Checking an apartment before a long trip | Learn German in English

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Use Checking an apartment before a long trip to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Wir sind mehrere Tage weg, also lass uns die Wohnung noch einmal überprüfen.

Veer zint MAY-rer-uh TAH-guh vek, AHL-zoh lahss oons dee VOH-noong nokh EYEN-mahl oo-ber-PRUE-fen. We'll be away for several days, so let's double-check the apartment.

Ich habe die kleinen Geräte ausgesteckt und den Herd ausgeschaltet.

Ikh HAH-buh dee KLY-nen guh-REH-tuh OWS-guh-SHTEKT oont dane HAIRT OWS-guh-SHALL-tet. I unplugged the small appliances and turned off the stove.

Sind die Balkontür und die Schlafzimmerfenster sicher verschlossen?

Zint dee bahl-KON-tewr oont SHLAHFT-tsim-mer-FEN-stah ZIKH-er fer-SHLOSS-en? Are the balcony door and bedroom windows secure?

Die Balkontür ist abgeschlossen, und ich schaue jetzt noch einmal im Schlafzimmer nach.

Dee bahl-KON-tewr ist AHP-guh-SHLOSS-en, oont ikh SHOW-uh yetst nokh EYEN-mahl im SHLAHFT-tsim-mer nahkh. The balcony door is locked, and I will check the bedroom again now.

Sollen wir das Thermostat niedriger einstellen, während wir weg sind?

ZOLL-en veer dahss tair-moh-SHTAHT NEED-ree-ger EYN-shtel-en, VEH-rent veer vek zint? Should we lower the thermostat while we are gone?

Stell es niedriger ein, aber nicht so niedrig, dass die Wohnung zu kalt wird.

Shtell ess NEED-ree-ger eyn, AH-ber nikht zoh NEED-rikh, dahss dee VOH-noong tsoo kahlt veert. Set it lower, but not so low that the apartment gets too cold.

Ich habe auch unseren Nachbarn gebeten, alle Pakete anzunehmen.

Ikh HAH-buh owkh OON-zuh-ren NAHKH-barn guh-BAY-ten, AHL-uh pah-KAY-tuh AHN-tsoo-NAY-men. I also asked our neighbor to collect any packages.

Dadurch wirkt die Wohnung bewohnt, während wir weg sind.

Dah-DOORKH veerkt dee VOH-noong buh-VOHNT, VEH-rent veer vek zint. That helps the place look occupied while we are away.

Jetzt fühle ich mich besser dabei, wegzufahren.

Yetst FOO-luh ikh mikh BESS-er dah-BYE, VEK-tsoo-FAH-ren. Now I feel more relaxed about leaving.

Diese Checkliste hat etwas Zeit gekostet, aber sie war es wert.

DEE-zuh CHECK-lis-tuh haht ET-vahs TSYTE guh-KOSS-tet, AH-ber zee vahr ess vairt. This checklist took a little time, but it was worth it.

Word by Word

Wir Wir means we and is the subject in Wir sind mehrere Tage weg. It includes the speaker and at least one other person, for example when making a shared plan. The lowercase form wir appears later after während.

sind sind means are in Wir sind mehrere Tage weg and in the question Sind die Balkontür und die Schlafzimmerfenster sicher verschlossen? It describes a current state or asks about one. Use it with wir or a plural subject.

mehrere mehrere means several and modifies Tage in mehrere Tage. Use mehrere before a plural noun when referring to more than one without giving an exact number. Here it describes the length of the absence.

Tage Tage means days in mehrere Tage. It is the plural form of Tag and is used here to express a period of time. The pattern mehrere + plural noun is useful for approximate amounts.

weg weg means away in mehrere Tage weg. Together with sind, it describes being away from the apartment. Use sein + weg when talking about someone’s absence or location.

also also means so or therefore in also lass uns die Wohnung noch einmal überprüfen. It connects the fact that they will be away with the suggestion that follows. Use it to introduce a consequence or practical next step.

lass lass contributes the meaning let’s in lass uns die Wohnung noch einmal überprüfen. It addresses one person informally and introduces a joint suggestion. The reusable pattern is lass uns + infinitive.

uns uns means us in lass uns die Wohnung noch einmal überprüfen. It shows that the suggested action includes the speaker and the other person. It regularly follows lass in a joint suggestion.

die die means the in die Wohnung and Die Balkontür. It identifies specific items already relevant in the apartment. Use die before an identified noun or group of nouns.

