German course

Lesson 157 of 240

New here? This is lesson 157 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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The meeting runs long in German

The standup at the loft has already run long, and Jonas is staring at the clock. Priya has to move the group on without sounding rude.

Anton has taken a second chair and a Milchkaffee he will not finish. He wonders if the meeting is almost ready.

You'll name the delay, count what is still open, skip ahead, park a point, and say you would stop here.

By the end of this lesson

Move a meeting along and say what is left.

  • Wir sind etwas hinter dem Zeitplan.We're a bit behind schedule.
  • Es sind noch drei Punkte offen.There are still three items left.
  • Springen wir zum nächsten Punkt.Let's jump to the next item.
  • Das heben wir uns für später auf.We'll come back to that later.
  • Wir haben nicht mehr viel Zeit.We don't have much time left.
  • Für heute würde ich hier Schluss machen.I'd stop here for today.

Scene — the loft standup

The co-working loft by the canal is still in standup. Laptops are open, the whiteboard is blank, and Jonas checks the time.

Anton sits on two chairs at the end of the table, a Milchkaffee beside him. He is not on the team, but he stayed.

The standup continues around the table as Jonas checks the time and Anton occupies two chairs at the end.

Learn — behind and still open

Six lines help you keep a long meeting moving.

You'll say you are behind, name what is still open, jump ahead, and say you'd stop here.

  1. Jonas glances at his watch and opens his hands to acknowledge the delay.

    Wir sind etwas hinter dem Zeitplan.

    We're a bit behind schedule.

    When to use it: Say this when a meeting or standup has already run past the plan.

    The verb comes second in this main clause, right after wir.

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

  2. Priya indicates the remaining agenda items with blank sticky squares.

    Es sind noch drei Punkte offen.

    There are still three items left.

    When to use it: Use this to say how many agenda items are still open.

    Learn die Punkte with the noun, for items still on the list.

  3. Jonas gestures forward to move the group to the next item.

    Springen wir zum nächsten Punkt.

    Let's jump to the next item.

    When to use it: Say this to skip ahead when one point is eating the clock.

    Zum nächsten Punkt is one piece for the next item on the list.

    Say it: The ä in nächsten is a long open e sound.

  4. Priya slides her notepad aside to set the unresolved topic aside for later.

    Das heben wir uns für später auf.

    We'll come back to that later.

    When to use it: Park a point you will not finish in this meeting.

    The prefix auf sits at the end of this main clause.

    Say it: At the start of später, sp sounds like sh plus p.

  5. Jonas looks toward the bright windows as the meeting time runs short.

    Wir haben nicht mehr viel Zeit.

    We don't have much time left.

    When to use it: Use this when the clock is almost gone and you need to wrap up.

    Nicht mehr viel Zeit is one piece for almost no time left.

  6. Priya begins closing her laptop with a gentle wrap-up gesture while Anton remains at the far end.

    Für heute würde ich hier Schluss machen.

    I'd stop here for today.

    When to use it: Say this as a participant when you'd rather not start another point.

    The verb würde sits second, after Für heute, in this main clause.

    Say it: The ü in würde is a tight rounded vowel.

Story — the clock wins

Watch Priya move the standup on when it runs long. Jonas wants it shorter, and Anton waits at the end of the table.

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

  1. Jonas looks at the clock. The standup has already run past the slot.
  2. JonasWir sind etwas hinter dem Zeitplan.We're a bit behind schedule.
  3. PriyaEs sind noch drei Punkte offen.There are still three items left.
  4. JonasDer Filter für die App dauert noch.The filter for the app is still taking time.
  5. PriyaDas heben wir uns für später auf.We'll come back to that later.
  6. Anton has two chairs and a Milchkaffee he has not touched.
  7. AntonIst es gleich fertig?Is it almost ready?
  8. JonasNoch nicht. Wir haben nicht mehr viel Zeit.Not yet. We don't have much time left.
  9. PriyaSpringen wir zum nächsten Punkt.Let's jump to the next item.
  10. JonasAlso der zweite Punkt, ganz kurz.So the second item, very briefly.
  11. PriyaWir müssen uns beeilen.We have to hurry.
  12. JonasIch habe es eilig.I'm in a hurry.
  13. PriyaFür heute würde ich hier Schluss machen.I'd stop here for today.
  14. JonasGut. Ich muss los.Good. I have to go.

Practice — move it along

Eleven short tasks wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, swap a word, and pick the right move.

They stay short, so the round still fits in a busy standup.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Wir sind etwas hinter dem Zeitplan.Drop the English here
    Es sind noch drei Punkte offen.Drop the English here
    Wir haben nicht mehr viel Zeit.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Skip this point and start the next one on the list.

  4. Fill the gap

    There are still three items left.

    Es sind noch drei Punkte ____.

  5. What does it mean?

    Für heute würde ich hier Schluss machen.

  6. Fill the gap

    We'll come back to that later.

    Das heben wir uns für später ____.

  7. Swap the word

    The standup is almost out of time.

    Wir haben nicht mehr viel ____.

  8. Find the mistake

  9. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Kommst du mit zum Mittagessen?

    Are you coming to lunch?

    And you reply with:

  10. True or false?

    This line means the meeting is already over.

  11. Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — say it in the loft

Now you're Priya in the loft standup. 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. JonasWir sind etwas hinter dem Zeitplan.We're a bit behind schedule.
  2. Priya (you)Tell him three items are still open.

    Es sind noch drei Punkte offen.

    There are still three items left.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Wir sind etwas hinter dem Zeitplan.We're a bit behind schedule.
Es sind noch drei Punkte offen.There are still three items left.
Springen wir zum nächsten Punkt.Let's jump to the next item.
Das heben wir uns für später auf.We'll come back to that later.
Wir haben nicht mehr viel Zeit.We don't have much time left.
Für heute würde ich hier Schluss machen.I'd stop here for today.
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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your meeting lines ready for a long standup.

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