Reducing Unnecessary Video Meetings | Learn German in English

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Use Reducing Unnecessary Video Meetings to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich möchte unnötige Videokonferenzen nach Möglichkeit reduzieren.

ikh MYUKH-tuh oon-NUR-ti-guh VEE-deh-oh-kon-fuh-REN-tsen nahkh MUR-likh-KYTE reh-doo-TSEER-en. I want to reduce unnecessary video meetings where possible.

Ich verstehe das, obwohl manche Gespräche davon profitieren, dass man Reaktionen sehen kann.

ikh fer-SHTEH-uh dahs, ob-VOHL MAN-khuh guh-SHPRAY-khuh dah-FOHN pro-fee-TEE-ren, dahs mahn reh-ak-TSYOH-nen ZAY-en kahn. I understand, though some discussions benefit from visible reactions.

Komplexe Entscheidungen verdienen eine Live-Diskussion, aber für Updates gilt das oft nicht.

kom-PLEK-suh ent-SHYE-doon-gen fehr-DEE-nen EYE-nuh LYFE-dis-koo-TSYOHN, AH-ber fyr UP-dates gilt dahs oft nikht. Complex decisions deserve live discussion, but updates often do not.

Dann sollten wir Entscheidungsbesprechungen vom Informationsaustausch trennen.

dahn ZOHL-ten veer ent-SHYE-doongs-buh-SHPREKH-oong-en fom in-for-mah-TSYOHNS-ows-towsh TRENN-en. Then we should separate decision meetings from information sharing.

Schriftliche Updates würden den Menschen ermöglichen, überlegter zu antworten.

SHRIFT-li-khuh UP-dates VYOOR-den den MEN-shen air-MURK-li-khen, OO-ber-LAYK-ter tsoo ANT-vor-ten. Written updates would let people respond more thoughtfully.

Sie schaffen außerdem Aufzeichnungen, die später nützlich sind.

zee SHAF-en OWS-er-DAYM OWF-TSYKH-noong-en, dee SHPAY-ter NUUTS-likh zint. They also create records, which is useful later.

Könnten wir diesen Ansatz bei einem regelmäßigen Meeting testen?

KURNT-en veer DEE-zen AN-sats bye EYE-nem RAY-gel-may-si-gen MEE-ting TES-ten? Could we pilot that approach with a recurring meeting?

Wir können ihn testen und die Qualität der Ergebnisse vergleichen.

veer KUR-nen een TES-ten oont dee kva-lee-TAYT dair air-GAYB-nis-suh fer-GLEYE-khen. We can test it and compare the quality of outcomes.

Word by Word

Ich „Ich“ means “I” and identifies the speaker in the statements „Ich möchte“ and „Ich verstehe das“. It is used when the speaker refers to themself in a conversation.

möchte „möchte“ expresses a wish or intention here: “would like to”; it is the form of mögen used for this polite wish. It is followed by an infinitive such as „reduzieren“, which comes later in the clause.

unnötige „unnötige“ means “unnecessary” and describes the video conferences in „unnötige Videokonferenzen“. The adjective is placed before the noun and helps distinguish meetings that are not needed from necessary ones.

Videokonferenzen „Videokonferenzen“ means video conferences or video meetings and is the thing the speaker wants to reduce. It is the plural form of Videokonferenz and can be used for meetings held through video communication.

nach In „nach Möglichkeit“, „nach“ contributes to the meaning “as far as” or “whenever possible”, rather than meaning a physical direction. This expression is useful when describing an action that should happen whenever circumstances allow it.

Möglichkeit „Möglichkeit“ means “possibility” in the expression „nach Möglichkeit“, which means “where possible”. The noun is used here to express the practical limits on reducing the meetings.

reduzieren „reduzieren“ means “to reduce” and describes making the number of unnecessary video meetings smaller. The infinitive follows „möchte“ and takes the thing being reduced as its object.

verstehe „verstehe“ means “understand” in „Ich verstehe das“ and is the speaker’s form of verstehen. It is used to acknowledge that the other person’s point has been understood.

das „das“ means “that” or “it” here and refers back to the proposal to reduce unnecessary video meetings. In „Ich verstehe das“, it identifies the point that the speaker understands.

obwohl „obwohl“ means “although” and introduces a concession: the speaker understands the proposal, even though some discussions benefit from visible reactions. It introduces the subordinate clause „obwohl manche Gespräche davon profitieren, dass man Reaktionen sehen kann“.

manche „manche“ means “some” or “certain” and limits the statement to some discussions in „manche Gespräche“. It is useful for making a general statement that does not apply to every member of a group.

Gespräche „Gespräche“ means “discussions” or “conversations” and is the plural of Gespräch. Here it refers to discussions that may benefit from seeing visible reactions.

davon In „davon profitieren“, „davon“ means “from that” or “from it” and points forward to the following idea about being able to see reactions. The pattern connects profitieren with something that provides a benefit.

profitieren „profitieren“ means “to benefit” and describes the advantage that some discussions receive from visible reactions. It is used with „davon“ here and commonly connects a person or thing with a beneficial source.

dass „dass“ means “that” and introduces the content explaining what the discussions benefit from. In the clause beginning „dass man Reaktionen sehen kann“, the verb phrase is placed at the end.

man „man“ refers to people in general, or to anyone in the relevant situation, in „dass man Reaktionen sehen kann“. It is useful when the statement is not about one named person.