Wohnung Wohnung means apartment in die Wohnung. It is the place the speakers are checking before leaving. Use Wohnung when referring to an apartment as a living space.

noch noch contributes the meaning again in noch einmal überprüfen. In this dialogue, noch and einmal work together to show that the check will be repeated. Use the exact pattern noch einmal + infinitive for a repeated action.

einmal einmal means once, but in noch einmal it contributes again or one more time. The full expression noch einmal überprüfen means to check again. It is useful when repeating a check or action.

überprüfen überprüfen means check in die Wohnung noch einmal überprüfen. It is the infinitive after lass uns and names the suggested action. Use it with the thing being checked, such as die Wohnung.

Ich Ich means I and is the subject in Ich habe die kleinen Geräte ausgesteckt. It presents the speaker’s own action or responsibility. The lowercase form ich appears after a verb in another line.

habe habe is the auxiliary in Ich habe die kleinen Geräte ausgesteckt and Ich habe auch unseren Nachbarn gebeten. It helps report completed actions. Use Ich habe with a completed action when describing what you have done.

kleinen kleinen means small in die kleinen Geräte. It describes the size of the appliances and appears directly before Geräte. Use an adjective before a noun to add a property such as size.

Geräte Geräte means appliances or devices in die kleinen Geräte. It is the plural of Gerät and refers here to the small appliances that were unplugged. Use the plural form when referring to more than one device.

ausgesteckt ausgesteckt means unplugged in Ich habe die kleinen Geräte ausgesteckt. With habe, it reports that the appliances were disconnected from the power. Use habe + ausgesteckt for a completed unplugging action.

und und means and. Here it joins the two actions in Ich habe die kleinen Geräte ausgesteckt und den Herd ausgeschaltet. Use it to connect items or actions in a list.

den den means the in den Herd. It identifies the specific stove being discussed in the apartment. It appears directly before Herd in the phrase den Herd ausgeschaltet.

Herd Herd means stove in den Herd ausgeschaltet. It is the kitchen appliance that was turned off. In this dialogue it occurs with ausgeschaltet to describe the completed safety check.

ausgeschaltet ausgeschaltet means turned off in den Herd ausgeschaltet. With habe, it reports that the stove was switched off. Use habe + ausgeschaltet when describing a completed switch-off action.

Balkontür Balkontür means balcony door in Die Balkontür ist abgeschlossen. It is one of the apartment’s access points being checked. Use it when confirming the condition of the balcony door.

Schlafzimmerfenster Schlafzimmerfenster means bedroom windows in die Schlafzimmerfenster. It refers to the windows in the bedroom that are being checked for security. The exact phrase die Schlafzimmerfenster is used when asking about them.

sicher sicher means secure in sicher verschlossen. Together with verschlossen, it asks whether the doors and windows are securely closed and locked. Use sicher before a describing word when emphasizing that something is safely secured.

verschlossen verschlossen means closed and locked in sicher verschlossen. It describes the required condition of the balcony door and bedroom windows. Use it with sind when asking whether several items are secured.

ist ist means is in Die Balkontür ist abgeschlossen. It links the singular balcony door with its current condition. Use ist + a description to state the condition of one thing.

abgeschlossen abgeschlossen means locked in Die Balkontür ist abgeschlossen. It confirms that the balcony door has been secured. Use ist abgeschlossen to report that a door is locked.

schaue schaue means look or check in und ich schaue jetzt noch einmal im Schlafzimmer nach. Together with nach, it describes checking the bedroom. Use the full construction schaue jetzt noch einmal im Schlafzimmer nach when checking a place again.

jetzt jetzt means now in ich schaue jetzt noch einmal im Schlafzimmer nach. It places the checking action in the present moment. Use it to announce an action that is happening immediately.

im im means in the in im Schlafzimmer. It locates the checking action inside the bedroom. Use im before a place noun when describing an action taking place there.

Schlafzimmer Schlafzimmer means bedroom in im Schlafzimmer. It names the room that is checked again. Use it after im to say that something happens in the bedroom.

nach nach completes the checking meaning in ich schaue jetzt noch einmal im Schlafzimmer nach. It is part of the separated construction schaue ... nach, rather than meaning after here. Use the complete construction when looking around or checking on a place.

