About This Lesson
Use Sharing Gym Equipment Politely to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Jemand benutzt das Laufband schon seit langer Zeit.
YAY-mahnt beh-NOOTST dahs LOWF-bahnt shohn zite LAHNG-er tsite. Someone has been using the treadmill for a long time.
B
Auf dem Schild steht, dass man es teilen soll, wenn andere warten.
owf daym shilt shtayt, dahs mahn ess TYE-len zoll, venn AHN-deh-reh VAR-ten. The sign says people should share it when others are waiting.
A
Soll ich die Person fragen, oder wirkt das unhöflich?
zoll ikh dee pehr-ZOHN FRAH-gen, OH-der virkt dahs oon-HURF-likh? Should I ask them, or would that seem rude?
B
Frag höflich und sag, dass du gern an die Reihe kommen möchtest.
frahk HURF-likh oont zahk, dahs doo gairn ahn dee RYE-eh KOM-men MURKH-test. Ask politely and say you're waiting for a turn.
A
Ich kann sagen: „Entschuldigung, bist du bald mit dem Laufband fertig?“
ikh kahn ZAH-gen: ent-SHOOL-di-goong, bist doo bahlt mit daym LOWF-bahnt FEHR-tikh? I can say, "Excuse me, are you almost finished with the treadmill?"
B
Das klingt klar, ohne die Person zu sehr unter Druck zu setzen.
dahs klinkt klahr, OHN-eh dee pehr-ZOHN tsoo zair OON-ter drook tsoo ZET-sen. That sounds clear without putting too much pressure on them.
A
Wenn die Person mehr Zeit braucht, kann ich warten oder ein anderes Gerät benutzen.
ven dee pehr-ZOHN mair tsайт browkht, kahn ikh VAR-ten OH-der ine AHN-deh-res geh-RAIT beh-NOOT-sen. If they need more time, I can wait or use another machine.
B
So teilen sich alle das Gerät, ohne dass ein Streit entsteht.
zoh TYE-len zikh AH-leh dahs geh-RAIT, OHN-eh dahs ine SHTRITE ent-SHTAYT. That keeps the equipment shared without starting an argument.Word by Word
Jemand
In "Jemand benutzt das Laufband", Jemand means someone: an unspecified person. The sentence can begin with Jemand when the person is not identified. The citation form is jemand; Jemand is capitalized because it starts the sentence.
benutzt
In "Jemand benutzt das Laufband", benutzt means uses. It is the form of benutzen used for the person expressed by Jemand. A reliable pattern is a person plus an object plus benutzt, as in this sentence, when describing current use.
das
In "das Laufband", das is the definite article meaning the. In "Das klingt klar", the same form means that or it as a demonstrative pronoun. Use das before Laufband here, and use Das at the start of a sentence when referring back to a suggestion or statement.
Laufband
In "das Laufband", Laufband means treadmill, the gym machine being used. It is the object of benutzt and later appears after mit in "mit dem Laufband fertig". A useful pattern is das Laufband benutzen when talking about using a treadmill.
schon
In "schon seit langer Zeit", schon emphasizes that the situation has already continued for a while. Together with seit, it highlights the long duration of the use. This combination is useful when explaining that something has been happening for some time.
seit
In "seit langer Zeit", seit introduces the period during which the person has been using the treadmill. Here it means for, as part of a continuing duration. A common reuse pattern is seit plus a period of time, such as seit langer Zeit.
langer
In "seit langer Zeit", langer contributes the meaning long and describes the duration. It is the form of lang used before Zeit in this phrase. The expression seit langer Zeit is useful for describing an action or situation that has continued for a long period.
Zeit
In "seit langer Zeit", Zeit means time and names the duration of the treadmill use. The phrase uses Zeit after seit to answer how long something has continued. A reliable pattern is seit langer Zeit for a long-standing situation.
Auf
In "Auf dem Schild", Auf means on and describes the location of the information. The phrase refers to words written on a sign, not movement onto it. A useful pattern is Auf dem Schild steht, dass ... when reporting what a sign says.
dem
In "Auf dem Schild", dem is the article used with Schild in this location phrase. Together with Auf, it means on the sign. The complete pattern Auf dem Schild is useful when locating written information.
