Describing Cough Symptoms Before Calling a Clinic | Learn German in English

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Use Describing Cough Symptoms Before Calling a Clinic to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich muss in der Klinik anrufen, weil mein Husten nicht besser wird.

ikh moos in dair klee-NEEK AHN-roo-fen, vyle mine HOO-sten nikht BESS-er veert. I need to call the clinic because my cough is not getting better.

Sag ihnen, was sich verändert hat und was dir am meisten Sorgen macht.

ZAHK EE-nen, vahs zikh fair-EN-dairt haht oont vahs deer ahm MY-sten ZOR-gen makht. Tell them what has changed and what worries you most.

Er ist schlimmer geworden, und ich fühle mich fiebrig und müde.

air ist SHLIM-er guh-VOR-den, oont ikh FYOO-luh mikh FEE-brikh oont MYOO-duh. It has gotten worse, and I feel feverish and tired.

Sag, wann er angefangen hat und ob etwas geholfen hat.

ZAHK, vahn air AHN-guh-fahng-en haht oont ohp ET-vahs guh-HOL-fen haht. Mention when it started and whether anything has helped.

Ich muss auch wissen, was ich tun soll, wenn mein Husten heute Abend schlimmer wird.

ikh moos owkh VISS-en, vahs ikh toon zohl, venn mine HOO-sten HOY-tuh AH-bent SHLIM-er veert. I also need to know what to do if it gets worse tonight.

Frag, wohin du gehen sollst, wenn du schnell Hilfe brauchst.

FRAHK, voh-HIN doo GAY-en zohlst, venn doo SHNELL HIL-fuh browkhst. Ask where you should go if you need help quickly.

Ich schreibe die wichtigsten Punkte auf, bevor ich anrufe.

ikh SHRY-buh dee VIKH-tikh-sten POONK-tuh owf, beh-VOR ikh AHN-roo-fuh. I will write the main points down before I call.

Das sollte den Anruf für euch beide klarer machen.

dahs ZOL-tuh dayn AHN-roof fyur oyekh BY-duh KLAHR-er MAKH-en. That should make the call clearer for both of you.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who needs to call. It is used as the subject in “Ich muss in der Klinik anrufen” and “Ich schreibe die wichtigsten Punkte auf.”

muss “muss” expresses a need or obligation: the speaker needs to call the clinic. It is the form of müssen used with “Ich,” and it is followed by the infinitive “anrufen” in “Ich muss in der Klinik anrufen.”

in In “in der Klinik anrufen,” “in” is part of the expression for calling the clinic. The same pattern appears with another place in “in der Klinik anrufen.”

der “der” means “the” in “der Klinik.” Here it is the article used with “Klinik” after “in.”

Klinik “Klinik” means “clinic,” the medical place the speaker plans to call. The useful expression in the dialogue is “in der Klinik anrufen” when contacting a clinic by phone.

anrufen “anrufen” means “to call” by phone. It is the infinitive after “muss” in “Ich muss in der Klinik anrufen,” so it stays in this form after the modal verb.

weil “weil” means “because” and introduces the reason for calling. In “weil mein Husten nicht besser wird,” the verb comes at the end of the subordinate clause.

mein “mein” means “my” and identifies the cough as belonging to the speaker. It appears before the noun in “mein Husten.”

Husten “Husten” means “cough,” the symptom being discussed. It is used in “mein Husten” and later in “wenn mein Husten heute Abend schlimmer wird.”

nicht “nicht” negates the statement that the cough is getting better. In “nicht besser wird,” it creates the meaning “is not getting better.”

besser “besser” means “better” and describes improvement in “nicht besser wird.” The dialogue uses the pattern “nicht besser werden” for a condition that is failing to improve.

wird “wird” means “gets” or “becomes” in “nicht besser wird,” describing a change toward being better. The same change pattern appears in “schlimmer wird.”

