Deciding Whether to Keep Waiting | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: Near a slow service desk line, a person asks whether to keep waiting or leave a request for later review..

EN → DE / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Deciding Whether to Keep Waiting to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Entschuldigung, diese Schlange bewegt sich nur langsam.

ent-SHOOL-di-goong, DEE-zuh SHLAHNG-uh beh-VAYKT zikh noor LAHNG-zahm. Excuse me, this line has been moving slowly.
B

Versuchst du zu entscheiden, ob es sich lohnt zu bleiben?

fair-ZOOKST doo tsoo ent-SHY-den, op ess zikh LOHNT tsoo BLY-ben? Are you trying to decide whether it is worth staying?
A

Ja. Weißt du, ob der Serviceschalter im Rückstand ist?

yah. VYST doo, op dair ZAIR-vis-SHALL-tuh im ROOK-shtahnt ist? I am. Do you know if the service desk is running behind?
B

Mehrere Anliegen brauchen zusätzliche Aufmerksamkeit, deshalb geht es in der Schlange nur langsam voran.

MAYR-uh-ruh AHN-lee-gen BROW-khen TSOO-zetz-li-khuh OWF-mairk-zahm-kайт, dess-HALP gate ess in dair SHLAHNG-uh noor LAHNG-zahm fohr-AHN. Several requests need extra attention, so the line is moving slowly.
A

Ich kann nicht mehr viel länger hier bleiben.

ikh kahn nikht mair feel LENG-er heer BLY-ben. I cannot stay here much longer.
B

Du kannst weiter warten oder dein Anliegen am Schalter hinterlassen.

doo kahnst VY-tuh VAR-ten OH-der dyn AHN-lee-gen ahm SHAL-ter hin-ter-LAHS-en. You can keep waiting, or leave your request at the desk.
A

Es würde helfen, das Anliegen dort zu lassen, wenn es später jemand prüfen kann.

ess VUR-duh HEL-fen, dahs AHN-lee-gen dort tsoo LAHS-en, venn ess SHPAY-ter YAY-mant PROO-fen kahn. Leaving the request would help if someone can review it later.
B

Die Mitarbeiter am Schalter können dich kontaktieren, sobald es Neuigkeiten gibt.

dee MIT-ar-BY-tuh ahm SHAL-ter KURN-en dikh kon-tak-TEER-en, zo-BAHLT ess NOY-ikh-kайт-en geebt. The desk can contact you when they have an update.
A

Damit habe ich eine klare Wahl.

dah-MIT HAH-buh ikh EYE-nuh KLAH-ruh vahl. That gives me a clear choice.
B

Dann ist es vielleicht besser, das Anliegen dort zu lassen, wenn deine nächste Verpflichtung nicht warten kann.

dahn ist ess fee-LYKHT BESS-er, dahs AHN-lee-gen dort tsoo LAHS-en, venn DY-nuh NAYKH-stuh fair-PFLIKH-toong nikht VAR-ten kahn. Then leaving it may be better if your next commitment cannot wait.