Schild
In "Auf dem Schild", Schild means sign. It is the surface that contains the gym's instruction about sharing the equipment. A useful pattern is Auf dem Schild steht, dass ... when describing a rule written on a sign.
steht
In "Auf dem Schild steht, dass ...", steht means says in the idiomatic sense that information is written on the sign; literally, it is the form of stehen meaning stands. The citation form is stehen. Reuse Auf dem Schild steht, dass ... to report the content of a sign.
dass
In "steht, dass man es teilen soll", dass introduces the information or statement that follows. It connects the main statement about the sign with its content. A reliable pattern is sagen or stehen plus dass and a following clause.
man
In "dass man es teilen soll", man refers to people in general rather than one named person. It is useful for rules or general expectations such as the instruction on the sign. A common pattern is man soll plus an infinitive when stating what people should do.
es
In "man es teilen soll", es means it and refers to the gym equipment being discussed, especially the treadmill. It is the object shared by the people waiting. A useful pattern is an appropriate object pronoun such as es after teilen when the equipment has already been mentioned.
teilen
In "man es teilen soll", teilen means share. It describes making the equipment available to more than one person. The infinitive follows soll, and a useful pattern is etwas teilen when discussing shared use of an object.
soll
In "man es teilen soll", soll expresses should: the sign presents sharing as the expected action. It is the form of sollen used with man, and it appears at the end of the dass-clause. A reliable pattern is man soll plus an infinitive, such as man soll es teilen.
wenn
In "wenn andere warten", wenn introduces the condition or time at which the sharing rule applies: when or if other people are waiting. It starts a subordinate clause. A useful pattern is wenn plus a situation, followed by the action that should happen in response.
andere
In "wenn andere warten", andere means other people, referring to people besides the current user. It functions as the people who are waiting for the equipment. A useful pattern is andere plus a verb when referring generally to other people in the same situation.
warten
In "wenn andere warten", warten means wait. It describes people remaining available for their turn at the equipment. The infinitive form is also used here as the plural form with andere; a common pattern is auf etwas warten when naming what someone is waiting for.
ich
In "Soll ich die Person fragen?" and "Ich kann sagen", ich means I, the speaker referring to themself. It is lowercase in the middle of a sentence and capitalized as Ich at the start of the quoted sentence. It is used as the subject when the speaker describes their own possible action.
die
In "die Person" and "an die Reihe kommen", die is the definite article meaning the. It introduces the person being asked and the specific turn or sequence referred to in an die Reihe kommen. The exact article belongs to the nouns Person and Reihe in these expressions.
Person
In "die Person fragen" and "die Person zu sehr unter Druck zu setzen", Person means person. It keeps the reference neutral to the individual using the treadmill. A useful pattern is die Person fragen when politely asking the current user something.
fragen
In "Soll ich die Person fragen?", fragen means ask. The speaker is considering whether to ask the current treadmill user for a turn. It follows soll in the question, and a useful pattern is jemanden fragen, with the person being asked as the object.
oder
In "Soll ich die Person fragen, oder wirkt das unhöflich?", oder connects two alternatives: asking the person or seeming rude. It is useful when presenting a choice or asking about two possible interpretations. The same structure can connect two complete clauses.
wirkt
In "wirkt das unhöflich", wirkt means seems or comes across as. It is the form of wirken used with das, referring to the proposed question. A useful pattern is something wirkt plus an adjective when describing how an action appears to others.
unhöflich
In "wirkt das unhöflich", unhöflich means rude or impolite. It describes the possible impression made by asking for a turn. A useful pattern is etwas wirkt unhöflich when checking whether a request may sound discourteous.