Sag “Sag” means “tell” or “say” and gives an informal singular instruction. It introduces the information to report in “Sag ihnen, was sich verändert hat.”

ihnen “ihnen” means “to them,” referring to the people at the clinic who should receive the information. It appears in the pattern “Sag ihnen, was …” for telling someone some information.

was “was” means “what” and introduces the information that should be reported. It is used in “was sich verändert hat” and again in “was dir am meisten Sorgen macht.”

sich “sich” is part of “sich verändert hat,” meaning that something has changed. Here it refers to the symptoms or situation rather than to another person.

verändert “verändert” means “changed” in “was sich verändert hat.” Together with “sich” and “hat,” it describes a change that has already occurred.

hat “hat” helps form the meaning “has changed” in “sich verändert hat.” It appears at the end because the phrase is inside a subordinate clause introduced by “was.”

und “und” means “and” and links two pieces of information to report. In the dialogue it connects “was sich verändert hat” with “was dir am meisten Sorgen macht.”

dir “dir” means “to you,” identifying the person who is worried. It appears in “was dir am meisten Sorgen macht,” where something causes worry for that person.

am “am” is part of the expression “am meisten,” meaning “the most.” In this phrase it combines with “meisten” to show the greatest degree of worry.

meisten “meisten” contributes the meaning “most” in “am meisten Sorgen macht.” The complete expression “am meisten” is used to identify the greatest concern.

Sorgen “Sorgen” means “worries” in “Sorgen macht.” The dialogue uses the expression “jemandem Sorgen machen” in the exact phrase “was dir am meisten Sorgen macht,” meaning to cause someone worry.

macht “macht” means “makes” or “causes” in “Sorgen macht.” In “jemandem Sorgen machen,” it describes something causing worry for someone.

Er “Er” means “he” or “it” and refers back to the masculine noun “Husten.” In “Er ist schlimmer geworden,” it means that the cough has become worse.

ist “ist” means “is” and helps express the change in “ist schlimmer geworden.” It links the cough to the result described by “schlimmer geworden.”

schlimmer “schlimmer” means “worse” and describes the cough’s deterioration. The dialogue uses it in “schlimmer geworden” and “schlimmer wird” for a worsening condition.

geworden “geworden” means “become” or “gotten” in “ist schlimmer geworden.” It shows that the cough changed into a worse condition.

fühle “fühle” means “feel” in “ich fühle mich fiebrig und müde.” It is used with the reflexive pronoun “mich” to describe the speaker’s physical state.

mich “mich” means “me” and is required in the expression “ich fühle mich.” Together, “ich fühle mich fiebrig und müde” describes how the speaker feels.

fiebrig “fiebrig” means “feverish” and describes the speaker’s physical feeling after “fühle mich.” It is used alongside “müde” in “ich fühle mich fiebrig und müde.”

müde “müde” means “tired” and describes the speaker’s condition. It appears as another adjective in “ich fühle mich fiebrig und müde.”

wann “wann” means “when” and introduces a question about the time the cough began. The dialogue uses it in “wann er angefangen hat.”

angefangen “angefangen” means “started” in “wann er angefangen hat.” It identifies the beginning of the cough and appears with “hat” at the end of the subordinate clause.

ob “ob” means “whether” and introduces an indirect yes-or-no question. In “ob etwas geholfen hat,” it asks whether anything has helped.

etwas “etwas” means “something” or, in this question, “anything.” It is the thing whose possible helpful effect is being asked about in “ob etwas geholfen hat.”

geholfen “geholfen” means “helped” in “ob etwas geholfen hat.” It describes whether something has had a helpful effect on the cough or symptoms.

auch “auch” means “also” and adds another thing the speaker needs to know. In “Ich muss auch wissen,” it connects this need with the earlier need to call.

wissen “wissen” means “know” and is the infinitive after “muss” in “Ich muss auch wissen.” The information being known is introduced by “was ich tun soll.”

tun “tun” means “do” in “was ich tun soll.” It is the infinitive after “soll” and refers to the action needed if the cough worsens.

soll “soll” expresses what the speaker should or is supposed to do. In “was ich tun soll,” it asks for instructions about the appropriate action.

wenn “wenn” means “if” here and introduces a condition. In “wenn mein Husten heute Abend schlimmer wird,” it describes the situation that would require further action.

heute “heute” means “today” and specifies the day in “heute Abend.” Together, “heute Abend” means this evening.

Abend “Abend” means “evening” in the time expression “heute Abend.” This expression identifies when the cough might become worse.

Frag “Frag” means “ask” and gives an informal singular instruction. It introduces the question to ask in “Frag, wohin du gehen sollst.”

wohin “wohin” means “where to” and asks about a destination involving movement. In “wohin du gehen sollst,” it asks where the person should go for help.

du “du” means “you” when addressing one person informally. It is the subject in “wohin du gehen sollst” and “wenn du schnell Hilfe brauchst.”

gehen “gehen” means “go” and is the infinitive after “sollst” in “wohin du gehen sollst.” It refers to going to a place where help can be obtained.

sollst “sollst” expresses what one person should or is supposed to do when addressed informally. In “du gehen sollst,” it gives the recommended destination or action.

schnell “schnell” means “quickly” and emphasizes that help is needed without delay. It modifies “brauchst” in “wenn du schnell Hilfe brauchst.”

