We’re back with another edition of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. In this episode:
Knowing how to talk about places and locations can make all the difference when you’re travelling to a German-speaking country. Whether you need to ask where the nearest Apotheke is or make sure the Museum is still open, knowing the relevant vocabulary and phrases is key.
However, in this blog post, we are not just looking at place names in German but also at the grammar topic of prepositions. Listen to the episode while reading the text to get the most out of the pronunciation tips!
One of the most common ways to ask about places in German is by using the phrase gibt es..., which means is there…? or are there…?. It’s a useful expression when you’re trying to find something in a town or city, such as a museum, a park, or even a swimming pool.
Here are a few examples:
Notice the change from ein to einen when using masculine nouns like der Park. This is because the accusative case is used after gibt es…
When you want to describe where something is located, prepositions like neben (beside), gegenüber (opposite), and zwischen (between) are incredibly useful. However, these prepositions require you to use the dative case to indicate the position of something.
Here’s how the definite articles change in the dative case:
| Noun | Nominative | Accusative | Dative |
| Masculine (der) | der Park | den Park | dem Park |
| Feminine (die) | die Schule | die Schule | der Schule |
| Neuter (das) | das Museum | das Museum | dem Museum |
Now, let’s see some examples of these prepositions in action:
If you want to ask if something is nearby, you can use the phrase in der Nähe, which means nearby or close by. This helps ask about places in German within walking distance:
Adding in der Nähe really is a fantastic expression to use when you are exploring a city. Try to use it the next time you are in a German-speaking area.
When visiting a tourist office or talking to the receptionist in the hotel, it’s useful to know how to ask for a map or brochures of interesting places. Here are some helpful phrases:
You can also ask when certain places open or close:
As an answer, you might hear the opening or closing time or even both.
Being able to talk about places in German and use the correct prepositions is key to navigating through towns and cities with ease. Whether you’re asking about the location of a museum or trying to figure out where the nearest park is, understanding how to use phrases like gibt es… and in der Nähe can be the first step to getting some great recommendations.
Don’t forget to practise using the dative case with prepositions, and make sure to listen to our related podcast episode for pronunciation tips and further examples. With a little practice, you’ll be able to confidently ask for directions and even describe locations in German when asked about them.
Just in case the places you want to see are not in der Nähe, we have prepared a blog post for you looking at using public transport in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.
In this lesson we’re looking at the irregular verb faire meaning “to do” or “to make”. Faire is another irregular verb so we need to learn each part of the verb as it does not follow the regular patterns.
Welcome to this latest edition of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. In this episode:
Mastering modal verbs is a crucial step in learning German, as they allow you to express abilities, desires, and preferences. In this post, we’ll explore three important modal verbs: können can, wollen want, and mögen like and show you how to use them when you are shopping in German.
By the end of this guide, you’ll feel more confident using these verbs in various contexts, from asking for help to expressing what you would like. Remember that for more in-depth practice, you can listen to the related podcast episode where you can hear these verbs in action.
Können is a modal verb used to express ability or possibility, equivalent to can or to be able to in English. One thing to note about können is the vowel change that occurs in the singular forms. Here’s how it’s conjugated:
| ich kann I can | wir können we can |
| du kannst you can (informal) | ihr könnt you can (informal plural) |
| er/sie/es kann he/she/it can | sie können they can / you can (formal) |
Here are some examples to see können in action.
In these examples, notice how the infinitive verb (kaufen, helfen) is placed at the end of the sentence. When using modal verbs in German, the modal verb takes the role of the main verb, meaning it has to be conjugated and is (normally) placed in the second position. The infinitive verb is placed at the end of the clause or sentence.
The verb wollen is used to express a strong desire or intention, meaning to want. It’s important to remember that ich will translates to I want and NOT I will, which is a common mistake among learners. Here’s the conjugation of wollen:
| ich will I want | wir wollen we want |
| du willst you want (informal) | ihr wollt you want (informal plural) |
| er/sie/es will he/she/it wants | sie wollen they want / you want (formal) |
Here are some sentences you might use when going shopping.
Wollen can come across as quite direct, so it’s useful to know möchten would like, which is a more polite way of expressing desire.
Mögen is a versatile verb that can mean to like, but in this lesson, we focus on its conditional form möchten, which is used to express polite requests or desires. Here’s how it’s conjugated:
| ich möchte I would like | wir möchten we would like |
| du möchtest you would like (informal) | ihr möchtet you would like (informal plural) |
| er/sie/es möchte he/she/it would like | sie möchten they would like / you would like (formal) |
Let’s have a look at how to use möchten to form polite requests.
Using möchten softens your requests and makes your German sound more polite and natural.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of these modal verbs, let’s put them into practice with a few more shopping examples and see if you can translate them into English.
Fantastisch! Modal verbs like können, wollen, and mögen are incredibly useful and are essential tools for expressing yourself in German. Whether you’re asking for help, expressing a desire, or making polite requests, mastering these verbs will greatly enhance your communication skills. Remember to practise regularly and try using these verbs in different contexts to build your confidence.
Don’t forget you can also listen to the podcast episode with many more example sentences and further explanations. If you are looking to expand your knowledge of German place names and what preposition to use with them, have a look at this blog post.
Welcome to this latest edition of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. In this episode:
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