Frag
In "Frag höflich", Frag means ask and gives an informal singular instruction to the listener. It is the imperative form related to fragen. A useful pattern is Frag plus an adverb or object when giving someone direct advice, as in Frag höflich.
höflich
In "Frag höflich", höflich means politely and describes the manner of asking. The form is used adverbially here with Frag. It is useful when advising someone to make a request respectfully.
und
In "Frag höflich und sag", und connects two instructions: ask politely and say something. It joins actions that belong to the same plan. A useful pattern is one instruction und another instruction when giving several related pieces of advice.
sag
In "sag, dass du gern an die Reihe kommen möchtest", sag means say and gives an informal singular instruction. It is the imperative form related to sagen. A useful pattern is sag, dass ... when telling someone to express the content of a statement.
du
In "dass du gern an die Reihe kommen möchtest", du means you and refers to the person being advised. It is the informal singular subject of the subordinate clause. It is used before the other elements of the clause, while möchtest appears at the end.
gern
In "du gern an die Reihe kommen möchtest", gern expresses that getting a turn is something the person would gladly like to do. It adds a willing or positive meaning to the action. A useful pattern is gern with a verb when saying that someone likes or is willing to do something.
an die Reihe kommen
The expression "an die Reihe kommen" means get one's turn. In it, an points toward entering the turn sequence, die is the article for Reihe, Reihe refers to the order of turns, and kommen means come. This whole expression is useful when saying that someone is next or would like the opportunity to act.
möchtest
In "du gern an die Reihe kommen möchtest", möchtest means would like. It is the form of möchten used with du and expresses the speaker's desired turn. Because the phrase is in a dass-clause, möchtest appears at the end; a useful pattern is du möchtest plus an infinitive.
kann
In "Ich kann sagen", kann means can or am able to. It presents saying the suggested sentence as an available option for the speaker. It is the form of können used with ich and is followed by the infinitive sagen.
sagen
In "Ich kann sagen", sagen means say. It is the infinitive used after kann and introduces the words the speaker could use. A useful pattern is Ich kann sagen plus a quoted sentence when offering a possible way to phrase something.
Entschuldigung
In "Entschuldigung, bist du bald mit dem Laufband fertig?", Entschuldigung means excuse me and politely gets the other person's attention. In this dialogue it is used as a polite opening, not as a full apology. It is useful at the beginning of a request to a stranger or another gym user.
bist
In "bist du bald mit dem Laufband fertig?", bist means are and describes the other person's current state. It is the form of sein used with du. A useful question pattern is bist du plus a description, such as asking whether someone is finished.
bald
In "bist du bald mit dem Laufband fertig?", bald means soon and gives the question the practical sense of almost finished. It asks about a near future endpoint without demanding an exact time. A useful pattern is bald fertig sein when asking whether someone will finish soon.
mit
In "mit dem Laufband fertig", mit means with as part of the expression for being finished with something. The phrase asks whether the person has finished using the treadmill. A useful pattern is mit etwas fertig sein when referring to completing or finishing an activity or task.
fertig
In "mit dem Laufband fertig", fertig means finished. Together with mit, it asks whether the person is done with the treadmill. A useful pattern is mit etwas fertig sein, rather than using fertig alone to identify what has been completed.
klingt
In "Das klingt klar", klingt means sounds or comes across as. It is the form of klingen used with Das to evaluate the proposed wording. A useful pattern is Das klingt plus an adjective when commenting on how an idea or sentence seems.
klar
In "Das klingt klar", klar means clear or easy to understand. It describes the request as understandable without being aggressive. A useful pattern is etwas klingt klar when evaluating whether a message communicates its purpose plainly.
ohne
In "ohne die Person zu sehr unter Druck zu setzen", ohne means without and introduces an action that should not happen. Here the suggestion should avoid putting the person under too much pressure. A useful pattern is ohne plus an infinitive construction when describing how to do something while avoiding another result.
zu
The form zu appears twice in "zu sehr" and "zu setzen". In zu sehr it means too, while in zu setzen it marks the infinitive phrase after ohne. Notice that the two occurrences have different functions within the same expression.
sehr
In "zu sehr unter Druck zu setzen", sehr means very, but together with zu it means too much. It intensifies the amount of pressure that should be avoided. A useful pattern is zu sehr plus a verb or adjective when saying that something happens to an excessive degree.
