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Lesson 202 of 240

New here? This is lesson 202 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Making the deadline in German

Jonas wants the recycling feature in plain words by Friday. Priya sits down at the loft and the due date is suddenly real.

She will ask when it needs to be done, name the deadline, and say if she can still make it.

Time is tight. Anton walks in exactly on time, on the wrong day.

By the end you can talk about a deadline without promising the moon.

By the end of this lesson

Say when something is due and whether you can make it.

  • Bis wann soll das fertig sein?When does this need to be done by?
  • Der Abgabetermin ist diesen Freitag.The deadline is this Friday.
  • Das schaffe ich noch.I can still make it.
  • Zeitlich wird das ziemlich eng.Time is pretty tight.
  • Bis Freitag schaffe ich das leider nicht.I won't make it by Friday, I'm afraid.
  • Ich versuche, es vorher abzugeben.I'll try to hand it in before then.

Scene — the loft list

Wednesday at the co-working loft by the canal. Jonas has a coffee mug and a short list.

Priya sits down with her laptop. The recycling feature still has tests running.

Anton is not in the meeting. He will be, on the wrong day, exactly on time.

Priya settles at the canal-side table with her laptop while Jonas stands nearby with coffee and a short list.

Learn — due date and time

Six lines cover the due date, a tight timeline, and whether you can still make it.

You will ask, answer, and say you will try to hand it in earlier.

  1. Priya looks up from her laptop and responds with a small open-handed gesture.

    Bis wann soll das fertig sein?

    When does this need to be done by?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need the due date for a piece of work.

    In a main-clause question the verb comes second, right after Bis wann.

  2. Jonas taps his short blank list beside his coffee mug.

    Der Abgabetermin ist diesen Freitag.

    The deadline is this Friday.

    When to use it: Use this to name the due date when someone asks.

    Abgabetermin is the due date; at a Berlin startup people also say Deadline.

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

  3. Priya nods beside her laptop as she confirms the deadline.

    Das schaffe ich noch.

    I can still make it.

    When to use it: Say this when you still think you can finish in time.

    Schaffen here means to manage it in time, not to create something.

    Say it: Schaffe starts with sch, like the English sh.

  4. From behind Priya, Jonas leans toward the list as he asks whether she can make the first version.

    Zeitlich wird das ziemlich eng.

    Time is pretty tight.

    When to use it: Warn that there is little time left to finish the work.

    The verb wird stays in second place even after Zeitlich at the start.

    Say it: The ch in ziemlich sounds like the ch in ich.

  5. Priya gives a small shrug as the tests continue on her laptop.

    Bis Freitag schaffe ich das leider nicht.

    I won't make it by Friday, I'm afraid.

    When to use it: Say this when you cannot finish by the day they named.

    After a time phrase like Bis Freitag, the verb still comes second.

  6. Priya focuses on typing at her laptop, working toward a first version.

    Ich versuche, es vorher abzugeben.

    I'll try to hand it in before then.

    When to use it: Say this when you plan to try to hand in the work before the due date.

    Abzugeben keeps ab on the front of the infinitive after zu.

Story — the wrong day

Watch Priya and Jonas pin down Friday. Time gets tight, then Anton arrives on the wrong day.

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

  1. Jonas looks at the blank whiteboard, then at Priya.
  2. JonasDie neue Funktion. Bis wann soll das fertig sein?The new feature. When does this need to be done by?
  3. PriyaDer Abgabetermin ist diesen Freitag.The deadline is this Friday.
  4. JonasBis Freitag sollte es stehen.It should be ready by Friday.
  5. PriyaZeitlich wird das ziemlich eng.Time is pretty tight.
  6. JonasEine erste Version bis Freitag. Schaffst du das noch?A first version by Friday. Can you still make it?
  7. PriyaDas schaffe ich noch.I can still make it.
  8. She checks the test list on her laptop.
  9. PriyaDie Tests laufen noch.The tests are still running.
  10. JonasDie ganze Funktion bis Freitag?The whole feature by Friday?
  11. PriyaBis Freitag schaffe ich das leider nicht.I won't make it by Friday, I'm afraid.
  12. JonasWas geht dann noch? Die erste Version vorher?What can you still do then? The first version beforehand?
  13. PriyaIch versuche, es vorher abzugeben.I'll try to hand it in before then.
  14. JonasEine erste Version reicht.A first version is enough.
  15. The door opens. Anton stands there with his ticket on a cord.
  16. AntonIch bin pünktlich da.I'll be there on time.
  17. JonasAnton, heute ist Mittwoch.Anton, today is Wednesday.
  18. AntonAch so. Ich war nur zufällig in der Gegend.Ah. I just happened to be in the area.
  19. PriyaSetz dich. Der Abgabetermin ist diesen Freitag.Have a seat. The deadline is this Friday.
  20. JonasDie erste Version. Du schaffst das.The first version. You can do it.
  21. PriyaDas schaffe ich noch.I can still make it.

Practice — Friday or not

Ten short exercises wait here. You will listen, build, fill a gap, and pick a reply.

They stay close to the Friday deadline, so the round stays useful.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    You need the due date for the recycling feature. Ask Jonas.

  3. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Eine erste Version bis Freitag. Schaffst du das noch?

    A first version by Friday. Can you still make it?

    And you reply with:

  4. Fill the gap

    Time is pretty tight.

    Zeitlich wird das ____ eng.

  5. What does it mean?

    Bis Freitag schaffe ich das leider nicht.

  6. Build the line

    I'll try to hand it in before then.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Match the pairs

    German

    Das schaffe ich noch.Drop the English here
    Zeitlich wird das ziemlich eng.Drop the English here
    Bis Freitag schaffe ich das leider nicht.Drop the English here

    English

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

  8. True or false?

    This is how you name Friday as the due date.

  9. What do you say?

    Your teammate looks worried about the Friday deadline. Cheer them on.

  10. Fill the gap

    It should be ready by Friday.

    Bis Freitag ____ es stehen.

Say it — say the deadline

Now you are Priya at the loft. When it is your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear it. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JonasDie neue Funktion. Wir brauchen sie bald.The new feature. We need it soon.
  2. Priya (you)Ask when this needs to be done by.

    Bis wann soll das fertig sein?

    When does this need to be done by?

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Bis wann soll das fertig sein?When does this need to be done by?
Der Abgabetermin ist diesen Freitag.The deadline is this Friday.
Das schaffe ich noch.I can still make it.
Zeitlich wird das ziemlich eng.Time is pretty tight.
Bis Freitag schaffe ich das leider nicht.I won't make it by Friday, I'm afraid.
Ich versuche, es vorher abzugeben.I'll try to hand it in before then.
Next: lesson 203If, then

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps Friday and the due date ready.

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