Learn to say "Write it down, please"
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| M: Hello and welcome to German Survival Phrases brought to you by germanpod101.com, this course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Germany. You will be surprised at how far a little German will go. Now before we jump in, remember to stop by germanpod101.com and there you will find the accompanying PDF and additional info in the post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. |
| F: German Survival Phrases. Lesson 35, Learn to Write in German without Lifting a Pen. |
| M: In the previous lesson, we covered how to ask how do you say this in German [Wie sagt man dies auf Deutsch] Do you remember? Today because we don’t want you to be off guard in any kind of situations in Germany, we are going to introduce you to a new phrase that is very important to help you focus your skills, not on the sounds but on the writing. We are going to cover a way for you to hold on to the information you get. So let’s start this new lesson. In German, can you write it down please is [Können Sie es bitte aufschreiben] Let’s break it down by syllable [Können Sie es bitte aufschreiben] Now let’s hear it once again [Können Sie es bitte aufschreiben] the first word [Können] means can, we use the third person plural of the verb [können] can in the formal way of speech. Let’s break down this word and hear it one more time [können] and [können] The next word is the personal pronoun [Sie] which means you in the formal way of speech. We follow this with [es] it, a third person singular neutral pronoun that describes the specific something you need to have written down. Then we have [bitte] which in English means please. Lastly the infinitive form of the verb [aufschreiben] to write down. So to recap here, we have [Können Sie es bitte aufschreiben] Literally this means, can you it please write down but in this case, we translate it as can you write it down please. Next, we have another way to express the same meaning. We use this form when you are familiar with the people you talk to and it’s less formal than the previous phrase [Kannst du es bitte aufschreiben] Can you write it down please. Let’s break it down by syllable [Kannst du es bitte aufschreiben] Now let’s hear it once again [Kannst du es bitte aufschreiben] As you have just heard, the only elements that change are the verb and the personal pronoun [Können Sie] changes into [Kannst du] can you. The conjugated verb form in the second person singular if the verb [können] can. The personal pronoun changes from the capitalized Sie to the lower case [du] you also second person singular. So altogether we have [Kannst du es bitte aufschreiben] once you have it, it can happen that you have the written words but you have no idea how to pronounce them. In German, how do you pronounce this is [Wie sagt man das] You can use this phrase while pointing at the word. Let’s break it down by syllable [Wie sagt man das] and now let’s hear it once again [Wie sagt man das] The first word interrogative particle wie means how. Let’s break down this word and hear it one more time. [wie] and [wie] which literally means say, follows next but in this case, we use it as to pronounce. Let’s break down the word and hear it one more time [sagt] Next we have the impersonal indefinite pronoun [man] meaning you or one as in one would say. Finally we have demonstrative adjective [das] literally meaning that. However in these types of questions, we commonly use it instead of this. So to recap here, we have [wie sagt man das] Literally this means how says one that. While in Germany, you will find out that people prefer to say things the easy way and to give short and clear explanations, that’s why [wie sagt man das] is the easiest way of asking for the pronunciation of a specific word or phrase. You could also say [wie spricht man dies aus] This matches the phrase, how do you pronounce this but it is more common to use the other phrase. Just in case, let’s break down this one too and hear it one more time [wie spricht man dies aus] The first word [wie spricht man dies aus] means how [wie] follows [spricht] which in English means pronounce. It’s the first part of the verb [sprechen] to pronounce. Sometimes in German questions, we split verb forms into two parts. One at the beginning of the question and one at the end. Let’s break down the word and hear it once more [spricht] and [spricht] The next word is the impersonal indefinite pronoun [man] meaning you or one. Then we have [dies] this and finally [aus] second part of the verb [aussprechen] Let’s break down this one and hear it again [aus] and [aus] So altogether we have [Wie spricht man dies aus] literally this means how pronounce one this [Wie spricht man dies aus] It might be that people are not carrying any piece of paper or a pen. So before asking [Können Sie dies bitte aufschreiben] try with [Haben Sie Papier und einen Stift] do you have paper and pen. Let’s break it down by syllable [Haben Sie Papier und einen Stift] Now let’s hear it once again [Haben Sie Papier und einen Stift] The first word [Haben] means have. In the third person plural form of the verb [haben] to have, we used in the formal way of speech. The verb is connected to the formal address of your counterpart, the personal pronoun [Sie] you, third person plural. Then you have [Papier] which in English is paper. Let’s break it down by syllable and hear it one more time [Papier] then you have [und] and which is followed by [einen] a, singular indefinite article. Let’s break down this one and hear it one more time [einen] Finally we have the noun [Stift] pen. Let’s break it down by syllable and hear it again [Stift] So let’s hear the entire sentence now. [Haben Sie Papier und einen Stift] Literally this means have you paper and a pen. |
| Okay to close our today’s lesson, we would like you to practice what you’ve just learned. I will provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you are responsible for shouting it out aloud. You have a few seconds before I give you the answer. So [Viel Glück] which means good luck in German. |
| Can you write it down please [Können Sie es bitte aufschreiben] Can you write it down please, less formal [Kannst du es bitte aufschreiben] how do you pronounce this [Wie sagt man das] how do you pronounce this, formal [Wie spricht man dies aus] do you have paper and pen [Haben Sie Papier und einen Stift]. |
| That’s going to do it for today. |
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