Using testing evidence to challenge an unrealistic timeline | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: During a remote project meeting, two coworkers discuss a risky timeline and plan to use testing evidence before making a decision..

EN → DE / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Using testing evidence to challenge an unrealistic timeline to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Der vorgeschlagene Zeitplan wirkt angesichts der ungelösten Testprobleme sehr ambitioniert.

dehr for-guh-SHLAH-guh-nuh TSYTE-plahn virkt AHNG-uh-zikhts dehr OONG-guh-LURST-n TEST-proh-BLAY-muh zair am-bee-tsyo-NEERT. The proposed timeline feels ambitious, given the unresolved testing issues.
B

Ich teile diese Sorge, obwohl die Führung vor der Überprüfung Fortschritte sehen möchte.

ikh TYE-luh dee-zuh ZOR-guh, op-VOHL dee FYOO-roong fohr dehr UE-buh-PROOF-oong FORT-shrit-uh ZAY-un MURKH-tuh. I share that concern, though leadership wants momentum before the review.
A

Die Fortschritte werden darunter leiden, wenn wir etwas Instabiles veröffentlichen.

dee FORT-shrit-uh VAYR-dun dah-ROON-tuh LYE-dun, ven veer ET-vahs in-stah-BEE-luhs fair-UERF-ntlih-khun. Momentum will suffer if we release something unstable.
B

Ich verstehe das, aber eine Verzögerung ohne Belege könnte unsere Argumentation schwächen.

ikh fair-SHTAY-uh dahs, AH-buh EYE-nuh fair-TSUR-guh-roong OH-nuh BUH-LAY-guh KURNT-uh OON-zuh-ruh ar-goo-men-tah-TSYOHN SHVEKH-un. I understand, yet delaying without evidence may weaken our case.
A

Wir können Belege sammeln, indem wir die riskantesten Tests priorisieren.

veer KUR-nun BUH-LAY-guh ZAH-mul, in-DAYM veer dee ris-KAHN-tes-tun TESTS pree-oh-ree-ZEER-un. We can gather evidence by prioritizing the riskiest tests.
B

Das würde die Diskussion objektiver und weniger defensiv machen.

dahs VUR-duh dee dis-koo-ZYOHN op-YEK-tee-vuh oont VAY-nih-guh deh-fen-ZEEF MAKH-un. That would make the discussion more objective and less defensive.
A

Eine auf den aktuellen Ergebnissen basierende Risikoübersicht würde das unterstützen.

EYE-nuh owf dayn ak-TOO-eh-lun AIR-GAYB-nis-n bah-ZEER-un-duh REE-zee-koh-UE-buh-ZIKHT VUR-duh dahs oon-tuh-SHTUTS-un. A risk summary based on current results would support that.
B

Ich kann diese Übersicht zum Meeting mitbringen.

ikh kahn dee-zuh UE-buh-ZIKHT tsoom MEE-ting MIT-bring-un. I can bring that summary to the meeting.
B

Damit wir eine praktikable Entscheidung treffen können.

dah-MIT veer EYE-nuh prak-TEE-kah-bluh ent-SHYE-doong TREF-un KUR-nun. So we can make a practical decision.

