German course

Lesson 66 of 240

New here? This is lesson 66 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Tell me more in German

Deniz is sure the old key in the bakery box is treasure. Priya wants more than a guess: an example, a reason, and how he knows.

At the Späti she asks him to slow down and fill in the story.

By the end, you'll ask for an example, a why, how often, and what came before.

Keep du with Deniz. These questions stay short.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for an example, a reason, and how often it happens.

  • Zum Beispiel was?Like what?
  • Warum ist das so?Why is that?
  • Wie oft passiert das?How often does that happen?
  • Woher weißt du das?How do you know that?
  • Wie war das so?What was that like?
  • Was ist davor passiert?What happened before that?

Scene — the Späti counter

Evening on Fliederstraße. Priya stops at Deniz's Späti. Crates of bottles sit by the door, and the fridge wall hums.

Deniz is at the counter, sure as ever that the bakery key hides a treasure. He has a feeling, not a fact.

Priya pauses at the Späti doorway while Deniz looks up from a crate behind the counter.

Learn — ask for more

Six short questions help you follow a story. You ask for an example, a reason, how often, and what it was like.

You also ask how someone knows, and what happened before.

  1. Priya leans in at the counter with a small, inviting gesture as she asks for an example.

    Zum Beispiel was?

    Like what?

    When to use it: Use this when a claim is vague and you want a concrete example.

    Beispiel is a noun, so it starts with a capital letter.

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

  2. Priya asks how Deniz knows about the supposed treasure, and Deniz responds with an uncertain shrug.

    Warum ist das so?

    Why is that?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want the reason for something just said.

    After a question word, the verb comes next in a main clause.

  3. Priya asks how often the courtyard search happens while Deniz gestures to show a recurring event.

    Wie oft passiert das?

    How often does that happen?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need to know how frequent something is.

    After Wie oft, the verb comes next, then the rest.

  4. Priya listens as Deniz describes the strange search and the lone flashlight.

    Woher weißt du das?

    How do you know that?

    When to use it: Ask this when a friend states something and you want the source.

    Du is for a friend like Deniz; a stranger would get Sie.

  5. Priya gestures back toward the time before the search while Deniz opens his hands to indicate there was nothing before it.

    Wie war das so?

    What was that like?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want a picture of how a past moment felt.

    War points to the past, and the verb still comes second.

  6. At the open doorway, Priya turns back toward Deniz and gestures toward the street with another question.

    Was ist davor passiert?

    What happened before that?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need the step that came just before.

    Davor means before that, and the verb still comes second.

Story — only a feeling

Watch Priya press Deniz at the Späti. He is sure about the key, but he only has a feeling.

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

  1. Deniz looks up from a crate of bottles.
  2. DenizAlles klar?All good?
  3. PriyaGut, danke. Und dir?I'm good, thanks. And you?
  4. He leans closer, as if the whole street can hear.
  5. DenizGut. Der Schlüssel bei Renate ist ein Schatz.Fine. The key at Renate's is a treasure.
  6. PriyaZum Beispiel was?Like what?
  7. DenizEin Raum unter dem Hof. Oder Gold.A room under the courtyard. Or gold.
  8. PriyaWoher weißt du das?How do you know that?
  9. DenizNa ja. Ich habe nur ein Gefühl.Well. I only have a feeling.
  10. PriyaWarum ist das so?Why is that?
  11. DenizAlle im Kiez sagen das.Everyone in the neighbourhood says so.
  12. PriyaWie oft passiert das?How often does that happen?
  13. DenizJede Woche. Letzte Woche hat jemand im Hof gesucht.Every week. Last week someone searched the courtyard.
  14. He glances across at Bäckerei Krause.
  15. PriyaWie war das so?What was that like?
  16. DenizKomisch. Er hatte nur eine Taschenlampe.Strange. He only had a flashlight.
  17. PriyaWas ist davor passiert?What happened before that?
  18. DenizNichts. Nur Gerüchte, wie immer.Nothing. Only rumours, as usual.

Practice — example, why, how often

Ten short tasks check these follow-up questions. You'll listen, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

A few items reuse a hello from earlier, so keep those ready.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Zum Beispiel was?Drop the English here
    Warum ist das so?Drop the English here
    Wie oft passiert das?Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Deniz says the key is treasure. You want a concrete example.

  4. Fill the gap

    Why is that?

    ____ ist das so?

  5. Pick the reply

    Deniz says:

    Alles klar?

    All good?

    And you reply with:

  6. What does it mean?

    Wie oft passiert das?

  7. Swap the word

    A friend told you about a search in the courtyard. Ask what that was like.

    Wie war das ____?

  8. Build the line

    What happened before that?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  9. What do you say?

    A friend tells you about a search in the courtyard. Ask what it was like.

  10. True or false?

    Use this with a friend after they asked how you are.

Say it — ask Deniz more

Now you're Priya at the Späti. Deniz is still sure about the key. 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. DenizDer Schlüssel ist ein Schatz.The key is a treasure.
  2. Priya (you)Ask him for an example.

    Zum Beispiel was?

    Like what?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Zum Beispiel was?Like what?
Warum ist das so?Why is that?
Wie oft passiert das?How often does that happen?
Woher weißt du das?How do you know that?
Wie war das so?What was that like?
Was ist davor passiert?What happened before that?
Next: lesson 67Say it a different way

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these follow-up questions handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these questions ready for a long story.

Open Yak Cards