Reaktionen „Reaktionen“ means “reactions” and is the plural of Reaktion. Here it refers to visible responses from participants during a discussion.

sehen „sehen“ means “to see” and is the infinitive used in „Reaktionen sehen kann“. It describes the ability to observe participants’ reactions in a video discussion.

kann „kann“ means “can” or “is able to” and is a form of können. It expresses the possibility of seeing reactions and is used with the infinitive „sehen“.

Komplexe „Komplexe“ means “complex” and describes the decisions in „Komplexe Entscheidungen“. It presents these decisions as deserving a different kind of discussion from routine updates.

Entscheidungen „Entscheidungen“ means “decisions” and is the plural of Entscheidung. In the dialogue, the decisions are the subject that is said to deserve a live discussion.

verdienen „verdienen“ means “deserve” and says that complex decisions merit a live discussion. It takes the thing considered deserved, here „eine Live-Diskussion“, as its object.

eine „eine“ introduces „eine Live-Diskussion“ as one live discussion that complex decisions deserve. It is used before a singular noun when referring to a non-specific instance of something.

Live-Diskussion „Live-Diskussion“ means a live discussion held in real time. In „verdienen eine Live-Diskussion“, it is the kind of discussion considered appropriate for complex decisions.

aber „aber“ means “but” and contrasts complex decisions with updates in the sentence „Komplexe Entscheidungen verdienen eine Live-Diskussion, aber für Updates gilt das oft nicht“. It is useful for introducing an opposing qualification.

für In „für Updates gilt das oft nicht“, „für“ means “for” or “as far as ... is concerned”. The pattern „für X gilt ...“ introduces the group or topic to which a statement applies.

Updates „Updates“ means “updates” and is the topic for which the earlier statement often does not apply. It refers here to information that can often be shared without a live discussion.

gilt „gilt“ means “applies” or “holds true” in „für Updates gilt das oft nicht“ and is a form of gelten. The construction states whether the preceding principle applies to a particular topic.

oft „oft“ means “often” and indicates that the statement does not apply to updates on many occasions, though not necessarily every time. It modifies the frequency of the situation being described.

nicht „nicht“ means “not” and negates the claim that the need for live discussion applies to updates. Here it belongs to the construction „für Updates gilt das oft nicht“.

Dann „Dann“ means “then” and presents the next proposal as a consequence of the previous point. At the beginning of „Dann sollten wir ...“, it helps move the discussion toward a practical decision.

sollten „sollten“ expresses “should” or a recommendation and is a form of sollen. It is used with the infinitive „trennen“ to suggest what the speakers ought to do.

wir „wir“ means “we” and includes both speakers in the proposed action. It is used when the speakers make a shared plan together.

Entscheidungsbesprechungen „Entscheidungsbesprechungen“ means “decision meetings” and refers to meetings focused on making decisions. It is the plural form of Entscheidungsbesprechung and is one side of the separation proposed in the dialogue.

vom „vom“ is the contraction of von dem and means “from the” in „vom Informationsaustausch“. It marks the second category from which the decision meetings should be separated.

Informationsaustausch „Informationsaustausch“ means “information sharing” or “information exchange”. It names the type of communication that can be kept separate from decision meetings.

trennen „trennen“ means “to separate” and describes keeping decision meetings apart from information sharing. The dialogue uses it in the pattern „Entscheidungsbesprechungen vom Informationsaustausch trennen“.

Schriftliche „Schriftliche“ means “written” and describes the updates in „Schriftliche Updates“. It presents written communication as an alternative to some video meetings.

würden „würden“ expresses “would” and is a form of werden used to describe a proposed result. Here it introduces the expected benefit that written updates would give people.

den The form „den“ in „den Menschen“ marks the people who receive the benefit of the proposed action. It belongs to the construction „den Menschen ermöglichen, überlegter zu antworten“.

Menschen „Menschen“ means “people” and refers to the participants who would be able to respond more thoughtfully. In „den Menschen“, it names the people receiving this possibility.

ermöglichen „ermöglichen“ means “to enable” or “to make possible” and describes what written updates would do for people. It is used with a person who receives the opportunity and an action introduced by „zu“, here „zu antworten“.

überlegter „überlegter“ means “more thoughtfully” and is the comparative form of überlegt used to describe the manner of responding. It modifies „antworten“ and shows that written updates may allow more careful replies.

zu „zu“ is the infinitive marker in „zu antworten“, linking the action of responding to „ermöglichen“. It does not describe a separate destination here; it helps form the construction meaning “enable someone to respond”.

antworten „antworten“ means “to respond” or “to reply” and describes the action people can perform after reading a written update. It appears as the infinitive in „überlegter zu antworten“.