Sollen Sollen means should in Sollen wir das Thermostat niedriger einstellen? It asks whether the speakers ought to take a joint action. Use Sollen wir + infinitive to suggest or discuss an action.

das das means the in das Thermostat. It identifies the specific thermostat that should be adjusted. Here it is an article before Thermostat, not the pronoun for it.

Thermostat Thermostat means thermostat in das Thermostat niedriger einstellen. It is the control whose setting the speakers want to lower. Use it with einstellen when talking about adjusting the control.

niedriger niedriger means lower in das Thermostat niedriger einstellen. It describes a reduction in the thermostat setting. Use it with einstellen when asking for a lower setting.

einstellen einstellen means set or adjust in das Thermostat niedriger einstellen. It is the infinitive after Sollen wir and names the proposed action. Use it with a control such as das Thermostat.

während während means while in während wir weg sind. It introduces a situation happening during the time of the speakers’ absence. Use während before a clause describing the simultaneous period.

Stell Stell means set or adjust in Stell es niedriger ein. It is an informal instruction to one person. Because einstellen is separable here, the rest of the verb appears at the end in Stell es niedriger ein.

es es means it in Stell es niedriger ein. It refers back to das Thermostat and avoids repeating that noun. Use es when the thing being adjusted has already been identified.

ein ein is the separated part of einstellen in Stell es niedriger ein. It completes the meaning set or adjust and does not mean in here. In this imperative, it appears at the end of the instruction.

aber aber means but in aber nicht so niedrig, dass die Wohnung zu kalt wird. It introduces a restriction on the instruction to lower the thermostat. Use it to add a limit or contrast.

nicht nicht means not in nicht so niedrig, dass die Wohnung zu kalt wird. It negates the degree expressed by so niedrig. Use nicht so + adjective to say that something should not reach a certain degree.

so so means to this degree in nicht so niedrig, dass die Wohnung zu kalt wird. It connects the degree of lowering with the result that follows. The reusable construction is so + adjective, dass + result clause.

niedrig niedrig means low in nicht so niedrig. It describes the thermostat setting and is limited by nicht so. Use it with einstellen or zu when describing how low a setting or level is.

dass dass means that in so niedrig, dass die Wohnung zu kalt wird. It introduces the result of lowering the thermostat too far. Use dass after a degree expression to state its consequence.

zu zu means too in zu kalt. It shows that the apartment would reach an excessive degree of cold. Use zu + adjective to describe an undesirably high degree.

kalt kalt means cold in die Wohnung zu kalt wird. It describes the temperature of the apartment. Use zu kalt when saying that a place has become colder than is acceptable.

wird wird means gets or becomes in die Wohnung zu kalt wird. It describes the apartment changing into the state of being too cold. Use wird + adjective to describe a change of state.

auch auch means also in Ich habe auch unseren Nachbarn gebeten. It adds another preparation to the earlier checks. Use it when adding information that belongs to the same situation.

unseren unseren means our in unseren Nachbarn. It shows that the neighbor is connected to the speakers. Use a possessive form before a person or thing when expressing that relationship.

Nachbarn Nachbarn means neighbor in unseren Nachbarn. It identifies the person who was asked to receive the packages. The exact form Nachbarn is related to the citation form Nachbar and appears here in the phrase unseren Nachbarn.

gebeten gebeten means asked in Ich habe auch unseren Nachbarn gebeten, alle Pakete anzunehmen. It reports a request made to the neighbor. The construction links the person asked with the action they were requested to perform.

alle alle means all or any in alle Pakete. It refers to the complete set of packages that may arrive. Use alle before a plural noun when including the whole group.

Pakete Pakete means packages in alle Pakete. It is the plural of Paket and refers to deliveries the neighbor should receive. Use it with alle when referring to all of the packages.

anzunehmen anzunehmen means to accept or receive in alle Pakete anzunehmen. It names the action requested from the neighbor regarding the packages. Use the exact construction gebeten, alle Pakete anzunehmen to report such a request.

