About This Lesson
Use Resolving a shared office booking conflict to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Der Besprechungsraum ist im Kalender des Gemeinschaftsbüros doppelt gebucht.
dehr buh-SHPREH-khoongs-rowm ist im KAH-len-der dess guh-MYNE-shahfts-BYOO-rohs DOP-pelt guh-BOOKHT. The meeting room is double-booked on the shared office calendar.
B
Wer braucht ihn dringender?
vair browkht een DRING-en-der? Who needs it more urgently?
A
Ich habe einen privaten Anruf mit einem Kunden.
ikh HAH-buh EYE-nen pree-VAH-ten AHN-roof mit EYE-nem KOON-den. I have a private client call.
A
Aber jemand anderes hat ihn für Einzelarbeit gebucht.
AH-ber YAY-mant AHN-deh-res hat een fyoor EYE-ntsel-ar-BYTE guh-BOOKHT. But someone else booked it for solo work.
B
Dann frag die andere Person, ob du ihn kurz benutzen kannst.
dan frahk dee AHN-deh-reh pair-ZOHN, op doo een koorts beh-NOOT-tsen kanst. Then ask whether they can let you use it briefly.
A
Ich möchte nicht so klingen, als wäre meine Aufgabe wichtiger.
ikh MERKH-tuh nikht zoh KLING-en, als VAIR-uh MY-nuh OWF-gah-buh VIKH-ti-ger. I do not want to sound like my task is more important.
B
Biete einen Kompromiss an, zum Beispiel, dass du ihn für den Anruf benutzt und direkt danach gehst.
BEE-tuh EYE-nen kom-proh-MISS an, tsoom BY-shpeel, dass doo een fyoor den AHN-roof beh-NOOTST oont dee-REKT dah-NAHKH gayst. Offer a compromise, like using it for the call and leaving right after.
A
Das fühlt sich fair an. Ich kann der Person auch helfen, einen anderen Arbeitsplatz zu finden.
dass fyoolt zikh fair an. ikh kahn dehr pair-ZOHN owkh HEL-fen, EYE-nen AHN-deh-ren AHR-bites-plahts tsoo FIND-en. That feels fair. I can also help them find another workspace.
B
Das zeigt, dass du ihre Buchung auch respektierst.
dass tsaigt, dass doo EE-reh BOO-khoong owkh reh-spek-TEERST. That shows you respect their booking too.
A
Ich kann der Person jetzt schreiben und die Situation erklären.
ikh kahn dehr pair-ZOHN yetst SHRY-ben oont dee zee-too-ah-TSEE-ohn air-KLAIR-en. I can message them now and explain the situation.
B
Halte die Nachricht kurz und schlage diesen Kompromiss vor.
HAL-tuh dee NAHKH-rikht koorts oont SHLAH-guh DEE-zen kom-proh-MISS fohr. Keep the message brief and suggest that compromise.Word by Word
Der
In 'Der Besprechungsraum', 'Der' identifies the specific meeting room being discussed. Use it before a noun when referring to a particular item.
Besprechungsraum
'Besprechungsraum' means meeting room, the room whose bookings conflict here. Use it for a room intended for meetings or calls.
ist
In 'Der Besprechungsraum ist ...', 'ist' states the room’s current situation. It is useful for describing what something is or how it currently stands.
im
In 'im Kalender', 'im' means in the calendar. It is the contracted form used in the common pattern for something recorded in a calendar.
Kalender
'Kalender' means calendar, here the shared office calendar where the booking appears. Use it for a schedule that records appointments or reservations.
des
In 'des Gemeinschaftsbüros', 'des' connects the calendar with the shared office it belongs to. It helps identify whose calendar is meant.
Gemeinschaftsbüros
'Gemeinschaftsbüros' identifies the shared office connected with the calendar. In this dialogue, it specifies the office used by several people.
doppelt
In 'doppelt gebucht', 'doppelt' means twice or double, so the room has two bookings. Use it when the same resource has been assigned more than once.
gebucht
In 'doppelt gebucht', 'gebucht' says that the meeting room has been reserved. Use this form when describing a room, appointment, or resource that already has a booking.
