Choosing the Highest-Impact Task | Learn German in English

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Use Choosing the Highest-Impact Task to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich habe vier Aufgaben, und alle wirken wichtig.

ikh HAH-buh FEER OWF-gah-bun, oont AH-luh VIR-kuhn VIKH-tikh. I have four tasks, and they all feel important.

Unterscheide zwischen Dringlichkeit und Auswirkung, bevor du die Reihenfolge festlegst.

oon-ter-SHY-duh TSVISH-un DRING-likh-kite oont OWSS-VIR-koong, buh-FOHR doo dee RYE-un-fol-guh FEST-laykst. Separate urgency from impact before you choose the order.

Die E-Mail ist dringend, aber der Bericht wirkt sich auf das Kundentreffen morgen aus.

dee EE-mail ist DRING-unt, AH-ber dair buh-RIKHT VIRKT zikh owf dahs KOON-dun-tref-un MOR-gun ows. The email is urgent, but the report affects tomorrow's client meeting.

Der Bericht hat eine größere Auswirkung, besonders wenn andere davon abhängen.

dair buh-RIKHT haht EYE-nuh GRUR-zuh-ruh OWSS-VIR-koong, buh-ZON-dairs venn AHN-duh-ruh dah-FONE AHP-heng-un. The report has higher impact, especially if others depend on it.

Die Designprüfung blockiert außerdem ein anderes Teammitglied.

dee duh-ZINE-proo-foong blok-KEERT OWSS-er-DAYM ine AHN-duh-rus TEEM-mit-gleet. The design review also blocks another teammate.

Dann kümmere dich zuerst um die Prüfung, die dein Teammitglied aufhält, wenn das schnell geht.

DAHN KUM-uh dikh tsoo-AIRST oom dee PROO-foong, dee dine TEEM-mit-gleet OWF-helt, venn dahs shnell gate. Then handle the review that is blocking your teammate first if it will be quick.

Danach kann ich mich auf den Bericht konzentrieren, ohne jemanden zu unterbrechen.

dah-NAHKH kahn ikh mikh owf dane buh-RIKHT kon-tsen-TREER-un, OHN-uh YAY-mand-un tsoo oon-ter-BREKH-un. After that, I can focus on the report without interrupting anyone.

Abhängigkeiten können beeinflussen, welche Aufgabe zuerst kommen sollte.

AHP-heng-ikh-kite-un KUR-nun buh-EYE-nfloo-sun, VEL-khuh OWF-gah-buh tsoo-AIRST KOM-un ZOHL-tuh. Dependencies can change which task should come first.

Die dringende E-Mail kann bis nach dem Entwurf des Berichts warten.

dee DRING-un-duh EE-mail kahn biss nahkh dame ENT-voorf dess buh-RIKHTS VAR-tun. The urgent email can wait until after the report draft.

Beim Priorisieren geht es um Konsequenzen, nicht nur um Druck.

bime pree-oh-ree-ZEER-un gate ess oom KON-zeh-KVENTS-un, nikht noor oom DROOK. Prioritizing is about consequences, not just pressure.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who has four tasks. It is used as the subject in the pattern “Ich habe” when describing what you have. Use it when speaking about yourself in a work conversation.

habe “habe” means “have” here and says that the speaker possesses or has four tasks. It is the first-person form of haben and appears after “Ich” in “Ich habe vier Aufgaben”. Use this pattern to state what responsibilities or items you have.

Aufgaben “Aufgaben” means “tasks” and refers to the pieces of work the speaker must handle. It is the plural form of Aufgabe, shown in “vier Aufgaben” after a number. Use it when listing several duties or work items.

und “und” connects the statement about having tasks with the statement that they seem important. In “Ich habe vier Aufgaben, und alle wirken wichtig”, it joins two related clauses. Use it to add another connected point in a conversation.

alle “alle” means “all of them” and refers to the four tasks as a group. In “alle wirken wichtig”, it functions as the subject before the plural verb. Use it when every member of a previously mentioned group has the same property.

wirken “wirken” means “seem” or “appear” here, so the tasks give the impression of being important. It is the plural form of wirken because “alle” is the subject in “alle wirken wichtig”. Use it to describe how something appears or comes across.

wichtig “wichtig” means “important” and describes the tasks in “alle wirken wichtig”. After wirken, it states the impression the tasks give rather than directly naming an action. Use it when explaining that a task, issue, or decision matters.

