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Lesson 204 of 240

New here? This is lesson 204 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Although, but in German

Jonas wants the recycling app feature this week, even though it is late. Priya grants the cost and the squeeze, then keeps her point.

At the loft he concedes the delay and still holds the idea. She says the extra work is worth it, and she will see it through.

By the end, you'll concede a point and still make your own, with obwohl, zwar, trotzdem, and auch wenn.

By the end of this lesson

Concede a point and still make your own.

  • Obwohl es teuer ist, lohnt es sich.It's expensive, but it's worth it.
  • Zwar habe ich wenig Zeit, aber ich komme.I haven't got much time, but I'll come.
  • Trotzdem finde ich die Idee gut.Even so, I think it's a good idea.
  • Das stimmt schon, aber ich sehe das anders.That's true, but I see it differently.
  • Auch wenn es anstrengend wird, ziehe ich das durch.Even if it gets tough, I'll see it through.
  • Abgesehen davon bin ich zufrieden.Apart from that, I'm happy with it.

Scene — the loft board

Monday at the loft by the canal. Jonas has his mug and a blank whiteboard. Priya sits down with her laptop.

The recycling app board shows one red ticket. He wants that feature this week, even if it is late.

Jonas stands by the board while Priya arrives at the loft table with her laptop.

Learn — although and still

Six lines let you grant a point and still hold yours: obwohl, zwar, trotzdem, schon, auch wenn, and abgesehen davon.

After obwohl and wenn, the verb waits until the end of that clause.

  1. Jonas gestures toward the lone red ticket while holding his mug.

    Obwohl es teuer ist, lohnt es sich.

    It's expensive, but it's worth it.

    When to use it: Use this when you grant the cost, then say it is still worth doing.

    After obwohl, the verb waits at the end of that first clause.

    Say it: The ch in sich is the soft ich sound, not ach.

  2. Priya lowers herself into a chair and places her laptop on the loft table.

    Zwar habe ich wenig Zeit, aber ich komme.

    I haven't got much time, but I'll come.

    When to use it: Use this when you grant a limit, then still say you will come.

    Zwar opens the grant; aber brings in your own point after it.

  3. Jonas nods toward the red ticket while Priya listens from across the table.

    Trotzdem finde ich die Idee gut.

    Even so, I think it's a good idea.

    When to use it: Use this after a problem, to say you still like the idea.

    Trotzdem keeps your view after you have already granted the other side.

  4. Priya turns in her chair and raises one palm as she makes her case.

    Das stimmt schon, aber ich sehe das anders.

    That's true, but I see it differently.

    When to use it: Use this when you grant they are right, then give your view.

    Schon here marks a small yes; aber then turns to your own view.

  5. Jonas turns his mug on the table, pausing in a thoughtful moment.

    Auch wenn es anstrengend wird, ziehe ich das durch.

    Even if it gets tough, I'll see it through.

    When to use it: Use this when you grant it may get hard, then say you will finish.

    The prefix durch stands at the end of the main clause.

    Say it: The ch in durch is the ach sound, as in ach.

  6. Priya sits by the canal window with her laptop closed, remaining in the loft.

    Abgesehen davon bin ich zufrieden.

    Apart from that, I'm happy with it.

    When to use it: Use this to set a flaw aside and say you are happy with the rest.

    Abgesehen davon parks one issue, then you state how you really feel.

Story — this week anyway

Watch Jonas grant the delay and still want the feature this week. Priya says it is hard, then stays on it.

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

  1. The loft is quiet except for laptops. Jonas has his mug. Priya sits down.
  2. JonasWir sind etwas hinter dem Zeitplan.We're a bit behind schedule.
  3. PriyaDas stimmt schon, aber ich sehe das anders.That's true, but I see it differently.
  4. She points at the board. One ticket is still red.
  5. JonasMehr Hilfe wäre teuer, oder?More help would be expensive, right?
  6. PriyaObwohl es teuer ist, lohnt es sich.It's expensive, but it's worth it.
  7. JonasDas Feature kommt zu spät.The feature is coming too late.
  8. PriyaDie Richtung stimmt.The direction is right.
  9. JonasTrotzdem finde ich die Idee gut.Even so, I think it's a good idea.
  10. PriyaNa gut.All right.
  11. Jonas turns the mug. He is not angry, just tired.
  12. JonasSetzen wir uns morgen früh nochmal hin?Shall we sit down again tomorrow morning?
  13. PriyaZwar habe ich wenig Zeit, aber ich komme.I haven't got much time, but I'll come.
  14. JonasWird das nicht zu anstrengend?Won't that get too tough?
  15. PriyaAuch wenn es anstrengend wird, ziehe ich das durch.Even if it gets tough, I'll see it through.
  16. JonasAbgesehen davon bin ich zufrieden.Apart from that, I'm happy with it.
  17. PriyaDer Rest läuft ganz gut.The rest is going pretty well.
  18. JonasGut, dann so.Alright, then that's how we'll do it.
  19. PriyaIch bleibe heute noch etwas.I'll stay a bit longer today.
  20. JonasDanke. Bis später.Thanks. See you later.

Practice — grant then hold

Eleven short tasks wait here. You'll listen, match, fill a gap, build a line, swap a word, and spot a mistake.

They stay on conceding a point without dropping yours.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Obwohl es teuer ist, lohnt es sich.Drop the English here
    Trotzdem finde ich die Idee gut.Drop the English here
    Abgesehen davon bin ich zufrieden.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. Fill the gap

    I haven't got much time, but I'll come.

    ____ habe ich wenig Zeit, aber ich komme.

  4. What do you say?

    He has a fair point about the delay. You admit that, then say your view is not the same.

  5. Build the line

    Even if it gets tough, I'll see it through.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. What does it mean?

    Trotzdem finde ich die Idee gut.

  7. Swap the word

    Apart from the delay, you are happy with the work now.

    Abgesehen davon ____ ich zufrieden.

  8. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Wird das nicht zu anstrengend?

    Won't that get too tough?

    And you reply with:

  9. True or false?

    This line means you are a bit behind schedule.

  10. What do you say?

    You already granted his point. Now you only need the short line that your view is not the same.

  11. Find the mistake

Say it — keep your point

Now you're Priya in the loft with Jonas. 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)Grant that he has a point, then say you see it another way.

    Das stimmt schon, aber ich sehe das anders.

    That's true, but I see it differently.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Obwohl es teuer ist, lohnt es sich.It's expensive, but it's worth it.
Zwar habe ich wenig Zeit, aber ich komme.I haven't got much time, but I'll come.
Trotzdem finde ich die Idee gut.Even so, I think it's a good idea.
Das stimmt schon, aber ich sehe das anders.That's true, but I see it differently.
Auch wenn es anstrengend wird, ziehe ich das durch.Even if it gets tough, I'll see it through.
Abgesehen davon bin ich zufrieden.Apart from that, I'm happy with it.
Next: lesson 205A leaking tap

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