unter Druck zu setzen
The expression "unter Druck zu setzen" means put under pressure. Within it, unter means under, Druck means pressure, zu marks the infinitive, and setzen means put or place; together they form the complete expression. A reusable pattern is to put a person under pressure, with the person or object placed before unter Druck setzen.
mehr
In "mehr Zeit braucht", mehr means more and describes an amount greater than the time currently available. It modifies Zeit, not the person. A useful pattern is mehr plus a noun when offering or discussing an increased amount.
braucht
In "die Person mehr Zeit braucht", braucht means needs. It is the form of brauchen used with die Person. A useful pattern is a person needs more time when allowing someone to continue an activity.
ein
In "ein anderes Gerät", ein is the indefinite article meaning a. It introduces one alternative piece of equipment without identifying it more precisely. The phrase is useful when offering another available option.
anderes
In "ein anderes Gerät", anderes means another or different and presents an alternative to the treadmill. It modifies Gerät in this phrase. A useful pattern is ein anderes Gerät when suggesting a different machine or piece of equipment.
Gerät
In "ein anderes Gerät", Gerät means machine or piece of equipment. In this context it refers to another gym machine that the speaker could use. It combines naturally with the earlier verb benutzen when talking about using equipment.
So
In "So teilen sich alle das Gerät", So means in this way or so and refers back to the polite approach just described. It presents the approach as the way the equipment remains available to everyone. At the beginning of this sentence, it also sets up the following action as a consequence.
sich
In "teilen sich alle das Gerät", sich is part of the construction teilen sich etwas, meaning share something among themselves. It shows that the people involved share the equipment with one another. This construction is useful when describing shared use by a group.
alle
In "teilen sich alle das Gerät", alle means everyone or all the people involved. It presents shared use as applying to the whole group, not just to two named individuals. A useful pattern is alle with a plural action when describing what an entire group does.
Streit
In "ein Streit entsteht", Streit means an argument or dispute. The dialogue says that sharing the equipment should happen without a Streit. A useful pattern is ein Streit entsteht when describing an argument coming about.
entsteht
In "ohne dass ein Streit entsteht", entsteht means arises or comes about. It is the form of entstehen used with ein Streit and describes the unwanted result that is avoided. A useful pattern is etwas entsteht when saying that a situation or problem develops.
Grammar Points
ohne dass + Nebensatz
Jemand wartet, ohne dass ein Streit entsteht.
YAY-mahnt VAR-tet, OHN-eh dahs ine SHTRITE ent-SHTAYT.Someone waits without an argument arising.
Nach „ohne dass“ steht das konjugierte Verb am Ende. Die Konstruktion beschreibt eine Handlung, ohne dass ein anderes Ereignis passiert.
zu + Infinitiv
Es ist unhöflich, jemanden unter Druck zu setzen.
ess ist oon-HURF-likh, YAY-mahnt-en OON-ter drook tsoo ZET-sen.It is impolite to put someone under pressure.
„zu“ steht vor dem Infinitiv. Bei trennbaren Verben wie „unter Druck setzen“ steht es vor dem letzten Verbteil: „zu setzen“.
German Vocabulary
benutzen
verb
beh-NOOT-sen
to use
benutzt
fragen
verb
FRAH-gen
to ask
Jemand
pron
YAY-mahnt
someone
Laufband
noun
LOWF-bahnt
treadmill
Person
noun
pehr-ZOHN
person
Schild
noun
shilt
sign
schon seit langer Zeit
phrase
shohn zite LAHNG-er tsайт
for a long time already
stehen
verb
SHTAY-en
to say; to stand
steht
teilen
verb
TYE-len
to share
unhöflich
adj
oon-HURF-likh
rude; impolite
warten
verb
VAR-ten
to wait
wirken
verb
VIR-ken
to seem; to appear
wirkt
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to ask
Show Answer
fragento use
Show Answer
benutztto wait
Show Answer
wartento say; to stand