Wer
'Wer' asks which person is involved: here, who needs the room more urgently. Use it at the start of a question about a person.
braucht
In 'Wer braucht ihn dringender?', 'braucht' means needs and asks about the person’s need for the room. Use it with the person who needs something and the needed item.
ihn
In 'Wer braucht ihn dringender?', 'ihn' refers back to the meeting room without repeating 'Besprechungsraum'. Use it to refer to a previously mentioned item in this position.
dringender
'Dringender' asks which person has the more urgent need. It is useful when comparing the urgency of two requests or situations.
Ich
'Ich' identifies the speaker as the person who has the client call. Use it to talk about yourself as the subject of a sentence.
habe
In 'Ich habe einen privaten Anruf', 'habe' states that the speaker has a private client call. Use 'Ich habe' for something you have, need to attend, or are scheduled for.
einen
In 'einen privaten Anruf', 'einen' introduces a call that has not previously been identified. It is used here as the article directly before 'Anruf'.
privaten
'Privaten' describes the call as private rather than a general office activity. Use it before a noun when identifying something as private in this kind of context.
Anruf
'Anruf' means a call, here a private call with a client. Use it for a telephone call or similar planned conversation.
mit
In 'mit einem Kunden', 'mit' connects the call with the client taking part in it. Use it to name the person accompanying or involved in an activity.
einem
In 'mit einem Kunden', 'einem' introduces one client involved in the call. It appears directly before the person named after 'mit'.
Kunden
'Kunden' means client or customer, here the person the speaker will call. Use it for someone receiving a service or involved in a business relationship.
Aber
'Aber' introduces a contrast: the speaker has a private call, but someone else has booked the room. Use it to connect an opposing or limiting point.
jemand
'Jemand' means someone whose identity is not specified. Here it introduces the other person who made the booking.
anderes
In 'jemand anderes', 'anderes' marks the person as someone different from the speaker or the person already under discussion. This combination is useful when referring to an unspecified different person.
hat
In 'hat ... gebucht', 'hat' helps state that someone made the booking. Use it with a person or subject when describing possession or a completed action in this construction.
für
In 'für Einzelarbeit', 'für' shows the purpose of the booking: solo work. Use it before a purpose, intended use, or recipient.
Einzelarbeit
'Einzelarbeit' means solo work, the activity for which the other person booked the room. Use it when someone works alone rather than as part of a group.
Dann
'Dann' moves the conversation to the next step: ask the other person. Use it to introduce what should happen next.
frag
In 'frag die andere Person', 'frag' tells the listener to ask the other person. It is a direct request used when giving practical advice.
die
In 'die andere Person', 'die' introduces the specific other person involved in the booking conflict. Use it before a noun when the person or thing is identifiable in context.
andere
In 'die andere Person', 'andere' identifies the person as the one different from the speaker. Use it to distinguish one person or thing from another already mentioned.
Person
'Person' means person, here the individual who made the other booking. Use it for a human being when a more specific role is not needed.
ob
In 'ob du ihn kurz benutzen kannst', 'ob' introduces the question of whether the other person will allow the use. Use it to introduce an indirect yes-or-no question.
du
'Du' refers to the person being advised and asked to contact the other person. Use it for the familiar singular form of 'you' when addressing one person directly.
kurz
In 'ihn kurz benutzen', 'kurz' limits the use to a brief period. Use it when making a request that should take only a short time.
benutzen
In 'ihn kurz benutzen kannst', 'benutzen' means use the meeting room. It appears as the action that the person may be able to carry out.
kannst
In 'ob du ihn kurz benutzen kannst', 'kannst' asks whether you are able or permitted to use the room. Use it when asking about someone’s possibility or permission to do something.
