英文讲解初级德语-Setting up a date

 Formal German

#2 Frau Wagner, haben Sie noch Lust auf einen Kaffee?

#1 Nein, ich habe jetzt einen Termin.

#2 Und morgen? Haben Sie morgen Zeit?

#1 Nein, ich arbeite morgen.

#2 Haben Sie am Samstag Zeit?

#1 Nein, ich arbeite auch am Samstag.

English

#2 Ms Wagner, are you still interested in a coffee? (literally

#1 No, I have an appointment now.

#2 And tomorrow? Do you have time tomorrow?

#1 No, I’m working tomorrow.

#2 Do you have time on Saturday?

#1 No, I work on Saturday, too.

Informal German

#2 Lena, hast du noch Lust auf einen Kaffee?

#1 Nein, ich habe jetzt einen Termin.

#2 Und morgen? Hast du morgen Zeit?

#1 Nein, morgen arbeite ich.

#2 Hast du am Samstag Zeit?

#1 Nein, ich arbeite auch am Samstag.

Informal English

#2 Lena, are you still interested in a coffee? (literally

#1 No, I have an appointment now.

#2 And tomorrow? Do you have time tomorrow?

#1 No, I’m working tomorrow.

#2 Do you have time on Saturday?

#1 No, I work on Saturday, too.

 

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

Haben Sie Zeit? Do you have time?

Ich habe Lust auf Fernsehen. I am in the mood for TV.

Ich habe Lust auf Kaffee. I am in the mood for coffee. (literally: I have

desire of coffee)

Ich trinke immer Kaffee, wenn ich arbeite. I always drink coffee when I work.

Ich möchte jetzt gehen. I want to go now.

Wo wohnst du jetzt? Where do you live now?

Wenn isch dr Termin? When is the appointment?

Morgen habe ich einen Termin. Tomorrow I have an appointment.

Die Zeiten ändern sich. Times change.

Ich habe jetzt Zeit. I have time now.

Am Samstag komme ich nach Hamburg. On Saturday I am coming to Hamburg.

 

　　Grammar Points

       In this lesson you have seen very liberal use of a new verb: “haben” (to have). “haben” is extremelyuseful and the current lesson has only begun to show that. In the dialogue you have heard the forms“ich habe” and “du hast”. As you can see, they are not entirely regular, as “du hast” should really be“du habest”. However, at least the memorable –st ending still stayed on, and “ich habe” is perfectly 　　regular. So is the formal form “Sie haben”. All in all, this verb doesn’t give us all that much trouble.

　　Some examples of situations where it can be used:

　　Ich habe einen Bruder. – I have a brother.

　　Haben Sie Zeit? – Do you have time?

　　Ich habe einen Arzttermin. – I have an appointment with the doctor.

　　Hast du Lust auf einen Kaffee? – Are you interested in a coffee? (literally: have you desire of acoffee?)Ich habe keine Lust zu arbeiten. – I don’t feel like working. (literally: I have no desire to work)Ich habe Hunger/Durst. – I am hungry/thirsty. (literally: I have hunger/thirst)As you can see, it is a really useful and versatile verb, so memorize it well!

　　Cultural Insight

       Ice-cream sundaes are vastly popular in Germany, especially if the ice-cream is home-made by anItalian ice-cream parlour – Italians have the reputation of making the best ice-cream. The ice-creamparlours are usually quite small, perhaps accomodating 30 people inside, but in summer they offerseveral times as many seats outside – and despite that you will still struggle to find a seat, especially ifit’s a place renowned to be good.

　　This is when “Ist hier noch frei?” comes into play. If there are still tables with absolutely nobodysitting at them, most people will claim these unless they know somebody sitting elsewhere. Same goesfor the rows of a bus by the way. If however every other table is claimed, you are perfectly right towalk up to any empty seat and ask the person sitting next to it whether the seat is taken or not. Thisdoes not necessarily imply any interest in the person (as it might when there are still unclaimed tables)– but it is easy to go from sharing a table by necessity to having a conversation and from there toflirting. Key questions like “Kommen Sie oft hierhin?” and later “Haben Sie Lust auf …?” or “HabenSie … Zeit?” should quickly show you if the other person is interested in spending time with you oncethis chance meeting is over.

　　Note however that no matter how close you two get during this first meeting, you will be payingseparately and it would be seen as very presumptuous to offer anything else at this point. Generallyyou will find that Germans hardly ever pay for each other, even among close friends or maybeespecially there, because money issues have been the ruin of a lot of beautiful friendships. It is ofcourse understood that a father will pay for his family, or that a husband may pay for his wife (or viceversa) and usually when somebody is hosting a celebration (e. g. a company dinner or a birthdaycelebration with friends) then that somebody will also pay for everybody. Anything else would have to 　　be explicitly stated, but if somebody suggests eating at a restaurant then that does NOT usually meanthat he will treat you. He would have to use some expression like “ich lade Sie ein” (I am inviting you)in order to indicate that.