Word by Word

Entschuldigung Entschuldigung is used here to politely get someone’s attention before speaking: “Entschuldigung, diese Schlange bewegt sich nur langsam.” It is useful when approaching a stranger, asking for help, or interrupting politely.
diese diese means “this” and points to the particular queue being discussed in “diese Schlange.” It is useful before a noun when identifying something nearby or already clear from the situation.
Schlange Schlange means “line” or “queue” here, not an animal, in “diese Schlange bewegt sich nur langsam.” Use it with warten or stehen when talking about waiting in a queue.
bewegt bewegt describes the queue as moving or progressing in “bewegt sich.” With a subject such as die Schlange, it is useful for describing how something is moving.
sich sich refers back to the queue in “diese Schlange bewegt sich,” so the queue is described as moving itself or moving along. The combination bewegt sich is useful when describing movement without naming an outside mover.
nur nur limits the speed in “bewegt sich nur langsam,” meaning that the queue is moving slowly and not quickly. Use nur before the limited word or phrase when emphasizing a restriction or small extent.
langsam langsam means “slowly” in “bewegt sich nur langsam” and describes the pace of the queue. It is useful for describing slow movement, progress, or action in everyday situations.
Versuchst Versuchst asks whether the person is trying to do something in “Versuchst du zu entscheiden.” It is useful when asking someone directly about an attempt or intention.
du du means “you” when speaking directly to one person, as in “Versuchst du zu entscheiden.” Use du with someone you address informally; here it identifies the person being asked.
zu zu introduces the action that someone is trying to carry out in “zu entscheiden.” A useful pattern is versuchen, etwas zu tun, when describing an attempt to do something.
entscheiden entscheiden means “decide” in “zu entscheiden, ob es sich lohnt zu bleiben.” It is useful when choosing between options or reaching a decision.
ob ob introduces the question being considered in “ob es sich lohnt zu bleiben,” meaning whether staying is worthwhile. Use ob inside an indirect yes-or-no question.
es es is the placeholder in “ob es sich lohnt zu bleiben”; the whole expression asks whether staying is worthwhile. It is useful in the pattern es lohnt sich, wenn an activity or choice is worth doing.
lohnt lohnt contributes the idea of being worthwhile in “es sich lohnt zu bleiben.” Use it in the expression es lohnt sich when evaluating whether an action or option is worth the effort.
bleiben bleiben means “stay” in “zu bleiben,” referring to remaining in the queue. It is useful when someone continues to remain in a place or situation instead of leaving.
Ja Ja means “yes” and answers the preceding question in “Ja.” It is useful for confirming an affirmative answer before continuing.
Weißt Weißt asks whether the person knows something in “Weißt du, ob der Serviceschalter im Rückstand ist?” Use Weißt du, ob ...? to ask someone informally whether they know an answer to an indirect question.
der der means “the” in “der Serviceschalter” and identifies the particular service desk being discussed. It appears directly before the noun in this phrase.
Serviceschalter Serviceschalter means “service desk” in “der Serviceschalter.” It is useful for referring to a counter or desk where staff handle customer requests.
im im means “in the” in “im Rückstand”; it is the contracted form used in this fixed phrase. Use im before a masculine or neuter noun when the meaning is “in the.”
Rückstand Rückstand means being behind or delayed in “im Rückstand,” describing the service desk’s delayed progress. This expression is useful when work or a schedule is behind what was expected.
ist ist means “is” and links the service desk with its delayed status in “der Serviceschalter im Rückstand ist.” It is useful for stating a current condition or situation.
Mehrere Mehrere means “several” in “Mehrere Anliegen” and indicates more than one request. Use it before a plural noun when referring to an unspecified number of items or people.
Anliegen Anliegen means requests or matters in “Mehrere Anliegen brauchen zusätzliche Aufmerksamkeit.” It is useful for referring to matters that someone brings to a service desk or asks an organization to handle.
brauchen brauchen means “need” in “Anliegen brauchen zusätzliche Aufmerksamkeit.” Use it before the thing that is needed, such as zusätzliche Aufmerksamkeit here.
zusätzliche zusätzliche means “additional” or “extra” in “zusätzliche Aufmerksamkeit.” It is useful before a noun when something beyond the usual amount is required.
Aufmerksamkeit Aufmerksamkeit means “attention” in “brauchen zusätzliche Aufmerksamkeit,” referring to careful handling of the requests. Use it with brauchen when a person or matter requires focused consideration.
deshalb deshalb means “therefore” or “that is why” and connects the extra attention with the slow progress in “deshalb geht es ... nur langsam voran.” Use it to introduce a result or conclusion based on the preceding information.
geht geht contributes the idea of progress in “geht es in der Schlange ... voran.” Here it describes how the queue is progressing, rather than someone physically walking.
in in places the progress inside the queue in “in der Schlange.” Use in with a place or situation when saying where something happens or progresses.
voran voran completes “geht ... voran” and adds the idea of moving forward or making progress. The expression is useful for describing progress in a process, line, or task.
Ich Ich means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Ich kann nicht mehr viel länger hier bleiben.” Use it at the beginning of a statement about your own ability, situation, or decision.
kann kann means “can” in “Ich kann nicht ... bleiben” and expresses the speaker’s ability or possibility. Use it with an infinitive such as bleiben to say what someone can or cannot do.
nicht nicht negates the possibility in “kann nicht ... bleiben,” meaning the speaker cannot stay. Place it before the part of the sentence being negated; here it negates the ability to remain.
mehr mehr contributes the meaning “any longer” in “nicht mehr viel länger hier bleiben.” Together with nicht, it shows that the speaker cannot continue for much additional time.
viel viel means “much” in “nicht mehr viel länger,” limiting the amount of additional time the speaker can stay. Use viel with quantities or durations when the amount is large or significant.
länger länger means “longer” in “nicht mehr viel länger hier bleiben” and refers to additional time. It is useful when comparing the remaining duration with the time already spent or expected.
