German course

Lesson 223 of 240

New here? This is lesson 223 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Persuade someone in German

Priya wants Jonas to ship the simple version of the recycling-app feature, not wait for a bigger build.

He will object once. You will make a short case, take the objection seriously, and ask for a yes or no.

By the end you can open a case, name reasons, answer a worry, and press for a decision.

Jonas uses du from day one. Keep the meeting short.

By the end of this lesson

Make a case, answer an objection, and ask for a yes or no.

  • Lass mich kurz erklären, warum das sinnvoll ist.Let me briefly explain why this makes sense.
  • Statt zu warten, sollten wir es jetzt versuchen.Rather than wait, we should try it now.
  • Dafür sprechen drei ganz klare Gründe.There are three very clear reasons for it.
  • Deine Einwände nehme ich ernst.I take your objections seriously.
  • Wir riskieren damit so gut wie nichts.We risk almost nothing by doing this.
  • Kann ich dich um ein Ja oder Nein bitten?Can I ask you for a yes or no?

Scene — the loft meeting

Late afternoon in the co-working loft by the canal. Laptops are open, the whiteboard is blank, and Jonas has a coffee mug in one hand.

Priya wants to ship the simple version of the feature. Jonas is kind when he disagrees, and he will object once.

Late-afternoon light fills the canal-side loft as Jonas sets down his mug and turns to Priya at their shared table.

Learn — make a case

Six lines let you open a case, name three reasons, take an objection seriously, and ask for a yes or no.

You will also push for trying the simple version now, rather than waiting.

  1. Priya leans forward with an open hand as she begins explaining her case, while Jonas listens with his mug.

    Lass mich kurz erklären, warum das sinnvoll ist.

    Let me briefly explain why this makes sense.

    When to use it: Use this when you need a short opening to make your case.

    After warum, the verb sits last in that clause.

  2. Priya turns the laptop toward Jonas and gestures for them to try the simple version instead of waiting.

    Statt zu warten, sollten wir es jetzt versuchen.

    Rather than wait, we should try it now.

    When to use it: Use this when waiting looks safer but you want to try now.

    After Statt zu warten, the verb still stays second.

    Say it: Statt starts with sht, as German st does at the start of a word.

  3. Priya calmly emphasizes her clear reasons while Jonas listens from across the table.

    Dafür sprechen drei ganz klare Gründe.

    There are three very clear reasons for it.

    When to use it: Use this when you are about to list reasons for a plan.

    Dafür comes first, so sprechen stays in second place.

    Say it: Sprechen starts with shp, the German sp at the start of a word.

  4. Priya listens seriously and acknowledges Jonas's concern about releasing the feature without its second part.

    Deine Einwände nehme ich ernst.

    I take your objections seriously.

    When to use it: Use this right after someone objects, before you answer.

    The object can go first, and nehme still sits second.

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

  5. Priya makes a small reassuring gesture as she explains that the simple version can be switched off if needed.

    Wir riskieren damit so gut wie nichts.

    We risk almost nothing by doing this.

    When to use it: Use this to calm a worry that the plan is too risky.

    Damit points back to the plan you just named.

    Say it: Nichts has the soft ch of ich, not the ach sound.

  6. Priya turns toward Jonas with an open palm as she asks him to choose yes or no.

    Kann ich dich um ein Ja oder Nein bitten?

    Can I ask you for a yes or no?

    When to use it: Use this when you need a clear decision from a teammate.

    Dich is for a friend or teammate; a stranger gets Sie.

Story — one objection

Priya makes her case for shipping the simple version. Jonas objects once, then she answers and asks for a decision.

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

  1. Late light on the desks. Jonas sets the mug down and looks at Priya.
  2. JonasOkay, die einfache Version. Erzähl mal, warum.Okay, the simple version. Tell me why.
  3. PriyaLass mich kurz erklären, warum das sinnvoll ist.Let me briefly explain why this makes sense.
  4. JonasIch höre.I'm listening.
  5. PriyaDafür sprechen drei ganz klare Gründe.There are three very clear reasons for it.
  6. PriyaDie Version ist fertig, klar für die Nutzer, und wir lernen in einer Woche.The version is ready, clear for users, and we learn in a week.
  7. JonasInsgesamt geht das schon in die richtige Richtung.Overall this is already heading the right way.
  8. PriyaGenau, das denke ich auch.Exactly, I think so too.
  9. JonasWenn wir das jetzt rausbringen, fehlt uns noch der zweite Teil.If we release it now, we are still missing the second part.
  10. He is not unkind. He just does not want to ship without the second part.
  11. PriyaDeine Einwände nehme ich ernst.I take your objections seriously.
  12. PriyaWir riskieren damit so gut wie nichts.We risk almost nothing by doing this.
  13. PriyaBei Bedarf stellen wir es sofort wieder ab.If we need to, we can switch it off at once.
  14. JonasVerstehe.I see.
  15. PriyaStatt zu warten, sollten wir es jetzt versuchen.Rather than wait, we should try it now.
  16. PriyaKann ich dich um ein Ja oder Nein bitten?Can I ask you for a yes or no?
  17. JonasJa. Wir machen die einfache Version.Yes. We'll do the simple version.

Practice — yes or no

Ten short tasks wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, build a line, and pick the line that fits.

They stay in the loft meeting, so the round stays tight.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Fill the gap

    There are three very clear reasons for it.

    Dafür sprechen drei ganz klare ____.

  3. What do you say?

    You want to try the simple version now, not wait.

  4. What does it mean?

    Wir riskieren damit so gut wie nichts.

  5. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Ich sehe das Risiko beim fehlenden zweiten Teil. Sag bitte zuerst, ob du meinen Einwand ernst nimmst.

    I see the risk in the missing second part. Please first say whether you take my objection seriously.

    And you reply with:

  6. Fill the gap

    Can I ask you for a yes or no?

    Kann ich dich um ein ____ bitten?

  7. Swap the word

    You are opening your case. You want to say why the plan makes sense.

    Lass mich kurz erklären, warum das ____ ist.

  8. True or false?

    You say this when one part still needs work.

  9. What do you say?

    The work is not perfect, but it is already heading the right way.

  10. Find the mistake

Say it — ask for a decision

Now you're Priya at the loft. Jonas is waiting. 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. JonasOkay, die einfache Version. Erzähl mal, warum.Okay, the simple version. Tell me why.
  2. Priya (you)Open with a short explanation of why this makes sense.

    Lass mich kurz erklären, warum das sinnvoll ist.

    Let me briefly explain why this makes sense.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Lass mich kurz erklären, warum das sinnvoll ist.Let me briefly explain why this makes sense.
Statt zu warten, sollten wir es jetzt versuchen.Rather than wait, we should try it now.
Dafür sprechen drei ganz klare Gründe.There are three very clear reasons for it.
Deine Einwände nehme ich ernst.I take your objections seriously.
Wir riskieren damit so gut wie nichts.We risk almost nothing by doing this.
Kann ich dich um ein Ja oder Nein bitten?Can I ask you for a yes or no?
Next: lesson 224A polite complaint

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