Hilfe “Hilfe” means “help,” the assistance the person may need quickly. It is the object in “wenn du schnell Hilfe brauchst.”

brauchst “brauchst” means “need” when speaking informally to one person. In “du schnell Hilfe brauchst,” it describes needing help quickly.

schreibe “schreibe” means “write” in “Ich schreibe die wichtigsten Punkte auf.” Together with “auf,” it expresses writing information down before the call.

die “die” means “the” in “die wichtigsten Punkte.” It identifies the specific main points that the speaker plans to write down.

wichtigsten “wichtigsten” means “most important” or “main” in “die wichtigsten Punkte.” It identifies which points should be written down: the ones most relevant to the call.

Punkte “Punkte” means “points,” referring to the individual pieces of information to discuss. The dialogue uses “die wichtigsten Punkte” for the main items to remember.

auf “auf” is the separable part of “aufschreiben” in “schreibe die wichtigsten Punkte auf.” It contributes the meaning “down,” so the expression means to write the points down.

bevor “bevor” means “before” and introduces an action that happens earlier in time. In “bevor ich anrufe,” the notes are written before the call.

anrufe “anrufe” means “call” in “bevor ich anrufe.” It is the form used with “ich” in the subordinate clause, where it appears at the end.

Das “Das” means “that” and refers back to writing down the main points. In “Das sollte den Anruf … machen,” it is the subject of the expected result.

sollte “sollte” means “should” and expresses an expected or intended result. In “Das sollte den Anruf … klarer machen,” it predicts that the notes will improve the call.

den “den” means “the” in “den Anruf,” referring to the specific phone call being prepared for. It appears directly before “Anruf.”

Anruf “Anruf” means “call,” specifically the phone conversation that will take place. The phrase “den Anruf für euch beide klarer machen” describes making that call clearer.

für “für” means “for” and identifies who benefits from or is affected by the clearer call. It introduces “euch beide” in “für euch beide.”

euch “euch” means “you” when addressing two people informally. In “für euch beide,” it refers to both adults involved in preparing for the call.

beide “beide” means “both” and makes clear that the statement concerns the two people together. It completes the phrase “für euch beide.”

klarer “klarer” means “clearer” and describes the improved quality of the call. In “den Anruf … klarer machen,” it is the result that the preparation should produce.

machen “machen” means “make” in “den Anruf für euch beide klarer machen.” It is the infinitive after “sollte” and connects the call with the result “klarer.”

Grammar Points

Trennbare Verben: aufschreiben → schreibe ... auf

Ich schreibe die wichtigsten Punkte auf.

ikh SHRY-buh dee VIKH-tikh-sten POONK-tuh owf.

I write down the most important points.

Bei trennbaren Verben steht die Vorsilbe im Hauptsatz am Satzende: aufschreiben → schreibe ... auf.

bevor + Nebensatz

Bevor du anrufst, schreibe die wichtigsten Punkte auf.

beh-VOR doo AHN-roofsht, SHRY-buh dee VIKH-tikh-sten POONK-tuh owf.

Before you call, write down the most important points.

Nach „bevor“ steht das konjugierte Verb am Ende des Nebensatzes: bevor du anrufst.

German Vocabulary

anfangen verb

AHN-fahng-en to start angefangen

anrufen verb

AHN-roo-fen to call

in der Klinik anrufen

besser werden phrase

BESS-er VAIR-den to get better besser wird

fiebrig adj

FEE-brikh feverish

helfen verb

HELL-fen to help geholfen

Husten noun

HOO-sten cough

Klinik noun

klee-NEEK clinic

in der Klinik

müde adj

MYOO-duh tired

schlimm adj

SHLIM bad; severe schlimmer

sich verändern verb

zikh fair-EN-dair-en to change sich verändert

Sorge noun

ZOR-guh worry Sorgen

Sorgen machen

Sorgen machen phrase

ZOR-gen MAKH-en to worry Sorgen macht

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

feverish

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fiebrig

clinic

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Klinik

to call

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anrufen

cough

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Husten