German - Simple Explanations

Lesson 44 of 158

Learner practicing short German explanation phrases for everyday conversation.

Goal: Clear, short ways to explain cause, purpose and the main point

Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready to make your explanations clearer in German? In this B1 lesson you'll hear short frames you can plug into real conversations. Practice listening, then repeat and use the phrases yourself.

Level B1: This lesson focuses on useful short explanation frames — cause (Wegen ...), purpose (Wir machen das, damit ...), simple summaries (Einfach gesagt: ...), checks (Ist das verständlich?) and similar phrases. You'll listen to the chunks in a mini-conversation, practice with quizzes and matching, and then say each phrase out loud to build confidence. (CEFR-aligned)

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use short German frames to explain cause, purpose, and summary.
  • Practice natural spoken order in wenn/damit/dass sentences.
  • Be able to check clarity: ask and answer 'Ist das verständlich?'
Two people discussing plans in German, focusing on explaining reasons and purposes.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Wegen ___ ___.

Because of ___, ___.

Meaning: Because of ___, ___.

When to use: Use this to state a cause and then the result. In standard German 'wegen' takes the genitive, but in spoken German you often hear dative.

Tip: Beginners often use the wrong case after 'wegen' — spoken German may use dative, but genitive is standard.

Wegen des Regens bleiben wir zu Hause.
Because of the rain, we're staying home.
Wegen technischer Probleme verzögert sich das Treffen.
Because of technical problems, the meeting is delayed.

Ich meine damit: ___.

What I mean is ___.

Meaning: What I mean is ___.

When to use: Use this to clarify or restate a previous remark in simpler words.

Ich meine damit: Wir sollten die Reihenfolge ändern.
What I mean is: we should change the order.
Ich meine damit: Du kannst erst am Nachmittag kommen.
What I mean is: you can only come in the afternoon.

Einfach gesagt: ___.

In simple words, ___.

Meaning: In simple words, ___.

When to use: Start a plain restatement to make a complex idea easier to follow.

Einfach gesagt: Wir zahlen weniger, wenn wir in großen Mengen bestellen.
Simply put: we pay less if we order in large quantities.
Einfach gesagt: Übung macht den Meister.
Simply put: practice makes perfect.

Es geht darum, ___.

The idea is to ___.

Meaning: The idea is to ___.

When to use: Use to state the main point or goal, often followed by an infinitive or clause.

Es geht darum, die Kundenzufriedenheit zu erhöhen.
The idea is to increase customer satisfaction.
Es geht darum, das Problem zuerst zu verstehen.
The idea is to understand the problem first.

Wir machen das, damit ___.

We do this to ___.

Meaning: We do this to ___.

When to use: Use to explain purpose. 'Damit' is followed by a full clause; with the same subject you can also use 'um ... zu'.

Tip: Learners sometimes mix up 'damit' and 'um ... zu' incorrectly; remember 'damit' introduces a full clause with a conjugated verb at the end.

Wir machen das, damit alle Informationen aktuell sind.
We do this so that all information is up to date.
Wir machen das, damit das Team besser zusammenarbeitet.
We do this so that the team works together better.

Wenn ___, dann ___.

If ___, then ___.

Meaning: If ___, then ___.

When to use: Use this to state a simple condition and result. In the 'wenn' clause, the conjugated verb usually goes at the end.

Tip: A common error is placing the verb too early in the 'wenn' clause instead of at the end.

Wenn das Wetter gut ist, dann gehen wir spazieren.
If the weather is good, then we'll go for a walk.
Wenn du Hilfe brauchst, dann ruf mich an.
If you need help, then call me.

Das ist nicht so schwierig, wie es klingt.

It's not as difficult as it sounds.

Meaning: It's not as difficult as it sounds.

When to use: Say this to reassure someone when a task seems complicated.

Keine Sorge — das ist nicht so schwierig, wie es klingt.
Don't worry — it's not as difficult as it sounds.
Das Tutorial zeigt, dass das nicht so schwierig ist, wie es klingt.
The tutorial shows it's not as difficult as it sounds.

