New here? This is lesson 83 of a free 240-lesson German course.
This one or that one in German
Priya is at Bäckerei Krause, and Renate waits at the counter with two choices: a jam doughnut or a cheese roll.
Priya says either is fine, then looks at the prices and takes the cheaper one.
Anton already has a Pfannkuchen. He still offers another idea, as if the shelf were his list.
By the end, you'll pick this or that, say either is fine, and give a reason.
By the end of this lesson
Choose between two things and say why.
- Welches nimmst du?Which one are you taking?
- Ich nehme lieber das hier.I would rather take this one.
- Beides ist okay.Either is fine.
- Das ist mir zu teuer.That's too expensive for me.
- Das andere passt besser für mich.The other one works better for me.
- Wie wär's stattdessen mit ___?How about ___ instead?
Scene — the bakery counter
Renate stands at the counter with a Pfannkuchen and a Käsebrötchen on the tray. Priya is already a regular, so Renate uses informal you.
Anton sits at the corner table with a Milchkaffee he has not finished. He already ordered the doughnut.
Learn — this one or that one
Six lines help you choose: which one, this one, either is fine, too expensive, the other one, or how about this instead.
You'll also say why the cheaper option works better.
Welches nimmst du?
Which one are you taking?
When to use it: Ask a friend which of two things they will take.
Use du here; Priya is a bakery regular now.
Say it: Welches uses the soft ch you hear in ich.
Ich nehme lieber das hier.
I would rather take this one.
When to use it: Say this when you prefer the thing close to you.
In this main sentence, nehme is second and lieber follows it.
Say it: Lieber puts the stress on the first syllable.
Beides ist okay.
Either is fine.
When to use it: Say this when both options work and you have no pick.
Beides treats both options as one idea, so you use ist.
Das ist mir zu teuer.
That's too expensive for me.
When to use it: Say this when one option costs more than you want.
Zu teuer means the price is higher than you want.
Say it: Teuer ends with a weak, unstressed -er.
Das andere passt besser für mich.
The other one works better for me.
When to use it: Say this when the other option fits you better.
Das andere names the option you did not take first.
Wie wär's stattdessen mit ___?
How about ___ instead?
When to use it: Offer a different option when the first one is not right.
Fill the blank with the thing you want instead.
Say it: Wär's uses a long ä sound.
Story — the cheaper one
Watch Priya choose at the counter. Renate waits, and Anton already has his doughnut.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- The tray holds a Pfannkuchen and a Käsebrötchen. Renate waits.
RenateGuten Morgen.Good morning.
PriyaGuten Morgen.Good morning.- RenateWie geht es dir?How are you?
- PriyaGut, danke.I'm good, thanks.
- RenateWelches nimmst du?Which one are you taking?
- PriyaBeides ist okay.Either is fine.
- RenateDer Pfannkuchen kostet mehr.The jam doughnut costs more.
- PriyaDas ist mir zu teuer.That's too expensive for me.
AntonWie wär's stattdessen mit einem Käsebrötchen?How about a cheese roll instead?- PriyaDas andere passt besser für mich.The other one works better for me.
- RenateDas Käsebrötchen kostet weniger.The cheese roll costs less.
- PriyaIch nehme lieber das hier.I would rather take this one.
- AntonIch habe schon einen Pfannkuchen.I already have a jam doughnut.
Practice — pick and say why
Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, swap a word, and choose a line.
They stay on the counter, so you choose for a reason.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
German
Ich nehme lieber das hier.Drop the English hereBeides ist okay.Drop the English hereDas ist mir zu teuer.Drop the English hereDas andere passt besser für mich.Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
Renate offers two items. Both options work for you.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I would rather take this one.
Ich nehme ____ das hier.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Das ist mir zu teuer.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want the other option because it fits you better.
Das ____ passt besser für mich.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The jam doughnut is unavailable. Offer the cheese roll instead, filling in the food.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
That's too expensive for me.
Das ist mir zu ____.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Choose the option close to you and say you would rather take it.
True or false?
True or false?
You say this at the bakery in the morning.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — say your pick
Now you're Priya at the bakery counter. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- RenateWelches nimmst du?Which one are you taking?
- Priya (you)Both options work for you.
Both options work for you.
Beides ist okay.
Either is fine.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| German | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Welches nimmst du? | Which one are you taking? | |
| Ich nehme lieber das hier. | I would rather take this one. | |
| Beides ist okay. | Either is fine. | |
| Das ist mir zu teuer. | That's too expensive for me. | |
| Das andere passt besser für mich. | The other one works better for me. | |
| Wie wär's stattdessen mit ___? | How about ___ instead? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want these choices on your phone? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A short Yak Cards round keeps this-or-that ready at the counter.
Open Yak Cards