German - Explaining a Problem

Es gibt ein Problem mit ___.

There's a problem with ___.

Meaning: There’s a problem with ___.

When to use: Use this to introduce the thing that has an issue (device, account, service). If the object has an article, remember preposition mit takes dative (mit dem WLAN, mit dem Konto).

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget dative after mit when using an article (say mit dem Konto, not mit den Konto).

___ funktioniert nicht richtig.

___ isn't working properly.

Meaning: ___ isn’t working properly.

When to use: Use for devices, apps, machines, websites, or functions that fail to work as expected.

Bei ___ ist etwas schiefgelaufen.

Something went wrong with ___.

Meaning: Something went wrong with ___.

When to use: Good for processes (orders, payments, bookings, registrations) when an unexpected negative result occurred.

Ich kriege ___ nicht zum Laufen.

I can't get ___ to work.

Meaning: I can’t get ___ to work.

When to use: Use casually when you cannot make a device, software, or system start or function; the object is usually accusative with articles (den Drucker, die App).

Tip: Learners may use dative after bekommen/confuse cases; here the object after kriegen is accusative (den Drucker).

Ich habe ___ nicht bekommen.

I didn't receive ___.

Meaning: I didn’t receive ___.

When to use: Use for emails, messages, packages, documents, or information you expected but did not get—object is usually accusative with an article.

Das ist schon öfter passiert.

This has happened before.

Meaning: This has happened before.

When to use: Use when the same issue has occurred multiple times. If it happened only once before, say: Das ist schon mal passiert.

Vorher war alles okay, aber jetzt ___.

It was fine before, but now ___.

Meaning: It was fine before, but now ___.

When to use: Use to contrast a recent change that caused the problem; finish with a full clause describing the new issue (e.g. geht es nicht mehr).

Da steht: ___.

It says ___.

Meaning: It says ___.

When to use: Use when reading an error message, warning, screen text, sign, or letter aloud; then quote the message if needed.

Könntest du dir das mal für mich anschauen?

Could you check it for me?

Meaning: Could you check it for me?

When to use: Polite informal request using du-form. For formal situations use: Könnten Sie sich das bitte für mich anschauen?

Was soll ich jetzt tun?

What should I do now?

Meaning: What should I do now?

When to use: Use to ask for the next action after describing the problem; neutral and common in spoken German.

Das Problem fing an, als ___.

The issue started when ___.

Meaning: The issue started when ___.

When to use: Explain when a problem began; after 'als' use a full clause with the verb at the end (e.g. als ich das Update gemacht habe).

Ich habe versucht, ___, aber es hat nichts gebracht.

I tried to ___, but it didn't help.

Meaning: I tried to ___, but it didn't help.

When to use: Report an attempted fix that failed. The blank usually contains an infinitive phrase with zu (e.g. die App neu zu starten).

Tip: Learners sometimes forget the zu in infinitive groups (say 'versucht, die App neu zu starten').

Es ___ immer wieder.

It keeps ___.

Meaning: It keeps ___.

When to use: Describe a repeated or recurring problem. The blank usually requires a 3rd person singular verb (e.g. stürzt ab, hängt sich auf).