Unterscheide “Unterscheide” means “distinguish” or “separate” and gives the listener advice about urgency and impact. It is the informal singular imperative of unterscheiden in “Unterscheide zwischen Dringlichkeit und Auswirkung”. Use this form when directly telling one familiar person to make a distinction.

zwischen “zwischen” means “between” and introduces the two things being distinguished in “zwischen Dringlichkeit und Auswirkung”. The useful pattern here is “zwischen X und Y unterscheiden”. Use it when comparing or separating two categories.

Dringlichkeit “Dringlichkeit” means “urgency” and names how immediately something needs attention. In “zwischen Dringlichkeit und Auswirkung”, it is contrasted with the task’s impact. Use it when discussing how pressing a task or problem is.

Auswirkung “Auswirkung” means “impact” or “effect” and refers to the result a task may have. In “zwischen Dringlichkeit und Auswirkung”, it is one of the two criteria for choosing an order. Use it when evaluating the consequences of an action or decision.

bevor “bevor” means “before” and introduces the action that should happen first in “bevor du die Reihenfolge festlegst”. It places the following clause earlier in time or sequence. Use it to say that one action must happen before another.

du “du” means informal singular “you” and addresses one familiar colleague. It is the subject in “du die Reihenfolge festlegst”. Use it when giving advice directly to a colleague or another person you address informally.

die “die” has two functions in this dialogue: it is the definite article in “die Reihenfolge” and “die Prüfung”, and it is the relative pronoun in “die dein Teammitglied aufhält”. In the relative clause, it refers back to “die Prüfung”. Use the form according to whether it introduces a feminine noun or links a noun to a relative clause.

Reihenfolge “Reihenfolge” means “order” or “sequence” and refers to the order in which the tasks will be handled. In “die Reihenfolge festlegst”, it is the thing whose order is being determined. Use it when arranging tasks, steps, or events in a sequence.

festlegst “festlegst” means “set” or “determine” and says that the listener decides the task order. It is the second-person singular form of festlegen in the subordinate clause “bevor du die Reihenfolge festlegst”. Use it when telling someone that they establish a plan, rule, or sequence.

E-Mail “E-Mail” means “email” and refers to the urgent message in the work situation. It appears in “Die E-Mail ist dringend” as the subject of the sentence. Use it when discussing a message that may need a response or attention.

ist “ist” means “is” and links “Die E-Mail” with the description “dringend”. It is the third-person singular form of sein in “Die E-Mail ist dringend”. Use it to describe the current state or quality of one thing.

dringend “dringend” means “urgent” and describes the email as needing prompt attention. In “Die E-Mail ist dringend”, it follows ist as a description of the email. Use it when delayed action could create a problem or when something needs attention soon.

aber “aber” means “but” and introduces a contrast between the email’s urgency and the report’s impact. In “Die E-Mail ist dringend, aber der Bericht ...”, it connects two opposing considerations. Use it to present an important qualification or contrast.

der “Der” is the definite article “the” before “Bericht” in “Der Bericht wirkt sich ... aus”. Its capital letter comes from its position at the beginning of the sentence. Use it to introduce the specific report being discussed as the subject.

Bericht “Bericht” means “report” and refers to the document that affects tomorrow’s client meeting. It is the subject in “Der Bericht wirkt sich auf das Kundentreffen morgen aus”. Use it for a written account or document prepared for work.

wirkt “wirkt” means “has an effect” in the expression “wirkt sich auf das Kundentreffen morgen aus”. It is the third-person singular form of wirken, used with the reflexive element sich and the ending aus. Use the full expression when explaining that something affects a result or situation.

sich “sich” is part of the expression “wirkt sich auf das Kundentreffen morgen aus”, which means “affects the client meeting tomorrow”. Here it does not mean “itself” independently; it belongs to the reflexive verb expression. Use the whole pattern “sich auf etwas auswirken” when describing an effect on something.

auf “auf” is part of “wirkt sich auf das Kundentreffen morgen aus” and introduces what is affected. Its contribution is the link between the report’s effect and the client meeting. Use this preposition in the pattern “sich auf etwas auswirken”.

das “das” means “the” in “das Kundentreffen” and introduces the specific client meeting. It is the article used with Kundentreffen in this noun phrase. Use it when referring to that particular meeting rather than a general meeting.