hier hier means “here” and identifies the place where the speaker is staying in “hier bleiben.” Use it to refer to the speaker’s current location.
kannst kannst means “can” when addressing one person informally in “Du kannst weiter warten.” Use it with an infinitive to suggest or state what that person is able or allowed to do.
weiter weiter means “on” or “continuing” in “weiter warten,” so the person can continue waiting. Use weiter before an activity when saying that it should continue.
warten warten means “wait” in “weiter warten.” It is useful for staying until a person, service, or event becomes available.
oder oder introduces the alternative in “weiter warten oder dein Anliegen ... hinterlassen.” Use oder to connect two choices or possible actions.
dein dein means “your” in “dein Anliegen” and refers to the person being addressed informally. Use it before a noun when identifying something belonging to or connected with that person.
am am means “at the” in “am Schalter”; it is the contracted form used for a location at the desk or counter. Use am before a masculine noun when describing being at a specific place or service point.
Schalter Schalter means “desk” or “counter” in “am Schalter.” It is useful for referring to the place where a member of staff serves customers or receives requests.
hinterlassen hinterlassen means “leave behind” in “dein Anliegen ... hinterlassen,” meaning to leave the request with the desk for later handling. Use it when leaving something for another person to receive or deal with.
würde würde presents the possible result politely or hypothetically in “Es würde helfen.” Use würde with an infinitive when describing what would be helpful under a condition.
helfen helfen means “help” in “Es würde helfen,” referring to leaving the request as a useful solution. It is useful when describing an action that makes a situation easier or more manageable.
das das means “the” in “das Anliegen” and points to the request already being discussed. It is useful before this noun when referring back to that specific matter.
dort dort means “there” in “das Anliegen dort zu lassen,” referring back to the desk as the place where the request can be left. Use it to point to a place that is not the speaker’s immediate position.
lassen lassen means “leave” in “das Anliegen dort zu lassen,” describing allowing the request to remain at the desk. Use it with an object and a place when saying that something should be left somewhere.
wenn wenn introduces the condition in “wenn es später jemand prüfen kann,” meaning if someone can review it later. Use wenn to connect a possible condition with its result or consequence.
jemand jemand means “someone” in “jemand prüfen kann,” referring to an unspecified person who may review the request. Use it when the identity of the person is unknown or not important.
prüfen prüfen means “review” or “check” in “jemand prüfen kann,” referring to examining the request later. It is useful for documents, requests, information, or situations that need to be checked carefully.
Die Die means “the” in “Die Mitarbeiter am Schalter” and introduces the staff members who can contact the speaker. It is useful before this plural noun when referring to the specific staff at the desk.
Mitarbeiter Mitarbeiter means “staff members” or “employees” in “Die Mitarbeiter am Schalter.” It is useful for referring to people working for an organization or service.
können können means “can” in “Die Mitarbeiter ... können dich kontaktieren,” expressing the staff’s ability or possibility. Use it with an infinitive such as kontaktieren to describe what they can do.
dich dich means “you” as the person receiving the contact in “dich kontaktieren.” It is useful when you are the direct object of an action addressed to one person informally.
kontaktieren kontaktieren means “contact” in “dich kontaktieren,” referring to getting in touch with the speaker. Use it with the person who will receive the contact.
sobald sobald means “as soon as” and introduces the time condition in “sobald es Neuigkeiten gibt.” Use it when one action should happen immediately after another event or situation occurs.
Neuigkeiten Neuigkeiten means “updates” or “news” in “es Neuigkeiten gibt,” referring to new information from the service desk. It is useful when someone is expected to provide new information about an ongoing matter.
gibt gibt contributes the meaning “there are” in “es Neuigkeiten gibt,” the expression used to say that updates become available. Use es gibt with a noun when stating that something exists or is available.
Damit Damit means “with that” or “in this way” and refers to the two options just explained in “Damit habe ich eine klare Wahl.” Use it to connect a previously mentioned action or information with its result.
habe habe means “have” in “habe ich eine klare Wahl,” expressing that the speaker now has an available choice. It is useful for stating possession or an available option.
eine eine means “a” in “eine klare Wahl” and introduces one clear choice. Use it before a feminine noun in a phrase describing one non-specific item.
klare klare means “clear” in “eine klare Wahl,” describing a choice that is easy to understand. It is useful before a noun when an option or decision is unambiguous.
Wahl Wahl means “choice” in “eine klare Wahl,” referring to the decision between continuing to wait and leaving the request. Use it when discussing available alternatives or a decision between options.
Dann Dann means “then” and introduces the recommendation that follows from the speaker’s situation in “Dann ist es vielleicht besser ...”. Use it to show a consequence or next step.
vielleicht vielleicht means “maybe” and makes the recommendation less definite in “vielleicht besser.” Use it when offering a possibility or cautious suggestion.
besser besser means “better” in “ist es vielleicht besser,” comparing the suggested option with the alternative of continuing to wait. Use it when recommending one option as more suitable.
deine deine means “your” in “deine nächste Verpflichtung” and refers informally to the person’s upcoming commitment. Use it before a feminine noun connected with that person.
nächste nächste means “next” in “deine nächste Verpflichtung,” referring to the commitment that comes after the current situation. Use it before a noun when identifying the upcoming item in a sequence.
Verpflichtung Verpflichtung means “commitment” or “obligation” in “deine nächste Verpflichtung,” referring to something the person must attend to next. It is useful for responsibilities or scheduled duties that limit someone’s available time.

