Changing a Group Trip Plan When Someone Is Sick | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: While planning a group trip, two friends discuss how to reschedule or update everyone after someone becomes sick..

EN → DE / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Changing a Group Trip Plan When Someone Is Sick to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Eine Freundin sagt, dass sie Fieber hat und morgen wahrscheinlich nicht reisen kann.

EYE-nuh FROYNT-in zahkt, dahss zee FEE-buh hat oont MOR-ghun VAHR-shine-likh nikht RYE-zun kahn. A friend says she has a fever and probably cannot travel tomorrow.
B

Dann sollten wir Rücksicht nehmen und besprechen, ob wir die Reise verschieben sollten.

DAHN ZUHL-ten veer RUEK-zikht NAY-men oont beh-SHPREKH-en, ohp veer dee RYE-zuh fehr-SHEE-ben ZUHL-ten. Then we should be considerate and discuss whether to reschedule.
A

Es könnte schwierig sein, die Reise zu verschieben, wenn wir noch viel länger warten.

Ess KURN-tuh SHVEE-rikh zine, dee RYE-zuh tsoo fehr-SHEE-ben, ven veer nokh feel LENG-er VAR-ten. It may be hard to reschedule the trip if we wait much longer.
B

Können wir die Buchung verschieben, statt sie ganz zu stornieren?

KURN-en veer dee BOO-khoong fehr-SHEE-ben, shtat zee GAHNTS tsoo shtor-NEE-ren? Can we move the booking instead of canceling it completely?
A

Lass mich anrufen und fragen, welche Möglichkeiten es gibt.

LASS mikh AHN-roo-fen oont FRAH-gen, VEL-khuh MURKH-likh-kite-un ess gipt. Let me call and ask what options are available.
B

Frag auch, ob es ihr recht wäre, wenn wir ohne sie fahren.

FRAHK owkh, ohp ess eer REKHT VAIR-uh, ven veer OH-nuh zee FAHR-en. Also ask whether she would be comfortable with us going without her.
A

Ich würde lieber verschieben, weil die Reise als Gruppenreise geplant war.

Ikh VUR-duh LEE-ber fehr-SHEE-ben, vile dee RYE-zuh als GRUP-pen-RYE-zuh geh-PLAHNT vahr. I would rather postpone, because it was planned as a group trip.
B

Das ergibt Sinn, besonders wenn sie nur ein paar Tage braucht, um sich zu erholen.

Dahs air-GEEPT ZINN, beh-ZON-ders ven zee noor eye-n pahr TAH-guh browkht, oom zikh tsoo air-HOH-len. That makes sense, especially if she only needs a few days to recover.
A

Ich werde allen eine klare Nachricht mit den Möglichkeiten und dem aktuellen Stand schicken.

Ikh VAIR-duh AH-len EYE-nuh KLAH-ruh NAHKH-rikht mit dayn MURKH-likh-kite-un oont daym ak-too-ELL-en shtahnt SHIK-en. I will message everyone with the options and a clear update.
B

Die Leute werden mit der Änderung besser umgehen, wenn sie den Grund und den Zeitpunkt kennen.

Dee LOY-tuh VAIR-den mit dair END-er-oong BESS-er OOM-gay-en, ven zee dayn GROONT oont dayn TSEYT-poongkt KEN-en. People will handle the change better if they know the reason and timing.