Word by Word

Der Der means “the” in the noun phrase Der vorgeschlagene Zeitplan. It introduces the specific timeline being discussed. This form is useful when referring to a known masculine noun in a professional discussion.
vorgeschlagene vorgeschlagene describes the timeline as proposed rather than already fixed. It is the adjective form related to vorgeschlagen and appears in Der vorgeschlagene Zeitplan. Use it to identify a plan or option that someone has proposed.
Zeitplan Zeitplan means “timeline” in Der vorgeschlagene Zeitplan. It names the planned schedule for the project. This noun is useful when discussing whether project timing is realistic.
wirkt wirkt means “seems” or “appears” in Der vorgeschlagene Zeitplan wirkt ... . It presents an evaluation rather than an absolute fact. The reusable pattern wirkt + adjective helps express how a plan or situation appears.
angesichts angesichts introduces the circumstance considered when making an evaluation, here angesichts der ungelösten Testprobleme. It means “in view of” or “given.” Use it in formal discussions to explain what evidence or situation supports a judgment.
ungelösten ungelösten describes the testing issues as not resolved in der ungelösten Testprobleme. It is the adjective form related to ungelöst. Use it to identify problems that still require attention.
Testprobleme Testprobleme means “testing issues” in der ungelösten Testprobleme. It refers to problems discovered or remaining during testing. This compound is useful when discussing technical obstacles that affect a project plan.
sehr sehr intensifies the evaluation in sehr ambitioniert, meaning “very ambitious.” It makes the description stronger. Use sehr directly before an adjective when emphasizing the degree of a quality.
ambitioniert ambitioniert describes the proposed timeline as demanding or ambitious in sehr ambitioniert. Here it signals that the schedule may require more than the unresolved testing situation allows. Use it when evaluating challenging plans or goals.
Ich Ich means “I” and identifies the speaker in Ich teile diese Sorge. It is used as the subject of the speaker’s statement. Use it to state your own view or reaction in a discussion.
teile teile means “share” in Ich teile diese Sorge, expressing that the speaker has the same concern. It is the form related to teilen used with Ich. Ich teile diese Sorge is a reusable pattern for agreeing with a specific concern.
diese diese points to the specific concern being discussed in diese Sorge. It means “this” here and connects the noun to the current topic. Use diese before a noun when referring to something identifiable in the conversation.
Sorge Sorge means “concern” in diese Sorge. It names the worry that the proposed timeline is too ambitious. The expression Ich teile diese Sorge is useful when acknowledging someone else’s concern.
obwohl obwohl introduces a fact that contrasts with the main statement, as in obwohl die Führung vor der Überprüfung Fortschritte sehen möchte. It means “although.” Use obwohl to acknowledge one situation while presenting a contrasting point.
die die is the definite article in die Führung and Die Fortschritte. It means “the” and introduces a specific noun; it is capitalized as Die only because it begins a sentence. Use it before a known noun or noun phrase.
Führung Führung means “leadership” in die Führung. It refers to the people responsible for directing the organization or project. This noun is useful when describing expectations from organizational decision-makers.
vor vor means “before” in vor der Überprüfung. It places the desired progress earlier than the review. Use vor with a time, event, or review to describe what should happen beforehand.
Überprüfung Überprüfung means “review” or “check” in vor der Überprüfung. It names the formal point at which progress or results will be examined. Use it when discussing an evaluation of work, results, or readiness.
Fortschritte Fortschritte means “progress” in Fortschritte sehen. It refers to visible movement toward completing the project. Use Fortschritte sehen when discussing what someone expects to observe before a review.
sehen sehen means “see” in Fortschritte sehen, where it means observe or recognize progress. It takes Fortschritte as the thing leadership wants to observe. This pattern is useful when discussing visible results in a project.
möchte möchte expresses what the leadership would like to see in die Führung ... Fortschritte sehen möchte. It presents a desire in a relatively softened way. The reusable pattern möchte + infinitive states what someone would like to do or observe.
werden werden helps express the future consequence in Die Fortschritte werden darunter leiden. Together with leiden, it says that progress will suffer. Use werden with an infinitive when forecasting a future result.
darunter darunter refers back to the consequence of releasing something unstable in Die Fortschritte werden darunter leiden. With leiden, it means “as a result of that” or “from that.” The fixed expression darunter leiden is useful for describing a negative effect caused by a situation.
leiden leiden means “suffer” in darunter leiden. It describes progress being negatively affected by releasing something unstable. Use darunter leiden when a person, process, or result is harmed by a stated circumstance.
wenn wenn introduces the condition wenn wir etwas Instabiles veröffentlichen. It means “if” in this future-oriented situation. Use wenn to connect a possible condition with its consequence.
wir wir means “we” in wir etwas Instabiles veröffentlichen and Wir können Belege sammeln. It includes the speaker and other people working together. Use wir as the subject when proposing or describing a shared team action.
etwas etwas means “something” in etwas Instabiles. It refers to an unspecified thing that could be released. Use etwas before a description when the exact object is not identified or does not need to be named.
Instabiles Instabiles means “something unstable” in etwas Instabiles. It describes the unspecified thing that could be released as unstable. The form is related to instabil and is useful after etwas when characterizing an unspecified object.
veröffentlichen veröffentlichen means “release” or “publish” in wenn wir etwas Instabiles veröffentlichen. It describes making the product or result available. Use it with the object being released, as in etwas Instabiles veröffentlichen.
verstehe verstehe means “understand” in Ich verstehe das. It shows that the speaker understands the previous point. Ich verstehe das is a useful phrase for acknowledging someone’s explanation before responding.
das das refers to the previous idea in Ich verstehe das and Das würde die Diskussion ... . It means “that” and points to a situation or proposal already known from the conversation. Use das to refer back to an entire statement or idea.
aber aber introduces a contrast in Ich verstehe das, aber eine Verzögerung ... . It means “but.” Use aber to acknowledge one point and then add a reservation or opposing consideration.
eine eine introduces an unspecified noun in eine Verzögerung and Eine auf den aktuellen Ergebnissen basierende Risikoübersicht. It means “a” or “an”; it is capitalized as Eine only because it begins a sentence. Use it when presenting one non-specific item or proposal.
Verzögerung Verzögerung means “delay” in eine Verzögerung ohne Belege. It names the act or result of postponing something. This noun is useful when discussing the consequences of delaying a project decision.
