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Lesson 240 of 240

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

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The last morning in German

Priya helps Renate clear the courtyard on an ordinary morning. Under the ivy she finds a bicycle that has been waiting for years.

They try the old key from the Fundkiste. It fits, and Renate recognises the handwriting on its tag.

Inside, Anton finishes his Milchkaffee at last. He says a real goodbye, then stays for one more.

You learn to name the bike, the key, the old order, and a goodbye that is not quite one.

By the end of this lesson

Name the old bike and the key, remember an old order, and skip a goodbye.

  • Unter dem Efeu steht noch ein altes Fahrrad.There's still an old bicycle under the ivy.
  • Der alte Schlüssel passt ins Schloss.The old key fits the lock.
  • Das ist die Handschrift meines Vaters.That's my father's handwriting.
  • Du wusstest damals schon, was ich bestelle.Back then you already knew what I'd order.
  • Du hast den Milchkaffee tatsächlich ausgetrunken.You actually finished your coffee.
  • Dann sage ich jetzt nicht Tschüss.Then I won't say goodbye now.

Scene — the courtyard ivy

Priya and Renate are in the Hinterhof, pulling ivy off the back wall. An old bicycle sits under the leaves, chained and forgotten.

The Fundkiste key is in Renate's apron. At the corner table inside, Anton's Milchkaffee is still waiting, for once not for long.

Priya and Renate pull ivy from the courtyard wall, revealing part of an old chained bicycle.

Learn — bike, key, goodbye

Six lines cover the bike under the ivy, the key in the lock, Renate's father's handwriting, an old order, a finished coffee, and a goodbye you skip.

You'll use them first in the courtyard and then at the bakery table.

  1. Priya crouches and pulls ivy aside to reveal the bicycle's wheel and chain.

    Unter dem Efeu steht noch ein altes Fahrrad.

    There's still an old bicycle under the ivy.

    When to use it: Say this when you notice a bike still waiting under the leaves.

    Noch emphasizes that the bicycle is still there after all these years.

  2. Renate puts the old key into the bicycle lock.

    Der alte Schlüssel passt ins Schloss.

    The old key fits the lock.

    When to use it: Say this when an old key fits the lock.

    Passt describes how the key fits the lock.

  3. Renate studies a folded paper found beside the now-open bicycle chain.

    Das ist die Handschrift meines Vaters.

    That's my father's handwriting.

    When to use it: Say this when you recognise who wrote something.

    Meines Vaters means my father's and identifies the person who wrote it.

  4. Anton sits at the bakery corner table with Renate beside him and his milky coffee still waiting.

    Du wusstest damals schon, was ich bestelle.

    Back then you already knew what I'd order.

    When to use it: Say this when someone knew your order before you asked.

    Damals points back to the first morning, not to today.

  5. Renate looks down at Anton’s empty coffee cup after he has finished it.

    Du hast den Milchkaffee tatsächlich ausgetrunken.

    You actually finished your coffee.

    When to use it: Say this when Anton finally empties the cup he never finished.

    Ausgetrunken describes the coffee as finished, used here with hast.

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

  6. Priya settles at the corner table, turned toward Renate and Anton rather than the door.

    Dann sage ich jetzt nicht Tschüss.

    Then I won't say goodbye now.

    When to use it: Say this when you stay, so goodbye would be the wrong word.

    Nicht comes before Tschüss to say that you will not say goodbye.

Story — the lock opens

Watch Priya find the bike and Renate try the key. Anton finishes his drink, says a real goodbye, and stays for one more.

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

  1. The ivy comes away in Priya's hands. A wheel and a chain catch the light.
  2. PriyaUnter dem Efeu steht noch ein altes Fahrrad.There's still an old bicycle under the ivy.
  3. RenateWatt ist das denn?What's that, then?
  4. PriyaEs ist noch angekettet.It's still chained up.
  5. RenateWarte, ich habe den Schlüssel.Wait, I've got the key.
  6. She turns the key. The chain falls open against the ivy.
  7. PriyaDer alte Schlüssel passt ins Schloss.The old key fits the lock.
  8. RenateDas ist die Handschrift meines Vaters.That's my father's handwriting.
  9. PriyaFür wen?For whom?
  10. RenateFür Anton. Komm, wir gehen rein.For Anton. Come on, we're going in.
  11. Inside, Anton has both chairs. The coffee machine hisses.
  12. AntonGuten Morgen.Good morning.
  13. PriyaGuten Morgen.Good morning.
  14. AntonSetzt euch.Have a seat.
  15. PriyaUnter dem Efeu steht noch ein altes Fahrrad.There's still an old bicycle under the ivy.
  16. AntonDas war meins. Von damals.That was mine. From back then.
  17. PriyaDu wusstest damals schon, was ich bestelle.Back then you already knew what I'd order.
  18. AntonWie am ersten Morgen.Like on the first morning.
  19. He sets the empty cup down and does not reach for more.
  20. RenateDu hast den Milchkaffee tatsächlich ausgetrunken.You actually finished your coffee.
  21. AntonDiesmal ja.This time, yes.
  22. RenateBeim Rausgehen sagt man hier einfach Tschüss.On the way out people here just say Tschüss.
  23. PriyaDann sage ich jetzt nicht Tschüss.Then I won't say goodbye now.
  24. AntonTschüss, Renate. Das wollte ich damals noch sagen. Ich bleibe noch auf einen.Goodbye, Renate. I wanted to say that back then. I'll stay for one more.
  25. RenateBis morgen.See you tomorrow.
  26. PriyaBis morgen.See you tomorrow.

Practice — ivy and coffee

Ten short tasks wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, build a line, and swap a word.

They stay close to the courtyard, the key, and the last coffee at the table.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Fill the gap

    The old key fits the lock.

    Der alte Schlüssel ____ ins Schloss.

  3. What does it mean?

    Das ist die Handschrift meines Vaters.

  4. What do you say?

    You remind Anton he already knew your bakery order on the first morning.

  5. Fill the gap

    You actually finished your coffee.

    Du hast den Milchkaffee tatsächlich ____.

  6. Swap the word

    He is staying, so a goodbye would be the wrong word.

    Dann sage ich jetzt nicht ____.

  7. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Guten Morgen.

    Good morning.

    And you reply with:

  8. Fill the gap

    On the way out people here just say Tschüss.

    Beim ____ sagt man hier einfach Tschüss.

  9. Match the pairs

    German

    Unter dem Efeu steht noch ein altes Fahrrad.Drop the English here
    Das ist die Handschrift meines Vaters.Drop the English here
    Du wusstest damals schon, was ich bestelle.Drop the English here
    Dann sage ich jetzt nicht Tschüss.Drop the English here

    English

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

  10. True or false?

    He actually finished his coffee.

Say it — stay for one more

Now you're Priya in the courtyard, then at the table. 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. RenateKomm, wir räumen den Hof auf.Come on, we're clearing the courtyard.
  2. Priya (you)Tell her there is still an old bicycle under the ivy.

    Unter dem Efeu steht noch ein altes Fahrrad.

    There's still an old bicycle under the ivy.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Unter dem Efeu steht noch ein altes Fahrrad.There's still an old bicycle under the ivy.
Der alte Schlüssel passt ins Schloss.The old key fits the lock.
Das ist die Handschrift meines Vaters.That's my father's handwriting.
Du wusstest damals schon, was ich bestelle.Back then you already knew what I'd order.
Du hast den Milchkaffee tatsächlich ausgetrunken.You actually finished your coffee.
Dann sage ich jetzt nicht Tschüss.Then I won't say goodbye now.

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep this last morning handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps the bike, the key, and the skipped goodbye ready.

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