German course

Lesson 154 of 240

New here? This is lesson 154 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Explaining a problem in German

The recycling app demo will not load at the loft, so Priya brings her laptop to Bäckerei Krause. Jonas joins her at a small table.

She needs to explain what is wrong and how things have changed since yesterday.

Anton sits nearby with his untouched Milchkaffee. He offers to look, then gets distracted by the Pfannkuchen.

By the end, you'll be able to name a fault, describe a change, and ask what to do next.

By the end of this lesson

Explain what is wrong and what has changed.

  • ___ funktioniert nicht richtig.___ isn't working properly.
  • Vorher war alles okay, aber jetzt ___.It was fine before, but now ___.
  • Das ist schon öfter passiert.This has happened before.
  • Könntest du dir das mal für mich anschauen?Could you take a look at this for me?
  • Was soll ich jetzt tun?What should I do now?
  • Bei der App ist etwas schiefgelaufen.Something went wrong with the app.

Scene — the bakery table

The recycling app demo will not load at the co-working loft. Priya brings her open laptop to Bäckerei Krause, where Jonas meets her at a small table.

Anton sits at the corner table with an untouched Milchkaffee. Renate is working behind the counter.

Priya and Jonas settle at a small bakery table with an open laptop while Anton sits at a corner table beside an untouched coffee.

Learn — what is wrong

Six useful lines help you describe what is wrong and what changed. One asks a teammate to look at the problem.

You'll also practise asking what to do next.

  1. Priya taps the trackpad while the laptop remains stalled on a blank display.

    ___ funktioniert nicht richtig.

    ___ isn't working properly.

    When to use it: Say this when something works, but not the way it should.

    Put the name first; the verb stays second in this main clause.

  2. Priya gestures toward the blank laptop display as Jonas listens from across the table.

    Vorher war alles okay, aber jetzt ___.

    It was fine before, but now ___.

    When to use it: Use this when something used to work and then changed.

    Vorher looks back, and the blank describes what is different now.

  3. Jonas leans toward the laptop and gives Priya a small knowing nod.

    Das ist schon öfter passiert.

    This has happened before.

    When to use it: Say this when the same problem has come up before.

    Öfter means the same thing happened more than once.

    Say it: Say the ö in öfter with rounded lips.

  4. Priya turns the open laptop toward Jonas and looks to him for help.

    Könntest du dir das mal für mich anschauen?

    Could you take a look at this for me?

    When to use it: Ask a teammate or friend to look at a problem.

    Jonas uses du with Priya from their first day working together.

    Say it: Könntest puts the stress on the first syllable.

  5. Priya opens both hands in uncertainty while Jonas prepares to check the laptop.

    Was soll ich jetzt tun?

    What should I do now?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need to know the next step.

    In this question, tun stays at the end.

  6. Jonas focuses on the laptop and points toward its stalled display as he begins to check it.

    Bei der App ist etwas schiefgelaufen.

    Something went wrong with the app.

    When to use it: Use this to say something went wrong with an app.

    After bei, die App becomes der App.

    Say it: Sch in schiefgelaufen is the hush sound at the start.

Story — the demo will not load

Priya tells Jonas the demo is not working, then explains that it worked before. Anton offers to help but soon thinks about the bakery instead.

The highlighted words are lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Priya sets her laptop on the bakery table. Jonas sits across from her.
  2. PriyaIch habe ein Problem.I've got a problem.
  3. JonasWas ist los mit der Demo?What's wrong with the demo?
  4. PriyaBei der App ist etwas schiefgelaufen.Something went wrong with the app.
  5. PriyaDie Demo funktioniert nicht richtig.The demo isn't working properly.
  6. JonasUnd gestern?And yesterday?
  7. PriyaVorher war alles okay, aber jetzt lädt sie nicht.It was fine before, but now it won't load.
  8. PriyaDas ist schon öfter passiert.This has happened before.
  9. JonasOkay, ich verstehe.Okay, I see.
  10. PriyaKönntest du dir das mal für mich anschauen?Could you take a look at this for me?
  11. JonasJa, klar. Einen Moment.Yes, sure. One moment.
  12. PriyaWas soll ich jetzt tun?What should I do now?
  13. JonasWarte kurz. Ich prüfe das.Wait a second. I'll check it.
  14. Anton turns toward the laptop. His Milchkaffee remains untouched.
  15. AntonAlso, ich schaue auch mal.Right, I'll take a look too.
  16. AntonIst mein Pfannkuchen gleich fertig?Is my jam doughnut almost ready?
  17. RenateJa, gleich.Yes, in a moment.

Practice — fault and change

Ten short exercises let you listen, fill gaps, build a question, and choose a useful response.

Keep the details clear: what worked before, and what is wrong now.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    ___ funktioniert nicht richtig.

  3. Fill the gap

    This has happened before.

    Das ist schon ____ passiert.

  4. What do you say?

    Explain that the demo worked before, but it will not load now. Complete the learned before-and-now frame with the current problem.

  5. Build the line

    What should I do now?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    Ask Jonas, your teammate, to look at the problem for you.

    ____ du dir das mal für mich anschauen?

  7. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Was ist los?

    What's wrong?

    And you reply with:

  8. True or false?

    This says the thing is working well now.

  9. Match the pairs

    German

    Das ist schon öfter passiert.Drop the English here
    Könntest du dir das mal für mich anschauen?Drop the English here
    Bei der App ist etwas schiefgelaufen.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  10. Fill the gap

    I'm stuck.

    Ich komme nicht ____.

Say it — tell Jonas

Now you're Priya at the bakery table with Jonas. Practise short responses and a clear request for help.

When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JonasWas ist mit der App?What's wrong with the app?
  2. Priya (you)Tell him something went wrong with the app.

    Bei der App ist etwas schiefgelaufen.

    Something went wrong with the app.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
___ funktioniert nicht richtig.___ isn't working properly.
Vorher war alles okay, aber jetzt ___.It was fine before, but now ___.
Das ist schon öfter passiert.This has happened before.
Könntest du dir das mal für mich anschauen?Could you take a look at this for me?
Was soll ich jetzt tun?What should I do now?
Bei der App ist etwas schiefgelaufen.Something went wrong with the app.
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