ohne ohne means “without” in ohne Belege. It indicates that evidence is missing from the delay or decision. Use ohne directly before the person, thing, or resource that is absent.
Belege Belege means “evidence” in ohne Belege and Belege sammeln. It refers to supporting proof or documented results. Use it when discussing what can support an argument or decision.
könnte könnte expresses a possible consequence in könnte unsere Argumentation schwächen. It means “could” or “might” and makes the claim less certain. Use könnte with an infinitive to describe a possible effect or result.
unsere unsere means “our” in unsere Argumentation. It marks the argument as belonging to the speaker’s team or group. Use unsere before a noun when referring to something shared by the group.
Argumentation Argumentation means “argument” or “case” in unsere Argumentation schwächen. It refers to the reasoning used to support the team’s position. Use it when discussing how evidence or delays affect the strength of a position.
schwächen schwächen means “weaken” in unsere Argumentation schwächen. It describes making the team’s case less convincing. The pattern etwas schwächen is useful when explaining what could reduce the strength of an argument or result.
können können means “can” in Wir können Belege sammeln and Damit wir ... treffen können. It expresses ability or a possible course of action. Use können with an infinitive to state what a person or group is able to do.
sammeln sammeln means “gather” or “collect” in Belege sammeln. It describes obtaining evidence in an organized way. Use it with the material being collected, such as Belege sammeln.
indem indem explains the method used to achieve an action in Belege sammeln, indem wir die riskantesten Tests priorisieren. It means “by doing.” Use indem to connect an action with the specific method used to carry it out.
riskantesten riskantesten identifies the tests with the greatest risk in die riskantesten Tests. It is the superlative adjective related to riskant. Use it before a noun when selecting the highest-risk items from a group.
Tests Tests means “tests” in die riskantesten Tests. It refers to the checks being selected and prioritized. Use it when discussing technical testing work and the evidence it can produce.
priorisieren priorisieren means “prioritize” in die riskantesten Tests priorisieren. It describes deciding which tests should receive attention first. Use it with the items that should be handled in order of importance or risk.
würde würde expresses a hypothetical result in Das würde die Diskussion ... machen. It means “would” and presents the effect of the proposed summary as conditional. Use würde with an infinitive to describe what an action or situation would cause.
Diskussion Diskussion means “discussion” in die Diskussion objektiver und weniger defensiv machen. It refers to the conversation about the timeline and evidence. Use it when describing the quality or direction of a professional exchange.
objektiver objektiver means “more objective” in objektiver und weniger defensiv. It says that the discussion would rely more on evidence and less on personal reaction. Use etwas objektiver machen to describe making an evaluation more impartial.
und und connects the two qualities in objektiver und weniger defensiv. It means “and.” Use und to link related descriptions or actions within the same statement.
weniger weniger reduces the degree of the following quality in weniger defensiv. It means “less.” Use weniger before an adjective when describing a reduced degree of a characteristic.
defensiv defensiv describes the discussion as defensive in weniger defensiv. Here it refers to a less self-protective or confrontational way of discussing the issue. Use weniger defensiv when describing a more open discussion style.
machen machen means “make” in die Diskussion objektiver und weniger defensiv machen. It describes causing the discussion to have the stated qualities. Use etwas + adjective + machen to describe changing how something is perceived or conducted.
auf auf links the risk summary to the results used as its basis in auf den aktuellen Ergebnissen basierende Risikoübersicht. Here it contributes the meaning “based on” within the complete construction. Use the pattern auf ... basierende + noun when describing something founded on particular results.
den den is the definite article in den aktuellen Ergebnissen. It introduces the specific results referred to in the meeting. Use it when identifying results that are already known or available.
aktuellen aktuellen describes the results as current in den aktuellen Ergebnissen. It identifies the latest results available for the discussion. Use it when distinguishing present results from earlier information.
Ergebnissen Ergebnissen means “results” in den aktuellen Ergebnissen. These are the results used as the basis for the risk summary. Use the phrase auf den aktuellen Ergebnissen basierende Risikoübersicht to connect a document with its supporting results.
basierende basierende describes the risk summary as based on current results in auf den aktuellen Ergebnissen basierende Risikoübersicht. It is related to basieren and functions as a description of the summary. Use it in a phrase that identifies the information or evidence on which something is based.
Risikoübersicht Risikoübersicht means “risk summary” or “risk overview” in Eine auf den aktuellen Ergebnissen basierende Risikoübersicht. It names a document that organizes the project’s risks and supporting results. Use it when preparing concise risk information for a meeting or decision.
unterstützen unterstützen means “support” in Das würde das unterstützen. It describes the summary as helping or backing the proposed approach. Use it with the idea, decision, or plan that receives support.
kann kann means “can” in Ich kann diese Übersicht zum Meeting mitbringen. It expresses the speaker’s ability or intention to bring the summary. Use kann with an infinitive to state what someone is able to do.
Übersicht Übersicht means “summary” or “overview” in diese Übersicht. It refers to the risk summary already mentioned. Use diese Übersicht when referring back to a document that organizes important information.
zum zum means “to the” in zum Meeting. It is the contracted form of zu dem and introduces the meeting as the destination or occasion. Use zum before an event or place when describing bringing something there.
Meeting Meeting means “meeting” in zum Meeting. It names the project meeting where the summary will be presented. Use it with zum when describing taking something to that meeting.
mitbringen mitbringen means “bring along” in diese Übersicht zum Meeting mitbringen. It describes bringing an object with you to a destination or event. Use it with the item being brought and the destination or occasion.
Damit Damit introduces the purpose of the proposed action in Damit wir eine praktikable Entscheidung treffen können. It means “so that.” Use damit followed by a clause to explain the intended result of an action.
praktikable praktikable describes the decision as workable or practical in eine praktikable Entscheidung. It indicates that the decision should be usable in the real project situation. Use it before Entscheidung when emphasizing a feasible outcome.
Entscheidung Entscheidung means “decision” in eine praktikable Entscheidung treffen. It names the result the team wants to reach. Use it in the fixed expression eine Entscheidung treffen.
treffen treffen means “make” or “take” in eine praktikable Entscheidung treffen. Together with Entscheidung, it forms the standard expression for making a decision. Use the pattern eine Entscheidung treffen when describing the act of deciding.