Kundentreffen “Kundentreffen” means “client meeting” and refers to the meeting taking place tomorrow. It is the object introduced by “auf” in “wirkt sich auf das Kundentreffen morgen aus”. Use it when discussing a meeting with a client or customer.

morgen “morgen” means “tomorrow” and specifies when the client meeting will take place. In “das Kundentreffen morgen”, it modifies the meeting as a time expression. Use it to refer to the day after today in planning or scheduling.

aus “aus” is the separated verb prefix in “wirkt sich auf das Kundentreffen morgen aus”. Together with “wirkt sich ... aus”, it expresses that the report affects the meeting. Use the complete separable expression when talking about the effect of one thing on another.

hat “hat” means “has” and states that the report possesses a greater impact. It is the third-person singular form of haben in “Der Bericht hat eine größere Auswirkung”. Use it to describe a thing as having a quality, feature, or consequence.

eine “eine” means “a” and introduces the singular noun “Auswirkung” in “eine größere Auswirkung”. It presents the impact as one effect being compared with another. Use it before a singular feminine noun when identifying one item or quality.

größere “größere” means “greater” or “higher” and compares the report’s impact with the impact of another task. In “eine größere Auswirkung”, it describes the effect as larger in importance or result. Use it when comparing the size or degree of one effect with another.

besonders “besonders” means “especially” and highlights the condition that other people depend on the report. In “besonders wenn andere davon abhängen”, it gives extra importance to that condition. Use it to emphasize one especially relevant case.

wenn “wenn” means “if” here and introduces a condition in “wenn andere davon abhängen”. The condition is that other people depend on the report. Use it when explaining what happens under a particular circumstance.

andere “andere” means “others” and refers to other people involved in the work. In “wenn andere davon abhängen”, it is the subject of the clause. Use it when referring to additional people without repeating who they are.

davon “davon” means “on it” or “from it” in the expression “davon abhängen”, referring back to the report. The full expression means that other people depend on the report. Use “davon abhängen” when explaining that a result or person depends on something already mentioned.

abhängen “abhängen” means “depend” in “wenn andere davon abhängen”. It describes other people’s work as relying on the report. Use it with “davon” to express dependence on a previously mentioned thing.

Designprüfung “Designprüfung” means “design review” and refers to the review that may be blocking another teammate. It is the subject in “Die Designprüfung blockiert außerdem ein anderes Teammitglied”. Use it for a work review of a design or design-related material.

blockiert “blockiert” means “blocks” and says that the design review prevents another teammate from continuing. It is the third-person singular form of blockieren in “Die Designprüfung blockiert ...”. Use it when a task, issue, or decision stops someone or something from moving forward.

außerdem “außerdem” means “also” or “besides” and adds the design review as another important consideration. In “blockiert außerdem ein anderes Teammitglied”, it signals an additional consequence. Use it when adding another relevant fact.

ein “ein” introduces the singular noun phrase “ein anderes Teammitglied” and means “a” in this context. It presents one teammate who has not been identified more specifically. Use it before a singular noun when introducing one person or thing.

anderes “anderes” means “another” or “different” and distinguishes this team member from the speaker or other people already considered. In “ein anderes Teammitglied”, it modifies Teammitglied. Use it when identifying an additional person or thing of the same general type.

Teammitglied “Teammitglied” means “team member” or “teammate” and refers to a person working in the same team. In “ein anderes Teammitglied”, that person is being held up by the design review. Use it when discussing a colleague as part of a team.

Dann “Dann” means “then” and signals the next step in the suggested task order. In “Dann kümmere dich zuerst ...”, it connects this action to the earlier discussion. Use it to introduce what should happen next.

kümmere “kümmere” means “take care” or “deal” in the expression “kümmere dich ... um die Prüfung”. It is the informal singular imperative of sich kümmern. Use the full pattern when telling someone to handle or attend to a task.

dich “dich” means “you” as the object of the expression “kümmere dich um die Prüfung”. It is required by the reflexive verb sich kümmern when addressing one person informally. Use it with this expression when telling a familiar person to take care of something.

zuerst “zuerst” means “first” and sets the review before the other tasks in the recommended order. In “kümmere dich zuerst um die Prüfung”, it indicates priority. Use it when stating which action should happen before the others.

um “um” is part of “sich um etwas kümmern” and introduces the task being handled. In “kümmere dich ... um die Prüfung”, it links the action of taking care to the review. Use this construction when assigning responsibility for a task or matter.

