German course

Lesson 7 of 240

New here? This is lesson 7 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Can I get past in German

The bakery door on Fliederstraße is tight this morning. Priya and Anton both try to be polite, and then nobody moves.

Renate has a tray and no time for a standoff. She will come through anyway.

By the end, you'll ask to get past, say you need to get through, and let someone go first.

Use Nach Ihnen with someone new. Nach dir is for a friend.

By the end of this lesson

Ask to get past, let someone go first, and say you need to get through.

  • Darf ich mal vorbei?May I get past?
  • Ich muss mal durch.I need to get through
  • Lassen Sie mich durch.Let me through
  • Nach Ihnen.After you
  • Nach dir.After you
  • Gehen Sie vor.You go first

Scene — the tight door

Priya reaches Bäckerei Krause. The doorway is tight, and Anton fills a lot of it in his green coat.

Renate is behind them with a tray. The corner table still has two chairs and a Milchkaffee he has not touched.

Priya pauses at the bakery threshold as Anton fills the narrow doorway and Renate waits behind them with a tray.

Learn — getting past

Six short lines cover getting past, needing to get through, and letting someone go first.

You will hear both Nach Ihnen and Nach dir.

  1. Priya pauses beside Anton in the tight doorway, asking to get past.

    Darf ich mal vorbei?

    May I get past?

    When to use it: Ask this when someone is in your way.

    Learn it as one piece at a tight door.

    Say it: The ch in ich is a light sound, not a k.

  2. Priya and Anton both pause after offering each other the way through while Renate waits behind them with her tray.

    Ich muss mal durch.

    I need to get through

    When to use it: Say this when you need space to get through.

    Learn it as one piece when you cannot wait.

    Say it: The ch in durch is the soft sound of ich, not the throaty Bach sound.

  3. Anton waits in the doorway as Priya gestures for him to go ahead.

    Lassen Sie mich durch.

    Let me through

    When to use it: Say this to a stranger or to staff in your way.

    Learn it as one piece with people you do not know.

  4. Priya offers Renate the way first, and Renate starts threading through the doorway with her tray.

    Nach Ihnen.

    After you

    When to use it: Say this to let a stranger or shop staff go first.

    Learn it as one piece to let someone new go first.

  5. After Renate has come through, Anton indicates that he needs to get through and Renate yields the passage.

    Nach dir.

    After you

    When to use it: Say this to let a friend go first at a door.

    Learn it as one piece with a friend.

  6. Anton steps inside and turns back toward Priya, who is still on the pavement, as Renate gestures him onward.

    Gehen Sie vor.

    You go first

    When to use it: Tell a stranger or new customer to go first.

    Learn it as one piece when you give someone the way.

Story — nobody moves

Watch the doorway jam. Priya and Anton both try to go last, and Renate has a tray.

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

  1. Priya stops in the bakery doorway. Anton fills most of it.
  2. PriyaGuten Morgen.Good morning.
  3. AntonDarf ich mal vorbei?May I get past?
  4. PriyaNach Ihnen.After you.
  5. AntonNach Ihnen.After you.
  6. They both wait. Renate is behind them with a tray.
  7. PriyaGehen Sie vor.You go first.
  8. RenateLassen Sie mich durch.Let me through.
  9. She sighs and comes through anyway.
  10. AntonIch muss mal durch.I need to get through.
  11. RenateNach dir.After you.
  12. Anton steps inside and turns back. Priya is still on the pavement.
  13. AntonKommen Sie rein.Come in.

Practice — past or first

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Darf ich mal vorbei?Drop the English here
    Ich muss mal durch.Drop the English here
    Lassen Sie mich durch.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    A close friend is in the doorway. Let them go first.

  4. Fill the gap

    May I get past?

    ____ ich mal vorbei?

  5. What does it mean?

    Lassen Sie mich durch.

  6. Swap the word

    A new customer is at the door. Tell them to go first.

    Gehen Sie ____.

  7. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Darf ich mal vorbei?

    May I get past?

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    I need to get through

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. Find the mistake

  10. What do you say?

    The door is open. Invite a new guest inside.

  11. Fill the gap

    Good morning

    Guten ____.

Say it — say it back

Now you're Priya in the bakery doorway. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. AntonGuten Morgen.Good morning.
  2. Priya (you)Ask if you may get past.

    Darf ich mal vorbei?

    May I get past?

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Darf ich mal vorbei?May I get past?
Ich muss mal durch.I need to get through
Lassen Sie mich durch.Let me through
Nach Ihnen.After you
Nach dir.After you
Gehen Sie vor.You go first
Next: lesson 8See you tomorrow

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these door lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your after-you ready at the door.

Open Yak Cards