German course

Lesson 115 of 240

New here? This is lesson 115 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Filling in the form in German

Priya's Anmeldung wait is over. At the Bürgeramt a clerk slides a form across, and one box stares back empty.

The scanner beeps. A red circle sits on the signature line. Anton walks in, exactly on time, for the wrong office.

By the end, you'll name a time, ask what to write, check a signature, and ask for a second scan.

Keep Sie with the clerk. The time slot sits after um.

By the end of this lesson

Ask what to write on a form, whether to sign, and what to do if a scan fails.

  • Ich habe um ___ einen Termin.I have an appointment at ___.
  • Was kommt in dieses Feld?What goes in this box?
  • Muss ich hier unterschreiben?Do I need to sign here?
  • Das lässt sich nicht scannen.It won't scan.
  • Ich brauche die Meldebescheinigung.I need the registration certificate.
  • Können Sie das bitte nochmal scannen?Could you scan that again, please?

Scene — the Bürgeramt window

Two stops from Fliederstraße, Priya stands at a Bürgeramt window. A clerk sorts a stack of Anmeldung forms and does not look up yet.

Anton is not in the waiting row. The clock over the door is exact. One chair sits empty beside the desk.

Priya waits at the Bürgeramt window while a clerk sorts forms without looking up.

Learn — the form and the scan

Six lines cover a timed appointment, a form box, a signature, a failed scan, and the paper you came for.

You'll also ask staff to scan the page again.

  1. The clerk looks up from the forms as Priya stands ready at the window.

    Ich habe um ___ einen Termin.

    I have an appointment at ___.

    When to use it: Say this at a desk when you already booked a time.

    Put a time in the blank after um.

  2. Priya points to an empty box on the form.

    Was kommt in dieses Feld?

    What goes in this box?

    When to use it: Ask this when a box on a form is empty or unclear.

    Dieses matches Feld; learn them together with the noun.

  3. Priya turns toward the clerk as a pen marks the signature line on the form.

    Muss ich hier unterschreiben?

    Do I need to sign here?

    When to use it: Ask this when someone points at the signature line.

    Muss ich asks if you have to; hier points at the line.

  4. The form fails to feed through the scanner, and the clerk pauses while Priya watches.

    Das lässt sich nicht scannen.

    It won't scan.

    When to use it: Say this when the machine will not read your form.

    Sich stays with lässt; the line means the machine fails.

    Say it: Lässt uses a short ä, like the e in bet.

  5. Priya asks for the registration certificate while the clerk listens at the window.

    Ich brauche die Meldebescheinigung.

    I need the registration certificate.

    When to use it: Say this when you need the paper that proves your address.

    Learn die with Meldebescheinigung; it is the paper you need.

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

  6. The clerk prepares to scan the form again as Priya waits nearby.

    Können Sie das bitte nochmal scannen?

    Could you scan that again, please?

    When to use it: Ask this of staff when the first scan fails.

    A clerk at the Bürgeramt gets Sie, not du.

    Say it: Können uses a rounded ö, close to a tight eh.

Story — the form will not scan

Watch Priya at the Bürgeramt window. The form will not scan, and the clerk circles one line.

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

  1. Priya waits at a numbered window. The clerk looks up from a stack of forms.
  2. ClerkGuten Tag.Hello.
  3. PriyaGuten Tag. Ich habe um zehn einen Termin.Hello. I have an appointment at ten.
  4. ClerkSetzen Sie sich.Please sit down.
  5. The clerk slides the Anmeldung across. One box is empty.
  6. PriyaWas kommt in dieses Feld?What goes in this box?
  7. ClerkDie Unterschrift kommt hierhin.The signature goes here.
  8. The clerk circles the signature line with a red pen.
  9. PriyaMuss ich hier unterschreiben?Do I need to sign here?
  10. ClerkJa. Hier, bitte.Yes. Here, please.
  11. The scanner beeps once. The form comes back unread.
  12. PriyaDas lässt sich nicht scannen.It won't scan.
  13. ClerkVerstehe.I see.
  14. PriyaKönnen Sie das bitte nochmal scannen?Could you scan that again, please?
  15. ClerkEinen Moment, bitte.One moment, please.
  16. The second scan goes through. The clerk confirms that Priya's Anmeldung is complete.
  17. ClerkIhre Anmeldung ist jetzt abgeschlossen.Your registration is now complete.
  18. PriyaIch brauche die Meldebescheinigung.I need the registration certificate.
  19. Anton stands in the doorway, exactly on time. This window is not his.
  20. AntonIch habe um zehn einen Termin.I have an appointment at ten.

Practice — box or signature

Ten short tasks wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, swap a word, build a line, and pick a reply.

They stay on the form and the scanner.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    Your appointment is at ten. Name the time you booked.

  3. Fill the gap

    What goes in this box?

    Was kommt in dieses ____?

  4. Pick the reply

    Clerk says:

    Die Unterschrift kommt hierhin.

    The signature goes here.

    And you reply with:

  5. What does it mean?

    Das lässt sich nicht scannen.

  6. Build the line

    I need the registration certificate.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    The first scan failed. Ask the clerk to try again.

    Können Sie das bitte nochmal ____?

  8. What does it mean?

    Setzen Sie sich.

  9. True or false?

    This line asks someone to wait about half an hour.

  10. Put the chat in order

    1. ClerkWhat comes first?
    2. Priya…
    3. Clerk…
    4. Priya…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

Say it — say it at the desk

Now you're Priya at the Bürgeramt window. 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. ClerkGuten Tag.Hello.
  2. Priya (you)Tell her you have a booked time at ten.

    Ich habe um ___ einen Termin.

    I have an appointment at ___.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich habe um ___ einen Termin.I have an appointment at ___.
Was kommt in dieses Feld?What goes in this box?
Muss ich hier unterschreiben?Do I need to sign here?
Das lässt sich nicht scannen.It won't scan.
Ich brauche die Meldebescheinigung.I need the registration certificate.
Können Sie das bitte nochmal scannen?Could you scan that again, please?
Next: lesson 116Making an appointment

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