Word by Word

Eine In "Eine Freundin", "Eine" means "a" and introduces one female friend. Its citation form is "ein"; this form is used before "Freundin". Use "eine" before a singular feminine noun when introducing one person or thing.
Freundin In "Eine Freundin", "Freundin" means "female friend" and identifies the person who is sick. Use "Freundin" when referring to a female friend in a personal situation.
sagt In "Eine Freundin sagt", "sagt" means "says" and reports what the friend communicates. Its citation form is "sagen". Use "sagen, dass ..." to introduce the content of what someone says.
dass In "sagt, dass sie Fieber hat", "dass" means "that" and introduces the statement being reported. It connects the reporting verb with its content. Use "dass" after a verb such as "sagen" when reporting information.
sie In "dass sie Fieber hat" and "sie ... kann", "sie" means "she" and refers to the female friend. Use "sie" as the subject when talking about a woman or girl already identified in the conversation.
Fieber In "sie Fieber hat", "Fieber" means "fever", the health problem affecting the friend. The reusable pattern is "jemand hat Fieber" when stating that someone has a fever.
hat In "sie Fieber hat", "hat" means "has" and expresses possession of the symptom. Its citation form is "haben". Use "hat" with a singular subject and a symptom such as "Fieber".
und In "Fieber hat und morgen wahrscheinlich nicht reisen kann", "und" means "and" and joins two pieces of information about the friend. Use "und" to connect related statements or actions.
morgen In "morgen wahrscheinlich nicht reisen kann", "morgen" means "tomorrow" and identifies the travel day. Use "morgen" with the action that is planned for the following day.
wahrscheinlich In "morgen wahrscheinlich nicht reisen kann", "wahrscheinlich" means "probably" and shows that the speaker considers the inability to travel likely but not completely certain. Use it to soften a prediction about a future event.
nicht In "nicht reisen kann", "nicht" negates the ability to travel. It makes the meaning "cannot travel" in this context. Use "nicht" to deny or exclude an action or statement.
reisen In "nicht reisen kann", "reisen" means "to travel" and is the action affected by "kann". Its citation form is also "reisen". Use "reisen können" when talking about being able to travel.
kann In "sie ... reisen kann", "kann" means "can" or "is able to" and expresses the friend’s ability to travel. Its citation form is "können". Use "kann" with a singular subject followed by an infinitive such as "reisen".
Dann At the beginning of "Dann sollten wir Rücksicht nehmen", "Dann" means "then" and presents the proposed response to the situation. Use it to connect a situation with a consequence or next step.
sollten In "sollten wir Rücksicht nehmen", "sollten" means "should" and gives a considerate recommendation. Its citation form is "sollen". The reusable pattern is "wir sollten" followed by an infinitive when suggesting what the group ought to do.
wir In "wir Rücksicht nehmen" and "wir die Reise verschieben", "wir" means "we" and refers to the people making the travel decision together. Use "wir" as the subject when describing a shared action or plan.
Rücksicht In "Rücksicht nehmen", "Rücksicht" contributes the idea of consideration for another person’s needs. The whole expression means taking someone into account, here because the friend is sick. Use "Rücksicht nehmen" when making a decision that should be considerate.
nehmen In "Rücksicht nehmen", "nehmen" contributes to the fixed expression meaning "take consideration into account" rather than physical taking. Its citation form is also "nehmen". Use it together with "Rücksicht" in considerate decisions.
besprechen In "besprechen, ob wir die Reise verschieben sollten", "besprechen" means "discuss" and refers to talking through the possible change. Its citation form is also "besprechen". Use "etwas besprechen" or "besprechen, ob ..." when deciding something together.
ob In "ob wir die Reise verschieben sollten", "ob" means "whether" and introduces an indirect yes-or-no question. Use "ob" when discussing whether a particular action or possibility applies.
die In "die Reise", "die" means "the" and identifies the specific trip being discussed. The same written form appears capitalized at the start of "Die Leute". Use "die" before the relevant noun when referring to a specific feminine or plural item.
Reise In "die Reise verschieben", "Reise" means "trip" or "journey", specifically the group trip under discussion. Use "eine Reise planen" or "die Reise verschieben" when talking about arranging or rescheduling a trip.
verschieben In "die Reise verschieben" and "zu verschieben", "verschieben" means "to postpone" or "to reschedule" the trip. Its citation form is also "verschieben". Keep the object after it, as in "die Reise verschieben", when describing what is being moved to a later time.
Es In "Es könnte schwierig sein", "Es" is an introductory "it" for the assessment that rescheduling may be difficult. It does not name a separate object here. Use "Es ist" or "Es könnte sein" to introduce a general evaluation.
könnte In "Es könnte schwierig sein", "könnte" means "could" or "might" and presents difficulty as a possibility rather than a certainty. It comes from "können". Use "könnte" with an adjective or action when making a cautious prediction.
schwierig In "schwierig sein", "schwierig" means "difficult" and describes the possible task of rescheduling the trip. Use "etwas ist schwierig" or "Es ist schwierig, ..." to evaluate an action.
sein In "Es könnte schwierig sein", "sein" means "to be" and links the introductory "Es" with the description "schwierig". Its citation form is also "sein". Use it after a modal form such as "könnte" when describing a possible state.
zu In "die Reise zu verschieben", "zu" marks the infinitive construction that explains what may be difficult. It belongs with "verschieben" rather than carrying the whole meaning alone. Use the pattern "schwierig sein, ... zu" plus an infinitive for a difficult action.
wenn In "wenn wir noch viel länger warten", "wenn" means "if" and introduces the condition under which rescheduling may become difficult. Use "wenn" to connect a possible condition with its result.
noch In "noch viel länger warten", "noch" means "still" or "yet" and indicates additional waiting beyond the current point. It emphasizes that the delay may continue. Use "noch" with a time expression or comparative such as "länger".
viel In "viel länger warten", "viel" means "much" and strengthens the comparison, giving the meaning "wait much longer". Use "viel" before a comparative when describing a substantially greater amount or degree.