Grammar Points

angesichts + Genitiv

Angesichts der ungelösten Testprobleme wirkt der Zeitplan riskant.

AHNG-uh-zikhts dehr OONG-guh-LURST-n TEST-proh-BLAY-muh virkt dehr TSYTE-plahn ris-KAHNT.

In view of the unresolved testing issues, the timeline seems risky.

angesichts takes the genitive case; in the plural, the article der is used.

obwohl + Nebensatz mit Verb am Ende

Obwohl die Führung Fortschritte unterstützt, wirkt der Zeitplan ambitioniert.

op-VOHL dee FYOO-roong FORT-shrit-uh oon-tuh-SHTUTST, virkt dehr TSYTE-plahn am-bee-tsyo-NEERT.

Although leadership supports progress, the timeline seems ambitious.

obwohl introduces a subordinate clause, so the conjugated verb moves to the end.

German Vocabulary

ambitioniert adj
am-bee-tsyo-NEERT ambitious
angesichts prep
AHNG-uh-zikhts in view of; given
Fortschritt noun
FORT-shrit progress Fortschritte
Führung noun
FYOO-roong leadership
obwohl conj
op-VOHL although
Sorge noun
ZOR-guh concern
teilen verb
TYE-lun to share teile
Testproblem noun
TEST-proh-BLAYM testing issue Testprobleme
ungelöst adj
OONG-guh-LURST unresolved ungelösten
vorgeschlagen adj
for-guh-SHLAH-gun proposed vorgeschlagene
wirken verb
VIR-kun to seem; to appear wirkt
Zeitplan noun
TSYTE-plahn timeline

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

timeline

Show AnswerZeitplan

testing issue

Show AnswerTestprobleme

to seem; to appear

Show Answerwirkt

in view of; given

Show Answerangesichts