Welcome! This short lesson helps you handle typical classroom moments: coming in late, borrowing things, and telling the teacher what's wrong. Keep it relaxed—these are practical phrases you can use right away.
Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice seven useful classroom phrases in German — asking to come in, saying you missed class, asking to borrow items, telling the teacher you can't see the board, saying you have no partner, asking if you must take notes, and saying you aren't finished yet. This lesson is CEFR-aligned and focused on listening, repeating, and short speaking.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Learn and recognize 7 classroom phrases at Level A2.
Be able to ask to enter class, borrow an item, and explain absence.
Practice saying these phrases aloud and use them in a short dialogue.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
Ich bin noch nicht fertig.
I'm not finished yet.
Meaning: I'm not finished yet.
When to use: Use this when you need more time to finish an exercise or test and want to tell the teacher.
Ich bin noch nicht fertig. Kann ich noch fünf Minuten haben?
I'm not finished yet. Can I have five more minutes?
Tut mir leid, ich bin noch nicht fertig mit der Aufgabe.
Sorry, I'm not finished with the task yet.
Ich war gestern nicht da.
I was absent yesterday.
Meaning: I was absent yesterday.
When to use: Say this to explain why you missed a lesson or to ask for material you missed.
Ich war gestern nicht da. Haben wir Hausaufgaben?
I wasn't here yesterday. Do we have homework?
Entschuldigung, ich war gestern nicht da. Was haben wir gemacht?
Sorry, I was absent yesterday. What did we do?
Ich habe keinen Partner.
I don't have a partner.
Meaning: I don't have a partner.
When to use: Use this when the teacher asks you to work in pairs and you have no partner.
Tip: Beginners sometimes say "keine Partner" instead of the correct accusative "keinen Partner."
Ich habe keinen Partner. Kann ich mich jemandem anschließen?
I don't have a partner. Can I join someone?
Für die Übung habe ich keinen Partner.
I have no partner for the exercise.
Kann ich mir bitte ___ leihen?
Can I borrow ___?
Meaning: Can I borrow ___?
When to use: Use this to politely ask to borrow a classroom item (fill the blank with an object in accusative).
Tip: Remember the object is in accusative (einen Stift, ein Buch). New learners sometimes forget to change the article.
Kann ich mir bitte einen Stift leihen?
Can I borrow a pen, please?
Kann ich mir bitte das Lineal leihen?
Can I borrow the ruler, please?
Ich kann die Tafel nicht sehen.
I can't see the board.
Meaning: I can't see the board.
When to use: Say this when you physically cannot see the blackboard or whiteboard and need the teacher to help.
Entschuldigung, ich kann die Tafel nicht sehen. Kann ich näher sitzen?
Excuse me, I can't see the board. Can I sit closer?
Ich kann die Tafel nicht sehen. Ist das sehr weit weg?
I can't see the board. Is it very far away?
Darf ich reinkommen?
May I come in?
Meaning: May I come in?
When to use: Use this when you need permission to enter the classroom (late arrival or returning after break).
Darf ich reinkommen? Ich bin kurz draußen gewesen.
May I come in? I was briefly outside.
Tut mir leid, darf ich reinkommen? Die Tür war zu.
Sorry, may I come in? The door was closed.
Müssen wir das mitschreiben?
Do we need to write this down?
Meaning: Do we need to write this down?
When to use: Ask this when the teacher writes something and you want to know whether you should take notes.
Müssen wir das mitschreiben, oder ist das nur zur Info?
Do we need to write this down, or is it just for information?
Müssen wir das mitschreiben? Ich habe kein Heft dabei.
Do we need to write this down? I don't have a notebook with me.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
A student arrives late and talks briefly with the teacher about what she missed and what she needs.
Why did Anna ask for the worksheet?
Anna
Darf ich reinkommen?
May I come in?
David
Ja, komm rein. Setz dich.
Yes, come in. Sit down.
Anna
Ich war gestern nicht da. Kann ich mir bitte das Arbeitsblatt leihen?
I was absent yesterday. Can I borrow the worksheet, please?
David
Natürlich. Hier ist ein Extra-Blatt. Hast du einen Partner?
Of course. Here's an extra sheet. Do you have a partner?
Anna
Ich habe keinen Partner.
I don't have a partner.
David
Gut, ich suche jemanden. Müssen wir das mitschreiben?
Good, I'll find someone. Do we need to write this down?
Anna
Und ich kann die Tafel nicht sehen.
And I can't see the board.
David
Ich stelle das noch einmal vor die Klasse. Kein Problem.
I'll repeat it to the class. No problem.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
What does 'Ich bin noch nicht fertig.' mean?
Which phrase would you use to explain you missed yesterday's class?
How do you politely ask to borrow a pen?
Which phrase tells the teacher there is a visibility problem?
May I come in?
Die Tür ist geschlossen. Anna klopft. ___
Do we need to write this down?
Der Lehrer schreibt etwas Wichtiges an die Tafel. Ein Schüler fragt: ___
I can't see the board.
In der letzten Reihe ruft Max: ___
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