Prüfung “Prüfung” means “review” here and refers to the design review that is blocking the teammate. It is the object of “um” in “kümmere dich zuerst um die Prüfung”. Use it when referring to the checking or evaluation of work.

dein “dein” means “your” and identifies the teammate as belonging to or working with the person being addressed. In “dein Teammitglied”, it specifies whose team member is involved. Use it when referring to something associated with one person you address informally.

aufhält “aufhält” means “holds up” or “delays” and describes the review’s effect on the teammate in “die dein Teammitglied aufhält”. It is the third-person singular form of aufhalten, placed together in the relative clause. Use it when something is preventing a person from progressing.

schnell “schnell” means “quickly” here and describes the suggested speed of completing the review. In “wenn das schnell geht”, it helps set the condition for handling the review first. Use it when evaluating whether an action can be completed in little time.

geht “geht” means “goes” in the expression “wenn das schnell geht”, which means if that can be done quickly or works quickly. It is the third-person singular form of gehen with “das” as its subject. Use this expression when assessing whether a proposed action is feasible within a short time.

Danach “Danach” means “after that” and points to the step following the review. In “Danach kann ich mich auf den Bericht konzentrieren”, it organizes the speaker’s work sequence. Use it to refer to an action that follows a previously mentioned one.

kann “kann” means “can” and expresses the speaker’s ability or possibility to focus on the report. It is the first-person singular form of können in “Danach kann ich mich ... konzentrieren”. Use it to state what you are able or permitted to do next.

mich “mich” means “myself” as the reflexive object in “mich auf den Bericht konzentrieren”. It belongs to the expression sich auf etwas konzentrieren and refers back to the speaker. Use it when saying that you will direct your own attention toward something.

den “den” means “the” in “auf den Bericht” and introduces the specific report receiving the speaker’s attention. In this expression, the article appears after “auf” in “mich auf den Bericht konzentrieren”. Use it to refer to the particular report already under discussion.

konzentrieren “konzentrieren” means “focus” or “concentrate” in “mich auf den Bericht konzentrieren”. It is the infinitive after “kann” and is used with the reflexive pronoun mich. Use the pattern “sich auf etwas konzentrieren” when directing attention to a task or subject.

ohne “ohne” means “without” and introduces an action that does not happen while the speaker focuses on the report. In “ohne jemanden zu unterbrechen”, it forms a without-plus-infinitive construction. Use it to explain that one action takes place while another is avoided.

jemanden “jemanden” means “someone” or “anyone” as the person who might be interrupted. It is the object in “jemanden zu unterbrechen”. Use it when referring to an unspecified person receiving an action.

zu “zu” marks the infinitive in “jemanden zu unterbrechen”. Together with “ohne”, the construction means “without interrupting anyone”. Use it before an infinitive when describing an action that is avoided or connected to another action.

unterbrechen “unterbrechen” means “interrupt” and refers to stopping someone’s activity or conversation. In “ohne jemanden zu unterbrechen”, it is an infinitive after zu. Use it when explaining that you want to work without stopping another person.

Abhängigkeiten “Abhängigkeiten” means “dependencies” and refers to relationships in which one task or person relies on another. In “Abhängigkeiten können beeinflussen ...”, these relationships can change the task order. Use it when planning work that has linked tasks or people.

können “können” means “can” and expresses that dependencies have the ability to influence the order. It is the plural form of können because “Abhängigkeiten” is the subject. Use it to describe what several factors are capable of changing.

beeinflussen “beeinflussen” means “influence” or “affect” and says that dependencies can change which task comes first. It is the infinitive after “können” in “können beeinflussen, welche Aufgabe zuerst kommen sollte”. Use it when describing one factor’s effect on a decision or result.

welche “welche” means “which” and identifies the task whose position is being considered. It introduces “welche Aufgabe zuerst kommen sollte” inside the subordinate clause. Use it when selecting one item from several known possibilities.

Aufgabe “Aufgabe” means “task” and refers to one item in the set of work being prioritized. In “welche Aufgabe zuerst kommen sollte”, it is the item whose order is being decided. Use it for one duty or piece of work.

kommen “kommen” means “come” in “welche Aufgabe zuerst kommen sollte”, where it describes a task’s place in the sequence. It is the infinitive used with sollte. Use this pattern when discussing which item should come first in an order.

sollte “sollte” expresses “should” and says what position the task ought to have. In “welche Aufgabe zuerst kommen sollte”, it gives a recommendation about the order. Use it when stating what is advisable or expected.

dringende “dringende” means “urgent” and describes the email in “Die dringende E-Mail”. It is the adjective form used before the feminine noun E-Mail with the definite article. Use it when identifying an email that needs attention soon.

bis “bis” means “until” and marks the point up to which the urgent email can wait. In “bis nach dem Entwurf des Berichts”, it combines with nach to mean until after the report draft. Use it to set a time boundary.

nach “nach” means “after” in the time expression “bis nach dem Entwurf des Berichts”. It places the waiting period beyond the completion of the report draft. Use it to describe a point or period following an event.

dem “dem” means “the” in “nach dem Entwurf des Berichts” and introduces the specific draft after which the email can wait. It appears after the preposition nach in this time expression. Use it when referring to that particular draft as the next time reference.

