Clarifying Repair Responsibility | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: In a housing office discussion, a tenant asks whether a gradually loosened fixture is routine maintenance and how to document the repair request..

EN → DE / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Clarifying Repair Responsibility to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob ich für diese Reparatur verantwortlich bin.

ikh bin meer nikht ZIKH-er, op ikh fyoor DEE-zuh reh-pah-rah-TOOR fehr-ANT-vort-likh bin. I am unsure whether this repair is my responsibility.
B

Das hängt davon ab, ob der Schaden durch normale Nutzung entstanden ist.

dahs HENGT dah-FOHN ahp, op dair SHAH-den doorkh nor-MAH-luh NOOT-soong ent-SHTAHN-den ist. It depends on whether the damage came from normal use.
A

Die Befestigung hat sich allmählich gelockert, ohne dass ungewöhnliche Kraft angewendet wurde.

dee beh-FES-ti-goong hat zikh AHL-may-likh geh-LOK-ert, OH-nuh dahs oon-geh-VUHN-likh-uh kraft AHN-geh-ven-det VOOR-duh. The fixture loosened gradually, without any unusual force.
B

Dann könnte das unter die regelmäßige Instandhaltung fallen.

dahn KURN-tuh dahs OON-ter dee RAY-gel-MAY-si-guh IN-shtant-hahl-toong FAHL-en. Then it may fall under routine maintenance.
A

Ich hätte lieber, dass die Einschätzung dokumentiert wird.

ikh HET-uh LEE-ber, dahs dee EYN-shets-oong doh-koo-men-TEERT veert. I would prefer the assessment to be documented.
B

Das ist sinnvoll, da die Verantwortung auf der Ursache beruhen sollte.

dahs ist ZIN-voll, dah dee fehr-ANT-vor-toong owf dair OOR-zah-khuh beh-ROO-en ZOL-tuh. That makes sense, since responsibility should be based on the cause.
A

Ich kann dem Instandhaltungsantrag Fotos beifügen.

ikh kahn daym IN-shtant-hahl-toongs-ahn-trahk FOH-tohs BYE-fyoo-gen. I can send photos with the maintenance request.
B

Bitte fügen Sie sie bei und beschreiben Sie, wie sich das Problem entwickelt hat.

BIT-tuh FYOOG-en zee zee bye oont beh-SHRY-ben zee, vee zikh dahs proh-BLAYM ent-VIK-kelt hat. Please attach them and describe how the problem developed.

