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Lesson 214 of 240

New here? This is lesson 214 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Negotiate a deadline in German

After Friday standup at the loft, Priya stays at the long desk. Today's demo is too tight, and she needs to bargain with Jonas.

She asks to split the delivery: a first version now, the rest next week. Jonas wants a date he can lock.

By the end you can say the timeline is too tight, ask for two stages, name what comes when, and lock the deal.

Jonas uses du from day one. Keep the ask short and clear.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for more time and agree on what is delivered when.

  • Der Zeitplan ist so kaum zu halten.The timeline is barely doable as it stands.
  • Können wir die Abgabe in zwei Schritten machen?Can we deliver it in two stages?
  • Die erste Fassung kommt jetzt, der Rest nächste Woche.You get the first version now, the rest next week.
  • Früher als Mittwoch schaffe ich das nicht.I can't finish it before Wednesday.
  • Wenn es geht, bräuchte ich noch zwei Tage.If possible, I'd need two more days.
  • Gut, dann halten wir es genau so fest.Good, then we'll lock it in like that.

Scene — after standup

The Friday standup has just ended in the co-working loft by the canal. Chairs scrape. Laptops close.

Priya stays at the long desk. Jonas still has his mug. Today's demo is still on the board, and the week already looks too short.

Priya remains at the long desk while Jonas holds his mug and Anton sits on two chairs after the standup.

Learn — more time

Six lines for a tight deadline: say it is barely doable, ask to split the delivery, and lock the new dates.

You also get a polite ask for two more days.

  1. Jonas studies the board as he considers the demo still on the agenda.

    Der Zeitplan ist so kaum zu halten.

    The timeline is barely doable as it stands.

    When to use it: Say this when a deadline is too tight as planned.

    The verb stays second: ist comes right after the subject.

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

  2. Priya gestures across the desk to propose splitting the delivery into stages.

    Können wir die Abgabe in zwei Schritten machen?

    Can we deliver it in two stages?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to split a delivery into stages.

    This is a yes-no question, so the verb comes first.

    Say it: Können has ö, a rounded vowel made with your lips forward.

  3. Jonas marks a now-and-later split with his hands beside his mug.

    Die erste Fassung kommt jetzt, der Rest nächste Woche.

    You get the first version now, the rest next week.

    When to use it: Spell out what comes now and what waits until next week.

    The first clause has the verb in second place and the second leaves out kommt: der Rest [kommt] nächste Woche.

  4. Priya pauses with one hand on her closed laptop as she explains the deadline is not feasible.

    Früher als Mittwoch schaffe ich das nicht.

    I can't finish it before Wednesday.

    When to use it: Set the earliest day you can finish the remaining work.

    The time phrase comes first, so the verb schaffe stays second.

    Say it: Früher has ü, a rounded vowel made with your lips forward.

  5. Priya raises a hand to ask for two more days to finish the remaining work.

    Wenn es geht, bräuchte ich noch zwei Tage.

    If possible, I'd need two more days.

    When to use it: Ask for two more days if the other person can allow it.

    After wenn, the verb geht comes last in that clause.

  6. Jonas presses his palms to the desk as he and Priya settle on the revised delivery plan.

    Gut, dann halten wir es genau so fest.

    Good, then we'll lock it in like that.

    When to use it: Confirm the new plan so both of you can lock the dates.

    The separable prefix fest stands at the end of the main clause.

Story — she bargains

Watch Priya bargain after standup. She needs more time, and Jonas wants a date he can lock.

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

  1. Laptops close. Jonas looks down the long desk.
  2. JonasMöchte noch jemand etwas ergänzen?Would anyone like to add something?
  3. PriyaVon meiner Seite nichts mehr.Nothing more from my side.
  4. JonasIch fasse zusammen, was wir festgehalten haben.I'll sum up what we agreed.
  5. He glances at the board. Today's demo is still the last point.
  6. JonasAlso. Die Demo ist heute. Passt das noch?So. The demo is today. Does that still work?
  7. PriyaDer Zeitplan ist so kaum zu halten.The timeline is barely doable as it stands.
  8. JonasZu knapp für Freitag, oder?Too tight for Friday, right?
  9. PriyaKönnen wir die Abgabe in zwei Schritten machen?Can we deliver it in two stages?
  10. JonasIn zwei Schritten? Wie sähe das aus?In two stages? What would that look like?
  11. PriyaDie erste Fassung kommt jetzt, der Rest nächste Woche.You get the first version now, the rest next week.
  12. JonasNa ja. Was genau kommt in die erste Fassung?Well. What exactly goes in the first version?
  13. PriyaNur der Kern. Die Filter kommen später.Just the core. The filters come later.
  14. JonasSchaffst du den Rest bis Montag nächste Woche?Can you do the rest by Monday next week?
  15. PriyaWenn es geht, bräuchte ich noch zwei Tage.If possible, I'd need two more days.
  16. JonasNoch zwei Tage, also nicht Montag?Two more days, so not Monday?
  17. PriyaFrüher als Mittwoch schaffe ich das nicht.I can't finish it before Wednesday.
  18. JonasLass uns einen Weg finden, der für beide geht.Let's find a way that works for both of us.
  19. He turns the mug once. Then he looks at the board again.
  20. JonasAlso erste Fassung heute, Rest nächste Woche am Mittwoch. Die Demo zeigt nur den Kern.So first version today, the rest next week on Wednesday. The demo shows only the core.
  21. PriyaJa. Das kann ich halten.Yes. I can keep to that.
  22. JonasGut, dann halten wir es genau so fest.Good, then we'll lock it in like that.

Practice — dates and stages

Ten quick exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    Der Zeitplan ist so kaum zu halten.

  3. What do you say?

    You want to split the delivery into two stages, not lock dates yet.

  4. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Wie viel Zeit brauchst du noch?

    How much more time do you need?

    And you reply with:

  5. Build the line

    You get the first version now, the rest next week.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Fill the gap

    I can't finish it before Wednesday.

    Früher als ____ schaffe ich das nicht.

  7. True or false?

    This line sums up what the group has already agreed.

  8. What do you say?

    You want a compromise that works for both of you.

  9. Swap the word

    You want to split the work into two stages, not three.

    Können wir die Abgabe in ____ Schritten machen?

  10. What does it mean?

    Möchte noch jemand etwas ergänzen?

Say it — lock the deal

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

Tap the play button first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JonasDie Demo bleibt heute so, oder?The demo stays as it is today, right?
  2. Priya (you)Say the timeline is barely doable as it stands.

    Der Zeitplan ist so kaum zu halten.

    The timeline is barely doable as it stands.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Der Zeitplan ist so kaum zu halten.The timeline is barely doable as it stands.
Können wir die Abgabe in zwei Schritten machen?Can we deliver it in two stages?
Die erste Fassung kommt jetzt, der Rest nächste Woche.You get the first version now, the rest next week.
Früher als Mittwoch schaffe ich das nicht.I can't finish it before Wednesday.
Wenn es geht, bräuchte ich noch zwei Tage.If possible, I'd need two more days.
Gut, dann halten wir es genau so fest.Good, then we'll lock it in like that.
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