länger In "viel länger warten", "länger" means "longer" and compares the possible future waiting time with the waiting time so far. Its citation form is "lang". Use it with "warten" when discussing additional delay.
warten In "wenn wir ... warten", "warten" means "to wait" while delaying the decision. Its citation form is also "warten". A common reusable pattern is "auf etwas warten" when waiting for a person, thing, or event.
Können At the beginning of "Können wir die Buchung verschieben?", "Können" means "can" and asks whether the group is able or permitted to move the booking. Its citation form is "können"; it is capitalized here because it starts the question. Use "Können wir" followed by an infinitive to ask about a possible action.
Buchung In "die Buchung verschieben", "Buchung" means "booking" or "reservation" and refers to the arrangement for the trip. Use "eine Buchung verschieben" or "eine Buchung stornieren" when changing a reservation.
statt In "statt sie ganz zu stornieren", "statt" means "instead of" and introduces the alternative to moving the booking. Use "statt" with an infinitive construction when choosing one action over another.
ganz In "sie ganz zu stornieren", "ganz" means "completely" and says that the booking would be canceled in full. Use "ganz" to emphasize that an action applies to the whole thing rather than only part of it.
stornieren In "zu stornieren", "stornieren" means "to cancel", specifically the booking. Its citation form is also "stornieren". Use "eine Buchung stornieren" when ending a reservation instead of moving it.
Lass In "Lass mich anrufen", "Lass" means "let" and is used to offer or request permission for the speaker to make the call. Its citation form is "lassen". The reusable pattern is "Lass mich" followed by an infinitive when volunteering to do something.
mich In "Lass mich anrufen", "mich" means "me" and identifies the person who will make the call. It is the object form related to the subject pronoun "ich". Use it in "Lass mich + infinitive" when asking to be allowed to act.
anrufen In "mich anrufen", "anrufen" means "to call" by phone and is the action the speaker offers to perform. Its citation form is also "anrufen". Use "jemanden anrufen" when making a phone call to someone.
fragen In "anrufen und fragen", "fragen" means "to ask" and refers to requesting information about the available choices. Its citation form is also "fragen". Use "fragen, ob ..." or "fragen, welche ..." when asking about a decision or options.
welche In "welche Möglichkeiten es gibt", "welche" means "which" or "what" and asks about the available options. It appears directly before the noun "Möglichkeiten". Use "welche" plus a noun in a question or indirect question when identifying options.
Möglichkeiten In "welche Möglichkeiten es gibt", "Möglichkeiten" means "options" or "possibilities". Its citation form is "Möglichkeit"; this exact form is plural because several choices may exist. Use "welche Möglichkeiten es gibt" when asking what choices are available.
gibt In "Möglichkeiten es gibt", "gibt" forms the expression "es gibt", which means "there is" or "there are" and presents the available options. Its citation form is "geben". Use "es gibt" with a noun when stating that something exists or is available.
Frag In "Frag auch", "Frag" means "ask" and gives a direct request to ask one more question. Its citation form is "fragen"; this exact form is an imperative. Use "Frag" followed by a person or an indirect question when telling someone to ask.
auch In "Frag auch", "auch" means "also" and adds another request to the earlier call and question. Use it when adding one more action or point to what has already been mentioned.
ihr In "ob es ihr recht wäre", "ihr" means "to her" and refers to the sick friend as the person whose approval matters. It is the form related to "sie" in this construction. Use it with "recht sein" to describe whether something is acceptable to someone.
recht In "es ihr recht wäre", "recht" means "acceptable" or "all right" to the friend. The whole expression "jemandem recht sein" describes what someone is comfortable accepting. Use it when checking whether a proposed arrangement is okay with another person.
wäre In "ob es ihr recht wäre", "wäre" means "would be" and asks hypothetically whether the arrangement would be acceptable. Its citation form is "sein". Use "wäre" when discussing a possible situation or its possible effect on someone.
ohne In "ohne sie", "ohne" means "without" and introduces the person who would not join the trip. Use "ohne" before a person or thing that is absent from an action or arrangement.
fahren In "wenn wir ohne sie fahren", "fahren" means "go" or "travel" in the context of the trip. Its citation form is also "fahren". Use it when describing the group’s travel action, especially in a plan involving going somewhere.
Ich In "Ich würde lieber verschieben" and "Ich werde ... schicken", "Ich" means "I" and marks the speaker as the person expressing a preference or taking responsibility for an action. Use "Ich" as the subject when stating your own plan or opinion.
würde In "Ich würde lieber verschieben", "würde" helps express what the speaker would prefer to do. It comes from "werden" and is used here with the infinitive "verschieben". Use "würde lieber + infinitive" to state a preferred action in this situation.
lieber In "würde lieber verschieben", "lieber" means "rather" and shows a preference for postponing the trip. Use "lieber" with "würde" and an infinitive when choosing one option over another.
weil In "weil die Reise als Gruppenreise geplant war", "weil" means "because" and introduces the reason for preferring to postpone. Use "weil" to connect an opinion or decision with its explanation.
als In "als Gruppenreise geplant", "als" means "as" and describes the form in which the trip was planned. It connects the plan with the description "Gruppenreise". Use "als + noun" when describing a role, purpose, or form of something.
Gruppenreise In "als Gruppenreise", "Gruppenreise" means "group trip" and emphasizes that the travel plan was designed for the whole group. Use it when describing a trip organized for several people traveling together.
geplant In "als Gruppenreise geplant war", "geplant" means "planned" and describes the earlier arrangement for the trip. Its citation form is "planen"; this exact form describes something that has been arranged. Use "etwas ist geplant" when referring to an arranged activity.
war In "geplant war", "war" means "was" and places the plan in the past. Its citation form is "sein". Use "war" with a description such as "geplant" when describing a past state or arrangement.