möchte
In 'Ich möchte nicht so klingen', 'möchte' expresses what the speaker would like or wishes to avoid. Use 'Ich möchte' to state a preference or intention politely.
nicht
'Nicht' negates the speaker’s wish to sound as though the task is more important. Use it to reject or deny the meaning of the surrounding expression.
so
In 'so klingen', 'so' describes the manner or impression the speaker might give. Use it when referring to sounding or appearing in a particular way.
klingen
In 'so klingen', 'klingen' means sound, referring to how the speaker’s words may come across. Use it when discussing the impression created by a voice or message.
als
In 'als wäre meine Aufgabe wichtiger', 'als' introduces the imagined impression that the task is more important. Use it after an expression of seeming or sounding when describing how something may appear.
wäre
In 'als wäre meine Aufgabe wichtiger', 'wäre' presents the idea as an imagined impression rather than a direct statement. It helps describe how the speaker does not want the message to come across.
meine
'Meine' identifies the task as belonging to the speaker. Use it before a noun when talking about something that is yours or connected with you.
Aufgabe
'Aufgabe' means task, here the speaker’s reason for needing the meeting room. Use it for a piece of work or responsibility.
wichtiger
'Wichtiger' means more important and compares the speaker’s task with the other person’s work. Use it when expressing that one task has greater importance than another.
Biete
In 'Biete einen Kompromiss an', 'Biete' tells the listener to offer a compromise. Use it when giving direct advice to propose a practical solution.
Kompromiss
'Kompromiss' means compromise, here a solution that gives each person a fair arrangement. Use it when resolving a conflict through an agreement between different needs.
an
In 'Biete einen Kompromiss an', 'an' is the separable part that completes the verb meaning offer. It appears after the object in this direct request.
zum
In 'zum Beispiel', 'zum' introduces an example of the proposed compromise. This fixed expression is used to give one possible illustration.
Beispiel
'Beispiel' means example, here introducing one possible way to share the room. Use it when presenting an illustration or option.
dass
In 'dass du ihn für den Anruf benutzt', 'dass' introduces the content of the suggested compromise. Use it to connect a statement or suggestion with what should happen.
den
In 'den Anruf', 'den' introduces the specific call for which the room would be used. Use it before a known or identified noun in a phrase like this.
benutzt
In 'dass du ihn für den Anruf benutzt', 'benutzt' describes using the meeting room for the call. It is useful for stating what someone does with a room, tool, or resource.
und
'Und' links the two parts of the compromise: using the room for the call and leaving afterward. Use it to join related actions or ideas.
direkt
In 'direkt danach', 'direkt' means immediately or straight afterward. Use it to emphasize that there should be no delay between two actions.
danach
'Danach' means after that and refers back to using the room for the call. Use it to show that one action follows another.
gehst
In 'direkt danach gehst', 'gehst' means you leave or go after the call. Use it to describe the addressee’s next movement or departure.
Das
In 'Das fühlt sich fair an', 'Das' refers to the proposed compromise as a whole. Use it to point back to an idea, action, or situation just mentioned.
fühlt
In 'fühlt sich fair an', 'fühlt' describes the speaker’s impression of the compromise. Use it when saying how a situation or decision seems emotionally or personally.
sich
In 'fühlt sich fair an', 'sich' is part of the expression describing how the compromise feels. It connects the feeling to the situation being evaluated.
fair
'Fair' means fair or reasonable, describing the compromise as balanced between both people’s needs. Use it when judging an arrangement that treats the involved people reasonably.
kann
In 'Ich kann der Person auch helfen', 'kann' states that the speaker is able or willing to help. Use it to describe a possible action available to someone.
helfen
In 'der Person ... helfen', 'helfen' means help the other person. Use it when offering support with a person’s task or problem.
anderen
In 'einen anderen Arbeitsplatz', 'anderen' describes a workspace different from the double-booked room. Use it when suggesting an alternative person, place, or thing.