Word by Word

Ich Ich means “I” when the speaker refers to themself. The capitalized form appears at the beginning of “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”, while the lowercase form ich appears after ob in “ob ich für diese Reparatur verantwortlich bin”.
bin In “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”, bin means “am” and states the speaker’s present condition. It is the first-person form used with Ich in the construction “Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob …”.
mir In “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”, mir marks the speaker as the person who is or is not certain. This fixed construction can be reused as “Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob …” when expressing uncertainty about a yes-or-no matter.
nicht Nicht negates sicher in “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”, so the speaker says they are not certain. It is placed directly before the adjective here; the same pattern can be reused in “Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob …”.
sicher Sicher means “certain” or “sure” in “Ich bin mir nicht sicher”. Together with mir and nicht, it expresses uncertainty, and the reusable pattern is “Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob …”.
ob Ob introduces the indirect yes-or-no question in “ob ich für diese Reparatur verantwortlich bin”. The verb phrase bin appears at the end of this subordinate clause, as in the reusable pattern “Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob …”.
für Für links the responsibility to the repair in “für diese Reparatur verantwortlich”. In this use it means “for” and introduces the thing someone is responsible for.
diese Diese means “this” in “diese Reparatur”, referring to the specific repair under discussion. Its form accompanies the feminine noun Reparatur after für.
Reparatur Reparatur means “repair” in “für diese Reparatur”. It names the work whose responsibility is being discussed, and it can be used in the pattern “für diese Reparatur verantwortlich sein”.
verantwortlich Verantwortlich means “responsible” in “für diese Reparatur verantwortlich bin”. It is used with sein and the preposition für to identify what someone is responsible for.
Das Das refers to the situation or question in “Das hängt davon ab”. The lowercase form das appears in “das Problem” as the definite article meaning “the”; capitalization distinguishes the sentence-initial form from the article.
hängt In “Das hängt davon ab”, hängt contributes to the expression meaning “it depends”. It is the finite part of the separable verb phrase hängt … ab, with ab placed at the end of the main clause.
davon Davon means “on that” or “on it” in “Das hängt davon ab”. Together with hängt and ab, it forms the pattern “Das hängt davon ab, ob …”, used when the answer depends on a condition.
ab Ab completes the separable expression “hängt davon ab”, meaning “depends on”. It is separated from the verb in the main clause and appears at the end: “Das hängt davon ab”.
der Der is the definite article in “der Schaden” and “der Ursache”. In “der Schaden” it means “the” for the damage, while in “auf der Ursache” it accompanies Ursache in the phrase meaning “based on the cause”.
Schaden Schaden means “damage” in “der Schaden”. It is the damage whose cause is being considered, especially in the pattern “ob der Schaden durch normale Nutzung entstanden ist”.
durch Durch presents normal use as the source or cause of the damage in “durch normale Nutzung”. It can be reused before a cause or means in a phrase describing how something came about.
normale Normale means “normal” in “normale Nutzung”. It describes the use as ordinary rather than unusual and appears directly before the noun it describes.
Nutzung Nutzung means “use” or “usage” in “durch normale Nutzung”. Here it identifies ordinary use as the possible cause of the damage, in the reusable pattern “durch normale Nutzung”.
entstanden Entstanden means “come about” or “arisen” in “entstanden ist”, describing how the damage came into existence. It is used with ist in the subordinate-clause pattern “ob der Schaden durch normale Nutzung entstanden ist”.
ist In “entstanden ist”, ist works with entstanden to express that the damage has come about. In “Das ist sinnvoll”, ist links Das with sinnvoll and means “is”; the exact function therefore depends on the surrounding construction.
Die Die is the definite article in “Die Befestigung”, meaning “the fixture”. The lowercase form die appears in “da die Verantwortung …” and also means “the”, introducing Verantwortung after da.
Befestigung Befestigung means “fixture” or “fastening” in “Die Befestigung hat sich allmählich gelockert”. It names the object that gradually became loose.
hat In “hat sich allmählich gelockert”, hat helps form the statement that the fixture has loosened. It also appears in “entwickelt hat”, where it helps express how the problem has developed in the indirect question.
sich In “Die Befestigung hat sich allmählich gelockert”, sich is part of the reflexive expression describing the fixture becoming loose. In “wie sich das Problem entwickelt hat”, it similarly belongs to the expression describing the problem’s development.
allmählich Allmählich means “gradually” in “hat sich allmählich gelockert”. It shows that the change happened over time rather than through one sudden event.
gelockert Gelockert means “loosened” in “hat sich allmählich gelockert”. With sich and hat, it describes the fixture becoming less firmly attached.
ohne Ohne means “without” in “ohne dass ungewöhnliche Kraft angewendet wurde”. Here it introduces the absence of an unusual force, followed by a dass-clause.
dass Dass introduces the subordinate clause “dass ungewöhnliche Kraft angewendet wurde”. It presents the fact that unusual force was not applied, with the verb phrase at the end of the clause.
ungewöhnliche Ungewöhnliche means “unusual” in “ungewöhnliche Kraft”. It describes the force as outside what would normally be expected.
Kraft Kraft means “force” in “ungewöhnliche Kraft angewendet wurde”. It names what was or was not applied to the fixture.
angewendet Angewendet means “applied” in “ungewöhnliche Kraft angewendet wurde”. Together with wurde, it forms the passive statement that unusual force was applied, within the larger clause introduced by ohne dass.
wurde Wurde is used with angewendet in “Kraft angewendet wurde” to form a past passive statement: force was applied. It appears at the end because the words belong to a dass-clause.
Dann Dann means “then” in “Dann könnte das unter die regelmäßige Instandhaltung fallen”. It connects the possible classification to the preceding information about how the fixture loosened.
könnte Könnte expresses a possibility or cautious assessment in “Dann könnte das … fallen”. It makes the statement less definite, which suits a discussion about whether the repair qualifies as routine maintenance.
unter Unter means “under” in the expression “unter die regelmäßige Instandhaltung fallen”. Together with fallen, it describes being included in a category or area of responsibility.
regelmäßige Regelmäßige means “regular” or “routine” in “die regelmäßige Instandhaltung”. It describes maintenance carried out as part of normal upkeep.
Instandhaltung Instandhaltung means “maintenance” in “die regelmäßige Instandhaltung”. The full expression names the category under which the repair might be classified.
fallen Fallen means “fall” in “unter die regelmäßige Instandhaltung fallen”. After könnte, it remains in the infinitive and forms the expression for belonging to a category.
hätte In “Ich hätte lieber”, hätte expresses a polite preference rather than a literal possession. The pattern “Ich hätte lieber, dass …” lets the speaker state how they would prefer something to be handled.
lieber Lieber means “rather” or “preferably” in “Ich hätte lieber, dass die Einschätzung dokumentiert wird”. It modifies hätte to express the speaker’s preferred outcome.
Einschätzung Einschätzung means “assessment” in “die Einschätzung dokumentiert wird”. It refers to the evaluation of who is responsible for the repair.
dokumentiert Dokumentiert means “documented” in “dass die Einschätzung dokumentiert wird”. Together with wird, it describes the assessment as being put into a written or recorded form.
wird Wird helps form the present passive expression “dokumentiert wird”, meaning that the assessment is being documented. It appears at the end because the expression is inside a dass-clause.
sinnvoll Sinnvoll means “sensible” or “reasonable” in “Das ist sinnvoll”. It expresses agreement that documenting the assessment is a reasonable step.
da Da introduces the reason in “da die Verantwortung auf der Ursache beruhen sollte”. Here it means “since” or “as” and places the explanatory clause after the main statement.
Verantwortung Verantwortung means “responsibility” in “die Verantwortung”. It refers to who should be responsible for the repair, and the phrase “die Verantwortung … beruhen sollte” explains the basis for that decision.
auf Auf appears in the fixed expression “auf der Ursache beruhen”, meaning “be based on the cause”. In this construction it introduces the basis on which the responsibility rests.
Ursache Ursache means “cause” in “auf der Ursache”. It identifies what should determine the responsibility for the repair.
beruhen Beruhen means “be based on” or “rest on” in “auf der Ursache beruhen”. It remains in the infinitive after sollte and is used with auf to name the basis of something.
sollte Sollte expresses what ought to be the case in “die Verantwortung auf der Ursache beruhen sollte”. It appears at the end of the da-clause and presents the cause as the proper basis for responsibility.
kann Kann means “can” or “am able to” in “Ich kann dem Instandhaltungsantrag Fotos beifügen”. It expresses the speaker’s ability or possibility to attach photos.
dem Dem is the article in the dative phrase “dem Instandhaltungsantrag”. It marks the maintenance request as the document to which the photos are attached.
Instandhaltungsantrag Instandhaltungsantrag means “maintenance request” in “dem Instandhaltungsantrag”. It names the request or application that will receive the attached photos.
Fotos Fotos means “photos” in “dem Instandhaltungsantrag Fotos beifügen”. These are the materials the speaker can attach to document the repair problem.
beifügen Beifügen means “attach” or “include” in “Fotos beifügen”. It is the infinitive after kann and takes the item being attached as well as the document receiving it.
Bitte Bitte means “please” in “Bitte fügen Sie sie bei”. It makes the following instruction polite.
fügen In “fügen Sie sie bei”, fügen is the verb part of the formal imperative meaning “attach”. The particle bei completes the separable verb beifügen, so the full instruction is “Bitte fügen Sie sie bei”.
Sie The capitalized Sie in “fügen Sie sie bei” addresses the other person formally and means “you”. The lowercase form sie in the same exact sentence means “them” and refers back to Fotos.
bei Bei completes the separable verb in “fügen Sie sie bei”, giving the instruction “attach them”. It is placed at the end of the imperative clause.
und Und means “and” in “fügen Sie sie bei und beschreiben Sie …”. It connects the two instructions: attaching the photos and describing the problem’s development.
beschreiben Beschreiben means “describe” in “beschreiben Sie, wie sich das Problem entwickelt hat”. It is the second formal instruction and takes the following wie-clause as the content to describe.
wie Wie introduces the content of the description in “wie sich das Problem entwickelt hat”. Here it means “how” and introduces a subordinate clause with the verb phrase at the end.
Problem Problem means “problem” in “wie sich das Problem entwickelt hat”. It is the issue whose development should be described.
entwickelt Entwickelt means “developed” in “sich das Problem entwickelt hat”. Together with sich and hat, it describes how the problem changed over time.