Grammar Points

ob + Nebensatz

Weißt du, ob es sich lohnt, zu bleiben?

VYST doo, op ess zikh LOHNT, tsoo BLY-ben?

Do you know whether it is worth staying?

In einem ob-Satz steht das konjugierte Verb am Ende: ob es sich lohnt.

sobald + Nebensatz

Sobald Mitarbeiter klare Neuigkeiten hinterlassen, kontaktieren wir sie.

zo-BAHLT MIT-ar-BY-tuh KLAH-ruh NOY-ikh-kайт-en hin-ter-LAHS-en, kon-tak-TEER-en veer zee.

As soon as staff members leave clear updates, we contact them.

Nach sobald steht ein Nebensatz; das konjugierte Verb steht dort am Ende.

German Vocabulary

bleiben verb
BLY-ben to stay zu bleiben
entscheiden verb
ent-SHY-den to decide zu entscheiden
Entschuldigung intj
ent-SHOOL-di-goong excuse me

Used to politely get someone's attention.

im Rückstand sein phrase
im ROOK-shtahnt zyn to be running behind im Rückstand ist
langsam adv
LAHNG-zahm slowly
ob conj
op whether
Schlange noun
SHLAHNG-uh line; queue
Serviceschalter noun
ZAIR-vis-SHALL-tuh service desk
sich bewegen verb
zikh beh-VAY-gen to move bewegt sich
sich lohnen verb
zikh LOH-nen to be worth it sich lohnt
versuchen verb
fair-ZOO-khen to try Versuchst
wissen verb
VISS-en to know Weißt

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

That gives me a clear choice.

Show AnswerDamit habe ich eine klare Wahl.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to try

Show AnswerVersuchst

slowly

Show Answerlangsam

line; queue

Show AnswerSchlange

to know

Show AnswerWeißt