Arbeitsplatz
'Arbeitsplatz' means workspace or work station, here another place where the person can work. Use it for a place set up or used for working.
zu
In 'zu finden', 'zu' introduces the infinitive linked to helping someone find a workspace. This pattern is used after certain verbs such as 'helfen' to connect the support with an action.
finden
In 'einen anderen Arbeitsplatz zu finden', 'finden' means find another workspace. Use it when locating a suitable person, place, or thing.
zeigt
In 'Das zeigt', 'zeigt' says that the action provides evidence of respect for the other booking. Use it when an action or fact demonstrates something.
ihre
In 'ihre Buchung', 'ihre' refers to the other person’s booking. Use it before a noun to show that something belongs to or is associated with another person or group.
Buchung
'Buchung' means booking or reservation, here the other person’s reservation of the room. Use it for a recorded arrangement to use a room, service, or resource.
auch
In 'auch respektierst', 'auch' adds respect for the other booking to the other considerate actions. Use it to mean also or too when adding a related point.
respektierst
In 'ihre Buchung auch respektierst', 'respektierst' means you respect or take the other booking seriously. Use it when acknowledging another person’s rights, plans, or arrangements.
jetzt
'Jetzt' means now and indicates that the message can be sent immediately. Use it to locate an action at the present time.
schreiben
In 'der Person jetzt schreiben', 'schreiben' means write to or message the person. Use it for contacting someone through a written message.
Situation
'Situation' means situation, here the double booking and the competing needs around it. Use it when referring to the circumstances of a problem or event.
erklären
In 'die Situation erklären', 'erklären' means explain the situation to the other person. Use it when giving information that helps someone understand what is happening.
Halte
In 'Halte die Nachricht kurz', 'Halte' tells the listener to keep the message brief. Use it as direct advice about maintaining a particular quality or length.
Nachricht
'Nachricht' means message, here the written message to the other person. Use it for a text, chat, or other written communication.
schlage
In 'schlage diesen Kompromiss vor', 'schlage' tells the listener to suggest the compromise. It is the first part of the verb expression completed by 'vor'.
diesen
In 'diesen Kompromiss', 'diesen' points to the specific compromise already described. Use it to refer to one particular option or item in the current discussion.
vor
In 'schlage diesen Kompromiss vor', 'vor' completes the separable verb meaning suggest. It appears after the object in this direct request.
Grammar Points
möchte + Infinitiv
Ich möchte den Besprechungsraum benutzen.
ikh MERKH-tuh den buh-SHPREH-khoongs-rowm beh-NOOT-tsen.I would like to use the meeting room.
möchte expresses a polite wish. The second verb stays in the infinitive and goes to the end of the clause.
Komparativ: wichtiger / dringender
Diese Aufgabe ist wichtiger.
DEE-zuh OWF-gah-buh ist VIKH-ti-ger.This task is more important.
The comparative ending -er means “more.” Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs such as dringender describe actions.
German Vocabulary
Anruf
noun
AHN-roof
call
benutzen
verb
beh-NOOT-tsen
to use
Besprechungsraum
noun
buh-SHPREH-khoongs-rowm
meeting room
doppelt
adv
DOP-pelt
twice; double
dringender
adv
DRING-en-der
more urgently
Einzelarbeit
noun
EYE-ntsel-ar-BYTE
solo work
frag
verb
frahk
ask
gebucht
verb
guh-BOOKHT
booked
Gemeinschaftsbüros
noun
guh-MYNE-shahfts-BYOO-rohs
shared office
jemand anderes
pron
YAY-mant AHN-deh-res
someone else
Kunden
noun
KOON-den
client; customer
privaten
adj
pree-VAH-ten
private
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Who needs it more urgently?
Show Answer
Wer braucht ihn dringender?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
call
Show Answer
Anrufbooked
Show Answer
gebuchtmore urgently
Show Answer
dringenderprivate