German course

Lesson 171 of 240

New here? This is lesson 171 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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In other words in German

Anton has missed the point about the bins, and his Pfannkuchen is getting all the attention at the corner table.

Priya tries again in other words, like Pfand, until he finally nods.

You'll restate a rule, say what it means, and give a simple comparison.

Keep the lines short. Anton only needs the idea, not a lecture.

By the end of this lesson

Restate a rule, say what it means, and compare it to something familiar.

  • Anders gesagt: ___.In other words, ___.
  • Das bedeutet, dass ___.That means ___.
  • Die Grundregel ist ganz einfach.The basic rule is really simple.
  • In diesem Fall gilt dasselbe.In this case, the same thing applies.
  • Das ist so ähnlich wie beim Pfand.It's a bit like the bottle deposit.
  • Am einfachsten erklärt man es so.The easiest way to explain it is this.

Scene — the corner table

Priya sits with Anton at the corner table in Bäckerei Krause. He has a Pfannkuchen and a Milchkaffee he has not finished.

She is explaining the courtyard sorting rule. He looks polite, but he has missed the point.

Priya explains the courtyard sorting rule while Anton turns his Pfannkuchen and pays little attention.

Learn — restate the rule

Six lines help you restate a rule, say what it means, and compare it to something known.

You'll hear dass at the end of the thought, and a simple Pfand comparison.

  1. Priya opens her hands to restate the rule, while Anton wonders if everything goes in one bin.

    Anders gesagt: ___.

    In other words, ___.

    When to use it: Use this to restate an idea in simpler words.

    Put the simpler version after the colon.

  2. Anton looks politely puzzled as Priya tries to make the rule clearer.

    Das bedeutet, dass ___.

    That means ___.

    When to use it: Use this when you spell out what something means.

    After dass, the verb waits until the end of the clause.

  3. Priya holds up one finger as she lays out the simple basic rule for Anton.

    Die Grundregel ist ganz einfach.

    The basic rule is really simple.

    When to use it: Use this to start a rule before you give the details.

    The verb ist stays in second place in this main clause.

  4. Priya connects the juice glass to the courtyard glass bin as Anton follows her gesture.

    In diesem Fall gilt dasselbe.

    In this case, the same thing applies.

    When to use it: Use this when the same rule covers this case too.

    Dasselbe points back to the rule you just named.

  5. Priya uses an empty bottle to compare the sorting rule with the bottle deposit.

    Das ist so ähnlich wie beim Pfand.

    It's a bit like the bottle deposit.

    When to use it: Use this to compare a new rule to the bottle deposit.

    After bei the noun takes the dative; beim is bei and dem.

    Say it: ähnlich has an umlaut ä, not a plain a.

  6. Priya indicates that the bottle goes back, and Anton reaches toward it.

    Am einfachsten erklärt man es so.

    The easiest way to explain it is this.

    When to use it: Use this when you give the easiest version of an explanation.

    The verb erklärt stays in second place in this main clause.

    Say it: The ch in einfachsten is the ach sound, not the soft ich sound.

Story — he nods at last

Watch Priya restate the sorting rule until Anton nods at his Pfannkuchen.

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

  1. Anton turns his Pfannkuchen on the plate. He has not heard the bin rule.
  2. AntonWas heißt das?What does that mean?
  3. PriyaDie Grundregel ist ganz einfach.The basic rule is really simple.
  4. AntonAlso alles in eine Tonne?So everything in one bin?
  5. PriyaAnders gesagt: Jede Sorte hat eine eigene Tonne.In other words: each kind has its own bin.
  6. He looks at the Pfannkuchen, then back at Priya.
  7. AntonIch verstehe das nicht.I don't understand.
  8. PriyaAm einfachsten erklärt man es so. Jede Sorte hat eine eigene Tonne.The easiest way to explain it is this. Each kind has its own bin.
  9. AntonUnd das Glas vom Saft?And the juice glass?
  10. PriyaIn diesem Fall gilt dasselbe. Das Glas kommt in die Glastonne.In this case, the same thing applies. The glass goes in the glass bin.
  11. AntonNa ja. Und die Flaschen?Well. And the bottles?
  12. PriyaDas ist so ähnlich wie beim Pfand.It's a bit like the bottle deposit.
  13. AntonIch habe Pfandflaschen.I have deposit bottles.
  14. PriyaGenau. Das bedeutet, dass die Flasche zurückgeht.Right. That means the bottle goes back.
  15. Anton nods at the Pfannkuchen, as if the plate has understood.
  16. AntonAch so. Genau.Ah. Right.

Practice — say what it means

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, match, fill gaps, and build a line.

They stay on restating and explaining, so the round stays tight.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Anders gesagt: ___.Drop the English here
    Die Grundregel ist ganz einfach.Drop the English here
    In diesem Fall gilt dasselbe.Drop the English here
    Das ist so ähnlich wie beim Pfand.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Anton missed the sorting rule. Restate it in other words.

  4. Fill the gap

    It's a bit like the bottle deposit.

    Das ist so ähnlich wie beim ____.

  5. What does it mean?

    Was heißt das?

  6. Build the line

    The easiest way to explain it is this.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    Glass follows the same sorting rule. Say that the same thing applies.

    In diesem Fall gilt ____.

  8. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Was heißt das?

    What does that mean?

    And you reply with:

  9. Find the mistake

  10. True or false?

    This means you are paying the bill in cash.

Say it — explain it simply

Now you're Priya at the corner table. Anton missed the bins. 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. AntonWas heißt das?What does that mean?
  2. Priya (you)Tell him the basic rule is really simple.

    Die Grundregel ist ganz einfach.

    The basic rule is really simple.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Anders gesagt: ___.In other words, ___.
Das bedeutet, dass ___.That means ___.
Die Grundregel ist ganz einfach.The basic rule is really simple.
In diesem Fall gilt dasselbe.In this case, the same thing applies.
Das ist so ähnlich wie beim Pfand.It's a bit like the bottle deposit.
Am einfachsten erklärt man es so.The easiest way to explain it is this.
Next: lesson 172A trip that went wrong

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