

scope

Show AnswerUmfang

deadline

Show AnswerFrist