Entwurf “Entwurf” means “draft” and refers to the preliminary version of the report. In “nach dem Entwurf des Berichts”, it marks the point after which the email can be handled. Use it for an unfinished or preliminary version of a document.

des “des” means “of the” and introduces the noun that identifies which draft is meant in “des Berichts”. It links the draft to the report. Use it when specifying that something belongs to or concerns a particular noun.

Berichts “Berichts” means “of the report” and identifies the report whose draft is being discussed. It is the genitive form of Bericht in “des Berichts”. Use this form when one noun specifies or belongs to another noun.

warten “warten” means “wait” and says that the urgent email can be postponed. It is the infinitive after “kann” in “Die dringende E-Mail kann ... warten”. Use it when saying that an action does not need to happen immediately.

Beim “Beim” means “when” or “in the process of” in “Beim Priorisieren geht es um Konsequenzen”. It is the contraction of bei dem and introduces the activity of prioritizing. Use it to frame what matters during an activity.

Priorisieren “Priorisieren” means “prioritizing” and names the activity of deciding which tasks come first. In “Beim Priorisieren”, it is a capitalized nominalized infinitive after Beim. Use it when discussing the process of assigning task priority.

es “es” is the impersonal subject in the construction “Beim Priorisieren geht es um Konsequenzen”. Together with geht es um, it helps say what the activity is about. Use this construction to identify the central topic or consideration.

Konsequenzen “Konsequenzen” means “consequences” and refers to the results that follow from choosing one task before another. In “geht es um Konsequenzen”, consequences are presented as the basis for prioritizing. Use it when evaluating what may happen because of a decision.

nicht “nicht” means “not” and negates the idea that prioritizing is based only on pressure. In “nicht nur Druck”, it works together with nur to create the contrast “not just pressure”. Use it to reject or limit a statement.

nur “nur” means “only” or “just” and limits Druck in “nicht nur Druck”. The pair “nicht nur” says that pressure is one factor but not the sole factor. Use it when explaining that something involves more than one consideration.

Druck “Druck” means “pressure” and refers to the feeling that an urgent task creates. In “nicht nur Druck”, it is contrasted with consequences as a basis for prioritizing. Use it when discussing urgency or external pressure in a work situation.

Grammar Points

sich auswirken auf + Akkusativ

Die Dringlichkeit wirkt sich auf die Reihenfolge aus.

dee DRING-likh-kite VIRKT zikh owf dee RYE-un-fol-guh ows.

The urgency affects the order.

The separable verb splits in a main clause: wirkt sich ... aus.

sich kümmern um + Akkusativ

Kümmere dich um die Aufgabe.

KUM-uh dikh oom dee OWF-gah-buh.

Deal with the task.

This reflexive phrase uses sich and the preposition um before the object.

German Vocabulary

Aufgabe noun

OWF-gah-buh task Aufgaben

Ich habe vier Aufgaben.

Auswirkung noun

OWSS-VIR-koong impact; effect

zwischen Dringlichkeit und Auswirkung

Bericht noun

buh-RIKHT report

Der Bericht hat eine größere Auswirkung.

dringend adj

DRING-unt urgent

Die E-Mail ist dringend.

Dringlichkeit noun

DRING-likh-kite urgency

zwischen Dringlichkeit und Auswirkung

E-Mail noun

EE-mail email

Die E-Mail ist dringend.

festlegen verb

FEST-lay-gun to determine; to set festlegst

bevor du die Reihenfolge festlegst

Reihenfolge noun

RYE-un-fol-guh order; sequence

die Reihenfolge festlegst

sich auswirken verb

zikh OWSS-VIR-kuhn to affect; to have an impact wirkt sich ... aus

der Bericht wirkt sich auf das Kundentreffen aus

unterscheiden verb

oon-ter-SHY-dun to distinguish; to separate Unterscheide

Unterscheide zwischen Dringlichkeit und Auswirkung.

wichtig adj

VIKH-tikh important

alle wirken wichtig

wirken verb

VIR-kuhn to seem; to appear

alle wirken wichtig

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to seem; to appear

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wirken

impact; effect

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Auswirkung

to determine; to set

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festlegst

important

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wichtig