Das In "Das ergibt Sinn", "Das" means "that" or "it" and refers to the suggestion to postpone the trip. It presents the previous idea as the subject of the response. Use "Das ergibt Sinn" to say that an explanation or decision is reasonable.
ergibt In "Das ergibt Sinn", "ergibt" contributes to the expression meaning "makes sense". Its citation form is "ergeben". The whole expression "Das ergibt Sinn" is used to agree that an idea or explanation is logical.
Sinn In "Das ergibt Sinn", "Sinn" means "sense" as part of the expression "make sense". The complete phrase, not this word alone, expresses that the suggestion is logical. Use "Sinn ergeben" when reacting positively to an explanation or plan.
besonders In "besonders wenn sie nur ein paar Tage braucht", "besonders" means "especially" and gives extra emphasis to the condition about recovery time. Use it before a condition or detail that is particularly relevant.
nur In "nur ein paar Tage", "nur" means "only" and limits the recovery time to a small number of days. Use "nur" before a quantity or time period when emphasizing a limit.
ein In "ein paar Tage", "ein" is part of the expression "ein paar", which means "a few". Here it does not describe one single day because it combines with the plural noun "Tage". Use "ein paar + plural noun" for a small number of things.
paar In "ein paar Tage", "paar" contributes the meaning "few" or "a small number". The whole expression "ein paar" refers to more than one but not many. Use it before a plural noun when giving an approximate small quantity.
Tage In "ein paar Tage braucht", "Tage" means "days" and measures the time needed for recovery. Its citation form is "Tag"; this exact form is plural. Use "Tage brauchen" when describing how much time an activity or recovery requires.
braucht In "sie nur ein paar Tage braucht", "braucht" means "needs" and says that the friend requires a few days to recover. Its citation form is "brauchen". Use "jemand braucht Zeit, um ..." when describing the time necessary for an action.
um In "um sich zu erholen", "um" introduces the purpose of needing a few days. It belongs to the whole construction "um ... zu". Use "um ... zu" followed by an infinitive when explaining what time or an action is intended for.
sich In "sich zu erholen", "sich" refers back to "sie" and means "herself" in the reflexive expression "recover herself". Use "sich" in "sich erholen" when the person recovering is also the person affected by the action.
erholen In "sich zu erholen", "erholen" means "to recover" or "to get better" after being sick. Its citation form is also "erholen"; here it appears in the reflexive expression "sich erholen". Use "sich erholen" when talking about recovery from illness or exhaustion.
werde In "Ich werde ... schicken", "werde" means "will" and presents the speaker’s future plan to send a message. Its citation form is "werden". Use "werde + infinitive" with "Ich" to state what you will do.
allen In "allen ... schicken", "allen" means "to everyone" and identifies all the people who will receive the message. Its citation form is "alle"; this exact form refers to the whole group as recipients. Use "allen etwas schicken" when sending something to everyone in a group.
klare In "eine klare Nachricht", "klare" means "clear" and describes a message that communicates the update without confusion. Its citation form is "klar". Use "eine klare Nachricht" when giving people understandable information about a change.
Nachricht In "eine klare Nachricht ... schicken", "Nachricht" means "message" or "notice" and is the information sent to the group. Use "eine Nachricht schicken" when communicating an update to someone.
mit In "mit den Möglichkeiten und dem aktuellen Stand", "mit" means "with" and introduces the information included in the message. Use "eine Nachricht mit ..." when describing what a message contains.
den In "mit den Möglichkeiten", "den Grund", and "den Zeitpunkt", "den" means "the" and identifies specific information being discussed. Its exact form appears before the nouns in these phrases. Use it with a specific noun phrase when referring to known options, reasons, or points in time.
aktuellen In "dem aktuellen Stand", "aktuellen" means "current" or "latest" and describes the present status of the travel plan. Its citation form is "aktuell". Use it with "Stand" when giving the newest information about a situation.
Stand In "dem aktuellen Stand", "Stand" means "status" or "current situation", not physical standing. The phrase refers to how the travel plan currently stands. Use "aktueller Stand" when reporting the latest position or update.
schicken In "werde ... schicken", "schicken" means "to send" and refers to sending the message to everyone. Its citation form is also "schicken". Use the pattern "jemandem etwas schicken", as in sending a message to a group.
Leute In "Die Leute werden ...", "Leute" means "people" and refers to the members of the travel group. Use "die Leute" when talking about the people affected by a shared change or announcement.
werden In "Die Leute werden ... umgehen", "werden" means "will" and introduces the expected future reaction of the people. Its citation form is also "werden". Use "werden + infinitive" to describe what people are expected to do.
der In "mit der Änderung", "der" means "the" and identifies the specific change to the travel plan. It appears before the noun "Änderung" in this phrase. Use it before a known change that has already been discussed.
Änderung In "mit der Änderung umgehen", "Änderung" means "change" and refers to the revised travel arrangement. Use "mit einer Änderung umgehen" when describing how someone deals with a change.
besser In "besser umgehen", "besser" means "better" and says that people will handle the change more effectively when they know the reason and timing. Its citation form is "gut"; this exact form is the comparative. Use "besser mit etwas umgehen" to describe improved handling of a situation.
umgehen In "mit der Änderung umgehen", "umgehen" means "to deal with" or "handle" the change. Its citation form is also "umgehen". Use "mit etwas umgehen" when describing how someone responds to or manages a situation.
Grund In "den Grund kennen", "Grund" means "reason" and identifies why the travel plan is changing. Use "den Grund kennen" when someone understands the explanation for an event or decision.
Zeitpunkt In "den Zeitpunkt kennen", "Zeitpunkt" means "point in time" or "timing" and identifies when the change will happen. Use it when the exact or relevant time of an event matters.
kennen In "den Grund und den Zeitpunkt kennen", "kennen" means "to know" or "be familiar with" the reason and timing. Its citation form is also "kennen". Use "den Grund kennen" and "den Zeitpunkt kennen" when people have the information needed to understand a change.