Dadurch Dadurch means through that or as a result in Dadurch wirkt die Wohnung bewohnt. It refers to the package arrangement described just before. Use it at the start of a sentence to connect an action with its result.

wirkt wirkt means seems or appears in wirkt die Wohnung bewohnt. It describes how the apartment comes across to an observer. Use wirkt + a description to say how something appears.

bewohnt bewohnt means occupied or lived in in wirkt die Wohnung bewohnt. It describes the impression that people still live in the apartment. Use wirkt bewohnt when an occupied appearance is the communicative purpose.

fühle fühle means feel in Jetzt fühle ich mich besser dabei, wegzufahren. With mich, it describes the speaker’s own emotional state. Use the reflexive pattern fühle ich mich + description to express how you feel.

mich mich means myself or me in fühle ich mich besser. It is the reflexive part of the expression for describing the speaker’s own feeling. Use ich fühle mich when reporting your personal state.

besser besser means better in fühle ich mich besser dabei, wegzufahren. It shows that the speaker feels improved or more at ease after the checks. Use sich besser fühlen for an improved personal state.

dabei dabei means about it or in connection with it in besser dabei, wegzufahren. It connects the speaker’s feeling with the action of leaving. Use dabei with a following action when explaining how someone feels about doing it.

wegzufahren wegzufahren means leaving or going away in dabei, wegzufahren. It names the departure that now feels easier after the apartment checks. It is the infinitive form used after dabei in this expression.

Diese Diese means this in Diese Checkliste. It points to the specific checklist the speakers have just used. Use it before a noun when identifying a particular item.

Checkliste Checkliste means checklist in Diese Checkliste. It refers to the list of apartment checks and arrangements. Use it when describing an organized set of things to verify.

hat hat is the auxiliary in Diese Checkliste hat etwas Zeit gekostet. It helps report the completed fact that the checklist required time. Use it with a singular subject and a completed action.

etwas etwas means a little or some in etwas Zeit. It expresses an unspecified small amount of time. Use etwas before a noun such as Zeit when the amount is not exact.

Zeit Zeit means time in etwas Zeit gekostet. It is the resource required by the checklist. The expression Zeit kosten describes an activity that requires time.

gekostet gekostet means taken or cost in Diese Checkliste hat etwas Zeit gekostet. With Zeit, it says that the checklist required some time. The exact form gekostet is the completed form used with hat.

sie sie means it in sie war es wert and refers back to Diese Checkliste. It allows the speaker to discuss the checklist without repeating the noun. Use it to refer to a previously named item.

war war means was in sie war es wert. It states the checklist’s value after the work was completed. Use the phrase war es wert to evaluate an effort positively.

wert wert means worth in sie war es wert. Together with war es, it says that the time and effort were worthwhile. Use the construction etwas war es wert when saying that an action was worthwhile.

Grammar Points

Trennbare Verben mit „zu“: Präfix + zu + Verbstamm

wegzufahren und Pakete anzunehmen

VEK-tsoo-FAH-ren oont pah-KAY-tuh AHN-tsoo-NAY-men

to leave and accept packages

Bei trennbaren Verben steht „zu“ zwischen Präfix und Verbstamm: wegfahren → wegzufahren, annehmen → anzunehmen.

Trennbare Verben im Hauptsatz: Verbteil ... Präfix

Ich schaue nach.

Ikh SHOW-uh nahkh

I check again.

Der konjugierte Verbteil steht im Hauptsatz an Position 2, das Präfix steht am Satzende.

German Vocabulary

ausschalten verb

OWS-shall-ten to turn off ausgeschaltet

den Herd ausgeschaltet

ausstecken verb

OWS-shteck-en to unplug ausgesteckt

die kleinen Geräte ausgesteckt

Balkontür noun

bahl-KON-tewr balcony door

Die Balkontür ist abgeschlossen.

Gerät noun

guh-RAYT appliance; device Geräte

die kleinen Geräte

Herd noun

HAIRT stove

den Herd ausgeschaltet

mehrere det

MAY-rer-uh several

mehrere Tage

Schlafzimmerfenster noun

SHLAHFT-tsim-mer-FEN-stah bedroom window

die Schlafzimmerfenster

sicher adj

ZIKH-er secure; safe

sicher verschlossen

überprüfen verb

oo-ber-PRUE-fen to check; to double-check

die Wohnung noch einmal überprüfen

verschlossen adj

fer-SHLOSS-en closed and locked

sicher verschlossen

weg adv

vek away

Wir sind mehrere Tage weg.

Wohnung noun

VOH-noong apartment

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

stove

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Herd

to unplug

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ausgesteckt

several

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mehrere

apartment

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Wohnung