Sie „Sie“ means “they” here and refers back to the written updates, not to a formal “you”. In „Sie schaffen außerdem Aufzeichnungen“, it introduces another benefit of those updates.

schaffen „schaffen“ means “create” in „Sie schaffen außerdem Aufzeichnungen“. Here it describes written updates as producing a lasting record, rather than meaning to manage or accomplish something.

außerdem „außerdem“ means “also” or “moreover” and adds record-keeping as an additional benefit of written updates. It is useful when adding another point to an argument.

Aufzeichnungen „Aufzeichnungen“ means “records” or “written records” and is the plural of Aufzeichnung. These are the records created by the written updates and useful at a later time.

die „die“ means “which” in „die später nützlich sind“ and refers back to „Aufzeichnungen“. It introduces the relative clause that gives more information about those records.

später „später“ means “later” and places the usefulness of the records at a subsequent time. It is useful when describing a benefit that may become relevant after the original discussion.

nützlich „nützlich“ means “useful” and describes the value of the records in „die später nützlich sind“. It is used after „sind“ to state a quality of the records.

sind „sind“ means “are” and is a form of sein that links the records with the description „nützlich“. In the relative clause, it completes the statement about why the records matter later.

Könnten „Könnten“ means “could” and is a form of können used here to make a polite suggestion. The question „Könnten wir diesen Ansatz ... testen?“ proposes a trial without presenting it as a demand.

diesen „diesen“ means “this” and points to the specific approach the speakers have just discussed. In „diesen Ansatz“, it identifies that approach as the one they might test.

Ansatz „Ansatz“ means “approach” and refers to separating decision meetings from information sharing and using written updates. It is the object of the proposed testing.

bei In „bei einem regelmäßigen Meeting“, „bei“ means “at” or “in the context of” a meeting. It identifies the setting in which the approach could be tested.

einem „einem“ introduces one meeting in „bei einem regelmäßigen Meeting“. It is the article form used after „bei“ in this phrase and helps specify the setting for the trial.

regelmäßigen „regelmäßigen“ means “regular” or “recurring” and describes the meeting in „einem regelmäßigen Meeting“. It indicates a meeting that takes place repeatedly rather than a one-time event.

Meeting „Meeting“ means “meeting” and refers to the recurring meeting chosen as the setting for the pilot. It is used after „bei einem regelmäßigen“ to describe that work event.

testen „testen“ means “to test” or “to try out” and describes running the proposed approach in practice. It is the infinitive used after „Könnten wir“ and takes „diesen Ansatz“ as its object.

können „können“ means “can” and expresses ability or possibility in „Wir können ihn testen“. It is followed by the infinitive „testen“, which names the action that is possible.

ihn „ihn“ means “it” here and refers back to the masculine noun „Ansatz“. It is the object of „testen“, so the speakers can test the approach.

und „und“ means “and” and connects the two planned actions „testen“ and „vergleichen“. It shows that the speakers intend to carry out both actions.

Qualität „Qualität“ means “quality” and refers to how good the outcomes are. In „die Qualität der Ergebnisse vergleichen“, it is the aspect of the results that the speakers will compare.

der In „der Ergebnisse“, „der“ means “of the” and links the results to their quality. The full phrase „die Qualität der Ergebnisse“ identifies whose quality is being compared.

Ergebnisse „Ergebnisse“ means “outcomes” or “results” and is the plural of Ergebnis. These are the results produced by the different meeting or update approaches.

vergleichen „vergleichen“ means “to compare” and describes examining the quality of the outcomes against one another. It is coordinated with „testen“ after „können“.

Grammar Points

obwohl + Nebensatz: Verb am Ende

Obwohl die Entscheidung komplex ist, gilt der Ansatz.

ob-VOHL dee ent-SHYE-doong kom-PLEKS ist, gilt dair AN-sats.

Although the decision is complex, the approach applies.

Nach „obwohl“ steht das konjugierte Verb im Nebensatz am Ende: „komplex ist“.

nach Möglichkeit + Infinitiv

Videokonferenzen nach Möglichkeit reduzieren.

VEE-deh-oh-kon-fuh-REN-tsen nahkh MUR-likh-KYTE reh-doo-TSEER-en.

Reduce video meetings where possible.

„Nach Möglichkeit“ ist eine feste Wendung und bedeutet „where possible“.

German Vocabulary

Entscheidung noun

ent-SHYE-doong decision Entscheidungen

Gespräch noun

guh-SHPRAYKH discussion Gespräche

komplex adj

kom-PLEKS complex Komplexe

nach Möglichkeit phrase

nahkh MUR-likh-KYTE where possible

obwohl conj

ob-VOHL although

profitieren verb

pro-fee-TEE-ren to benefit

Reaktion noun

reh-ak-TSYOHN reaction Reaktionen

reduzieren verb

reh-doo-TSEER-en to reduce

sichtbar adj

ZIKHT-bahr visible sichtbare

unnötig adj

oon-NUR-tikh unnecessary unnötige

verstehen verb

fehr-SHTAY-en to understand verstehe

Videokonferenz noun

VEE-deh-oh-kon-fuh-RENTS video meeting Videokonferenzen

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to understand

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verstehe

although

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obwohl

to benefit

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profitieren

discussion

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Gespräche