Im Grunde ist es so: ___.

Basically, ___.

Meaning: Basically, ___.

When to use: Use before a short summary to introduce the core idea.

Im Grunde ist es so: Wir brauchen mehr Zeit für Tests.
Basically: we need more time for testing.
Im Grunde ist es so: Der Kunde will Flexibilität.
Basically: the customer wants flexibility.

Ist das verständlich?

Does that make sense?

Meaning: Does that make sense?

When to use: Use to check whether your explanation was clear and understood.

Ich erkläre es noch einmal. Ist das verständlich?
I'll explain it again. Does that make sense?
Sagen Sie mir bitte ehrlich: Ist das verständlich?
Please tell me honestly: does that make sense?

Das Wichtigste ist: ___.

The main point is ___ .

Meaning: The main point is ___.

When to use: Use to state the most important idea before details.

Das Wichtigste ist: Wir müssen pünktlich liefern.
The main point is: we must deliver on time.
Das Wichtigste ist: Qualität vor Quantität.
The main point is: quality before quantity.

Das funktioniert so: ___.

It works like this: ___ .

Meaning: It works like this: ___.

When to use: Use to explain a simple process or how something functions step by step.

Das funktioniert so: Sie melden sich an und wählen dann ein Datum.
It works like this: you sign in and then choose a date.
Das funktioniert so: Wir testen zuerst, dann implementieren wir.
It works like this: we test first, then implement.

Das ist eine Möglichkeit, ___.

It's a way to ___ .

Meaning: It's a way to ___.

When to use: Use to suggest a possible method or approach; the blank often takes a 'zu'-infinitive phrase.

Das ist eine Möglichkeit, Geld zu sparen.
That's a way to save money.
Das ist eine Möglichkeit, mehr Kunden zu erreichen.
That's a way to reach more customers.

Der Grund ist, dass ___.

The reason is that ___ .

Meaning: The reason is that ___.

When to use: Use to introduce the reason for a situation; after 'dass' the conjugated verb goes at the end.

Der Grund ist, dass das System veraltet ist.
The reason is that the system is outdated.
Der Grund ist, dass wir mehr Informationen brauchen.
The reason is that we need more information.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David adjust a meeting plan because of traffic.

Anna and David use simple German phrases to clarify a plan and check understanding.

Why will they arrive later?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Wegen des Staus kommen wir später.

Because of the traffic jam, we'll arrive later.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ist das verständlich?

Does that make sense?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Ich meine damit: Wir müssen das Programm verschieben.

What I mean is: we have to postpone the agenda.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Einfach gesagt: Wir verschieben das Meeting, oder?

Simply put: we postpone the meeting, right?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Genau. Wir machen das, damit alle teilnehmen können.

Exactly. We do this so that everyone can participate.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Das ist nicht so schwierig, wie es klingt.

That's not as difficult as it sounds.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which German phrase asks if your explanation is clear?

Which phrase means 'We do this to...'?

Which phrase starts a short, simple restatement?

Which phrase expresses a condition and result?

The leader says: 'The main point is to be on time.'

Die Leiterin sagt: '_______ pünktlich zu sein.'

David explains: 'The idea is to save the file.'

David erklärt: '_______ die Datei zu speichern.'

Anna reassures the team: 'It's not as difficult as it sounds.'

Anna beruhigt das Team: '_______'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Wegen ___ ___.

Because of ___, ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich meine damit: ___.

What I mean is ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Einfach gesagt: ___.

In simple words, ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Es geht darum, ___.

The idea is to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Wir machen das, damit ___.

We do this to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Wenn ___, dann ___.

If ___, then ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das ist nicht so schwierig, wie es klingt.

It's not as difficult as it sounds.

Say this phrase out loud:

Im Grunde ist es so: ___.

Basically, ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ist das verständlich?

Does that make sense?

Say this phrase out loud:

Das Wichtigste ist: ___.

The main point is ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das funktioniert so: ___.

It works like this: ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das ist eine Möglichkeit, ___.

It's a way to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Der Grund ist, dass ___.

The reason is that ___.