Grammar Points

jemandem recht sein

Eine Gruppenreise wäre ihr recht.

EYE-nuh GRUP-pen-RYE-zuh VAIR-uh eer REKHT.

A group trip would be okay with her.

Bei „recht sein“ steht die Person im Dativ: „ihr“. „Wäre“ zeigt eine höfliche oder hypothetische Möglichkeit.

sich erholen

Sie möchte sich erholen.

Zee MURKH-tuh zikh air-HOH-len.

She would like to recover.

„Sich erholen“ ist ein reflexives Verb; das Pronomen „sich“ gehört fest zum Verb.

German Vocabulary

besprechen verb
beh-SHPREKH-en to discuss
Buchung noun
BOO-khoong booking; reservation
Fieber noun
FEE-buh fever
Freundin noun
FROYNT-in female friend
ganz adv
GAHNTS completely
Reise noun
RYE-zuh trip; journey
reisen verb
RYE-zun to travel
Rücksicht nehmen phrase
RUEK-zikht NAY-men to be considerate; to show consideration
schwierig adj
SHVEE-rikh difficult
stornieren verb
shtor-NEE-ren to cancel
verschieben verb
fehr-SHEE-ben to postpone; to reschedule
wahrscheinlich adv
VAHR-shine-likh probably

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

difficult

Show Answerschwierig

to postpone; to reschedule

Show Answerverschieben

female friend

Show AnswerFreundin

to travel

Show Answerreisen