German - Abilities

Ich muss ___ noch mehr üben.

I need more practice with ___.

Meaning: I need more practice with ___.

When to use: Use this when you want to say a specific skill or activity needs more practice (object usually accusative).

Tip: Don't forget that the object (what you practice) usually appears in accusative form.

Ich habe noch nicht gelernt, ___.

I haven't learned to ___ yet.

Meaning: I haven’t learned to ___ yet.

When to use: Use this to say you haven't acquired a skill yet; follow with a zu-infinitive (e.g., Auto zu fahren).

Ich habe noch nie versucht, ___.

I've never tried to ___.

Meaning: I’ve never tried to ___.

When to use: Use this to say you have no experience doing something; follow with a zu-infinitive (e.g., Ski zu fahren).

Lass mich mal probieren.

Let me try.

Meaning: Let me try.

When to use: Use this informal phrase to ask to attempt a task; mal softens the request.

Ich traue mir zu, ___.

I feel comfortable ___.

Meaning: I feel comfortable/confident ___.

When to use: Use this to express confidence; follow with a zu-infinitive like das alleine zu machen.

Ich bin noch nicht bereit, ___.

I'm not ready to ___ yet.

Meaning: I’m not ready to ___ yet.

When to use: Use this to express lack of readiness; follow with a zu-infinitive (for nouns use bereit für ___).

Ich kann ___, wenn mir jemand hilft.

I can ___ if someone helps me.

Meaning: I can ___ if someone helps me.

When to use: Say this when you can do something with support; the verb helfen takes dative (mir).

Tip: Remember helfen takes a dative pronoun (mir, dir).

Ich lerne noch ___.

I'm still learning to ___.

Meaning: I’m still learning to ___.

When to use: Use this for an ability that's developing; ___ can be an activity like schwimmen, Auto fahren, Deutsch.