How to Ask for Clarification

Learn how to ask for clarification

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Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do German by GermanPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask for clarification in German.

For example, "Can you repeat that?" is

Kannst du das wiederholen?

Anouk Ahrens meets her neighbor, Jonas Jager , for the first time in the lobby of their building.

Jonas introduces himself but Anouk doesn’t catch his name and asks for clarification.

Before you hear the conversation, let's preview some of its key components,

wiederholen

"repeat"

wiederholen

Let's take a closer look to the conversation.

Freut mich. Ich heiße Jonas.

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

Ich heiße Jonas.

Once more with the English translation.

Freut mich. Ich heiße Jonas.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Jonas."

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Ich heiße Jonas.

"My name is Jonas."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Jonas Jäger introduces himself?

"Nice to meet you. My name is Jonas."

Freut mich. Ich heiße Jonas.

First is Freut mich, literally "It pleases me," but translates as "Nice to meet you." Freut mich. Freut mich.

Freut mich is actually a shortened form of Es freut mich, dich kennenzulernen, meaning "It pleases me to become acquainted with you." Es freut mich, dich kennenzulernen.

Jonas uses the shortened version, Freut mich, in his introduction. This version can be used in many contexts and is appropriate for both informal and formal situations.

Next is Ich heiße Jonas. "My name is Jonas.." Ich heiße Jonas.

First is Ich, "I." Ich. Ich.

Next is heiße, " called." Heiße. Heiße.

Heiße is from the verb, heißen, "to be called." Heiße.

Last is the name, Jonas. Jonas. Jonas.

Note: Jonas only uses his given name. Anouk and Jonas are young adults in an informal situation, so he only uses his given name.

Together, it’s Ich heiße Jonas. Literally "I called Jonas," but it translates as "My name is Jonas.." Ich heiße Jonas.

All together, it’s Freut mich. Ich heiße Jonas. "Nice to meet you. My name is Jonas.."

Ich heiße Jonas.

Anouk can’t catch his name.

Do you remember how she asks,

"Excuse me. Can you repeat that?"

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

First is Entschuldigung. "Excuse me." Entschuldigung. Entschuldigung.

Next is kannst du, "can you." Kannst du. Kannst du.

Kannst is from the verb können, "to be able." Können.

Du is the informal word for "you." Du. Du.

Together, kannst du, "can you."

Next is das, "that," in this context. Das. Das.

Last is wiederholen, "repeat." Wiederholen. Wiederholen.

Together, kannst du das wiederholen, literally, "can you that repeat," but it translates as, "can you repeat that?" Kannst du das wiederholen?

All together, Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen? "Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

Finally, do you remember how Jonas says,

"My name is Jonas.."

Hint, you’ve heard it before.

Ich heiße Jonas. "My name is Jonas.."

Ich heiße Jonas.

In this lesson, you learned how to ask for clarification in an informal situation:

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

To ask for clarification in a formal situation:

Entschuldigung, können Sie das wiederholen?

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Entschuldigung, können Sie das wiederholen?

For formal situations replace kannst du with können Sie.

Können Sie, "can you." Können Sie. Können Sie.

Note können Sie literally means "can they," as in "Can they repeat that," but it's also a formal way to address a single person, as is the case here, where Anoukis addressing Jonas. Können Sie.

Können, "to be able." Können. Können.

Sie, "you," when using formal German. Sie. Sie.

Together können Sie, "can you." können Sie.

The following is another useful way to ask someone to provide information:

Kannst du das aufschreiben? "Can you write it down?"

Kannst du das aufschreiben?

For formal situations replace kannst du with können Sie.

Können Sie das aufschreiben? "Can you write it down?"

Let’s look at the expressions once more. First you will hear informal expressions, followed by their formal counterparts.

Listen and repeat.

Entschuldigung.

"Excuse me."

Entschuldigung.

Kannst du das wiederholen?

"Can you repeat that?"

Kannst du das wiederholen?

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

Können Sie das wiederholen?

"Can you repeat that?"

Können Sie das wiederholen?

Entschuldigung, können Sie das wiederholen?

"Excuse me, can you repeat that? "

Entschuldigung, können Sie das wiederholen?

Noch einmal, bitte.

"One more time, please."

Noch einmal, bitte.

Kannst du langsamer sprechen?

"Can you speak more slowly?"

Kannst du langsamer sprechen?

Did you notice the new phrases?

Noch einmal, bitte.

Noch einmal, bitte. "One more time, please." Noch einmal, bitte.

First is noch, "additionally" in this context. Noch. Noch.

Next is einmal, literally "one time," but translates as "once." Einmal. Einmal.

Last is bitte, "please," in this context. Bitte. Bitte.

Noch einmal bitte, literally "additionally once please," but translates as "one more time, please." Noch einmal bitte.

The second phrase is Kannst du langsamer Sprechen? Literally "Can you more slowly speak," but it translates as "Can you speak more slowly?" Kannst du langsamer sprechen?

First is kannst du, "can you." Kannst du.

Kannst is from the verb können, "to be able." Können.

Du, "you," informal. Du.

Together, kannst du, "can you."

After this is langsamer, "more slowly." Langsamer. Langsamer.

Last is sprechen. "speak." Sprechen. Sprechen.

All together, Kannst du langsamer sprechen? "Can you speak more slowly?" Kannst du langsamer sprechen?

Let’s review the new words.

sprechen

"speak"

sprechen

Langsamer

"More slowly"

Langsamer

Aufschreiben

"Write down"

Aufschreiben

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how to say,

"Excuse me."

Entschuldigung

And how to say "repeat?"

wiederholen

Do you remember the informal way to say "can you?"

kannst du

Do you remember how Anouk asks,

"Excuse me, can you repeat ?"

Remember she uses informal German.

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

Do you remember how to say

"Nice to meet you."

Freut mich.

And do you remember how Jonas says,

"Nice to meet you. My name is Jonas.."

Freut mich. Ich heiße Jonas.

Do you remember the formal German for "can you"?

können Sie

Do you remember the formal way to ask,

"Can you repeat that?"

Können Sie das wiederholen?

Do you remember how to say "more slowly?"

langsamer

And how to say "speak?"

sprechen

And how to say

"Can you speak more slowly?"

Kannst du langsamer sprechen?

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Aron Ahrens. Jonas introduces himself, but you can’t catch his name.

Ask him to repeat it using informal German.

Ready?

Freut mich. Ich heiße Jonas.

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

Listen again and repeat.

Entschuldigung, kannst du das wiederholen?

Let's try another.

Imagine you're Jonas. Aylin Ahrens introduces herself, but you can’t catch her name.

Use formal German.

Ready?

Freut mich. Ich heiße Aylin.

Entschuldigung, können Sie das wiederholen?

Listen again and repeat.

Entschuldigung, können Sie das wiederholen?

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Jonas. Ask Anouk Ahrens to speak more slowly.

Ready?

Freut mich. Ich heiße Anouk.

Entschuldigung, kannst du langsamer sprechen?

Listen again and repeat.

Entschuldigung, kannst du langsamer sprechen?

If you can’t catch something someone says, you can say, wie bitte? "Pardon?" Wie bitte?

Well done! This is the end of this lesson.

In this lesson, you learned how to ask for clarification in German. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of getting clarification on things when you're speaking German.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

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