German course

Lesson 205 of 240

New here? This is lesson 205 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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A leaking tap in German

The kitchen tap in Priya's Hinterhaus flat will not stop dripping. She phones Herr Schulze, who is brief as ever and asks if she is in this afternoon.

You will report the leak, ask him to send someone, and say when you can wait at home.

Keep Sie with the landlord. Who pays is a later lesson; today you only book the visit.

By the end of this lesson

Report a leaking tap and arrange a visit with the landlord.

  • Der Wasserhahn tropft die ganze Zeit.The tap keeps dripping.
  • Könnten Sie bitte mal jemanden schicken?Could you send someone round?
  • Wann kann der Handwerker kommen?When can the plumber come?
  • Nachmittags bin ich die ganze Zeit da.I'll be in all afternoon.
  • Ist das inzwischen repariert worden?Has it been fixed yet?
  • Bitte kommen Sie so schnell wie möglich.Please come as soon as you can.

Scene — the dripping tap

Priya's kitchen tap drips onto a plate in the Hinterhaus on Fliederstraße. She stands by the sink with her phone.

Herr Schulze is in the courtyard with a clipboard. He answers in few words and wants to know if she is in this afternoon.

Priya stands by the dripping tap while Anton sits nearby and Herr Schulze is visible in the courtyard.

Learn — report the leak

Six lines cover the drip, a polite request to send someone, and when you can wait.

You also ask if it has been fixed yet, and ask him to come soon.

  1. Priya holds her phone beside the dripping tap and the plate catching each drop.

    Der Wasserhahn tropft die ganze Zeit.

    The tap keeps dripping.

    When to use it: Say this when a tap in the flat will not stop dripping.

    Learn Wasserhahn with der; it names the tap itself.

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

  2. Priya makes a requesting gesture as she calls from the kitchen doorway.

    Könnten Sie bitte mal jemanden schicken?

    Could you send someone round?

    When to use it: Ask this of a landlord when you need someone for a repair.

    Herr Schulze always gets Sie, even after many visits.

    Say it: The ö in Könnten is rounded, not pronounced like a plain o.

  3. Priya faces Herr Schulze in the courtyard as he listens with his clipboard.

    Wann kann der Handwerker kommen?

    When can the plumber come?

    When to use it: Ask this to book a time for the repair person's visit.

    The verb stays second; Wann comes first in this question.

    Say it: Handwerker ends in a weak -er, not a strong air.

  4. Priya points toward her kitchen windows while Herr Schulze stands beside her with his clipboard.

    Nachmittags bin ich die ganze Zeit da.

    I'll be in all afternoon.

    When to use it: Say this when you can wait at home all afternoon.

    The verb bin still comes second after Nachmittags.

  5. Priya crouches beside the tap to check it while drops continue landing on the plate.

    Ist das inzwischen repariert worden?

    Has it been fixed yet?

    When to use it: Ask this later to check whether the repair is already done.

    Worden sits last when you ask if a repair is already done.

  6. Priya walks quickly toward Herr Schulze in the courtyard with one hand extended in an urgent request.

    Bitte kommen Sie so schnell wie möglich.

    Please come as soon as you can.

    When to use it: Say this when the leak cannot wait another day.

    Kommen stays near the front; Bitte is only a polite opener.

    Say it: Schnell starts with sch, a sh sound, not a hard s.

Story — he asks if she is in

Priya calls Herr Schulze about the dripping tap. He is brief and wants a time this afternoon.

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

  1. The kitchen tap drips onto a plate. Priya calls Herr Schulze.
  2. PriyaGuten Tag, Herr Schulze.Good afternoon, Herr Schulze.
  3. Herr SchulzeJa, Schulze. Was gibt's?Yes, Schulze. What's going on?
  4. PriyaIch habe ein Problem.I've got a problem.
  5. PriyaDer Wasserhahn tropft die ganze Zeit.The tap keeps dripping.
  6. Herr SchulzeIm dritten Stock?On the third floor?
  7. PriyaJa, in der Küche.Yes, in the kitchen.
  8. PriyaKönnten Sie bitte mal jemanden schicken?Could you send someone round?
  9. Herr SchulzeHeute Nachmittag. Sind Sie da?This afternoon. Are you in?
  10. PriyaNachmittags bin ich die ganze Zeit da.I'll be in all afternoon.
  11. PriyaWann kann der Handwerker kommen?When can the plumber come?
  12. Herr SchulzeGegen drei.Around three.
  13. PriyaBitte kommen Sie so schnell wie möglich.Please come as soon as you can.
  14. Herr SchulzeGut. Ich schicke ihn.Fine. I'll send him.
  15. Later the tap still drips. Priya calls him again.
  16. PriyaIst das inzwischen repariert worden?Has it been fixed yet?
  17. Herr SchulzeNoch nicht. Er kommt gleich.Not yet. He's on his way.

Practice — book the visit

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay on the phone call with Herr Schulze.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Der Wasserhahn tropft die ganze Zeit.Drop the English here
    Wann kann der Handwerker kommen?Drop the English here
    Ist das inzwischen repariert worden?Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    You phone Herr Schulze in the daytime. Greet him first.

  4. Fill the gap

    Please come as soon as you can.

    Bitte kommen Sie so ____ wie möglich.

  5. What does it mean?

    Ist das inzwischen repariert worden?

  6. Swap the word

    Ask the landlord to send someone for the dripping tap.

    Könnten Sie bitte mal jemanden ____?

  7. Pick the reply

    Herr Schulze says:

    Sind Sie heute Nachmittag da?

    Are you in this afternoon?

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    When can the plumber come?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  9. What do you say?

    You have already said hello. Tell Herr Schulze that something is wrong.

  10. True or false?

    Priya's flat is on the third floor.

Say it — say it on the phone

Now you're Priya on the phone with Herr Schulze. 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. Herr SchulzeJa, Schulze. Was gibt's?Yes, Schulze. What's going on?
  2. Priya (you)Tell him the tap will not stop dripping.

    Der Wasserhahn tropft die ganze Zeit.

    The tap keeps dripping.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Der Wasserhahn tropft die ganze Zeit.The tap keeps dripping.
Könnten Sie bitte mal jemanden schicken?Could you send someone round?
Wann kann der Handwerker kommen?When can the plumber come?
Nachmittags bin ich die ganze Zeit da.I'll be in all afternoon.
Ist das inzwischen repariert worden?Has it been fixed yet?
Bitte kommen Sie so schnell wie möglich.Please come as soon as you can.
Next: lesson 206Post office and bank

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your repair lines ready for the landlord.

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