Grammar Points

abhängen von + Dativ; trennbares Verb

Die Einschätzung hängt von der Ursache ab.

dee EYN-shets-oong HENGT fon dair OOR-zah-khuh ahp.

The assessment depends on the cause.

In the main clause, the prefix ab moves to the end: hängt ... ab. The preposition von takes the dative.

Passiv: werden + Partizip II

Die Kraft wurde angewendet.

dee kraft VOOR-duh AHN-geh-ven-det.

The force was applied.

The passive uses werden with the past participle. The person or thing performing the action can be omitted.

German Vocabulary

abhängen verb
ahp-HENG-en to depend hängt ... ab

Das hängt davon ab.

allmählich adv
AHL-may-likh gradually
anwenden verb
AHN-ven-den to apply; to use angewendet wurde
Befestigung noun
beh-FES-ti-goong fixture; fastening
entstehen verb
ent-SHTAY-en to arise; to result entstanden
Kraft noun
kraft force
Nutzung noun
NOOT-soong use
Reparatur noun
reh-pah-rah-TOOR repair
Schaden noun
SHAH-den damage
sich lockern verb
zikh LOK-ern to loosen hat sich ... gelockert
ungewöhnlich adj
oon-geh-VUHN-likh unusual ungewöhnliche
verantwortlich adj
fehr-ANT-vort-likh responsible

für diese Reparatur verantwortlich sein

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I can send photos with the maintenance request.

Show AnswerIch kann dem Instandhaltungsantrag Fotos beifügen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

fixture; fastening

Show AnswerBefestigung

use

Show AnswerNutzung

gradually

Show Answerallmählich

to arise; to result

Show Answerentstanden