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Lesson 85 of 240

New here? This is lesson 85 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Sharing a table in German

The bakery is packed this morning. Priya wants a table, but only Anton's corner has a spare chair, and he is already using two.

She asks if the seat is free and if they can sit with him. Jule is still on her way.

By the end, you'll ask to share a table and say who is still coming.

Anton looks mysterious about the extra chair. He just needs the space.

By the end of this lesson

Ask to share a table and say who is still coming.

  • Ist hier noch frei?Is this seat free?
  • Können wir uns dazusetzen?May we sit with you?
  • Ist das schon besetzt?Is this already taken?
  • Wir warten noch auf eine Freundin.We're still waiting for a friend.
  • Es kommt noch jemand.Someone else is still coming.
  • Jetzt sind alle da.Everyone's here now.

Scene — the packed bakery

Saturday at Bäckerei Krause. Every small table is taken, and the bench outside is wet.

Anton sits at the corner table on two chairs, a Milchkaffee still full. Renate is at the counter. Priya stands with her backpack. Jule texted that she is close.

A crowded bakery with Anton at the corner table, Priya waiting in the aisle, and Renate at the counter.

Learn — a free seat

Six lines help you ask for a free seat, join a table, and say a friend is still on the way.

You'll also say when everyone has arrived.

  1. Priya opens one palm toward the spare-looking chair beside Anton's corner table.

    Ist hier noch frei?

    Is this seat free?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want an empty chair at a table.

    Noch here means the seat is still free.

  2. Priya faces Anton across the corner table with both hands open toward the chairs.

    Können wir uns dazusetzen?

    May we sit with you?

    When to use it: Ask this to join people already at a table.

    Wir means 'we'; here it refers to Priya and the friend they are waiting for.

    Say it: Können contains the rounded German ö sound.

  3. Priya points toward the chair beside Anton, checking whether it is already taken.

    Ist das schon besetzt?

    Is this already taken?

    When to use it: Ask this when a chair looks empty but may be taken.

    Schon here means the seat might already be taken.

    Say it: Schon starts with the German sch sound.

  4. Anton indicates the two chairs he needs at the corner table.

    Wir warten noch auf eine Freundin.

    We're still waiting for a friend.

    When to use it: Say this when a friend has not arrived yet.

    After auf, eine Freundin takes the accusative form.

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

  5. Renate brings two extra chairs while Priya tells Anton they are still waiting for a friend.

    Es kommt noch jemand.

    Someone else is still coming.

    When to use it: Say this so others keep a seat free.

    Jemand means a person, not a name you give.

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

  6. Jule arrives through the bakery doorway as Priya welcomes her beside the corner table.

    Jetzt sind alle da.

    Everyone's here now.

    When to use it: Say this when the last person has arrived.

    In a main clause the verb comes second, after Jetzt.

Story — two chairs

Watch Priya ask to share Anton's table while Jule is still on the way.

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

  1. Steam sits on the glass. Only Anton's corner table has a spare chair.
  2. PriyaHallo.Hello.
  3. AntonHallo.Hello.
  4. PriyaIst hier noch frei?Is this seat free?
  5. AntonDer Stuhl? Der ist für mich.The chair? That one is for me.
  6. PriyaIst das schon besetzt?Is this already taken?
  7. AntonJa, ich brauche zwei Stühle.Yes, I need two chairs.
  8. PriyaKönnen wir uns dazusetzen?May we sit with you?
  9. AntonJa. Renate, zwei Stühle bitte.Yes. Renate, two chairs please.
  10. Renate brings two extra chairs from the back. Anton keeps his pair.
  11. RenateHier, zwei Stühle.Here, two chairs.
  12. AntonSetz dich.Have a seat.
  13. PriyaWir warten noch auf eine Freundin.We're still waiting for a friend.
  14. AntonAch so.Ah, I see.
  15. He looks at his own two chairs as if they hid a secret.
  16. PriyaEs kommt noch jemand.Someone else is still coming.
  17. The door opens. Jule shakes rain from her yellow jacket.
  18. JuleHallo.Hello.
  19. PriyaJetzt sind alle da.Everyone's here now.

Practice — sit or wait

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

They stay small, so the round stays quick.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Ist hier noch frei?Drop the English here
    Können wir uns dazusetzen?Drop the English here
    Ist das schon besetzt?Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Ask the people at the table if you may sit with them.

  4. Fill the gap

    We're still waiting for a friend.

    Wir warten noch auf eine ____.

  5. What does it mean?

    Ist das schon besetzt?

  6. Swap the word

    Tell the table that everyone in your group is here now.

    Jetzt sind alle ____.

  7. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Warum bleibt der Stuhl leer?

    Why is the chair staying empty?

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    Someone else is still coming.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. What do you say?

    Jule is standing beside your table. Offer her a seat.

  10. True or false?

    You say this to ask if a seat is free.

Say it — ask to sit

Now you're Priya at the packed bakery. 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. AntonHallo.Hello.
  2. Priya (you)Ask if this seat is still free.

    Ist hier noch frei?

    Is this seat free?

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ist hier noch frei?Is this seat free?
Können wir uns dazusetzen?May we sit with you?
Ist das schon besetzt?Is this already taken?
Wir warten noch auf eine Freundin.We're still waiting for a friend.
Es kommt noch jemand.Someone else is still coming.
Jetzt sind alle da.Everyone's here now.
Next: lesson 86Getting a table

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick Yak Cards round keeps your seat questions ready for a full bakery.

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