German course

Lesson 186 of 240

New here? This is lesson 186 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Never gets old in German

Priya stops at Deniz's Späti after work. He is stacking Pfand crates and already talking about the old key.

She asks if there is a topic that never bores him. He could talk about that key for hours.

You'll share what you never tire of talking about and ask what someone likes most about it.

You'll also say you're still learning, mention what you've been following lately, and say you like hearing what others think.

By the end of this lesson

Share what you never tire of talking about, ask what they like most, and say what you have been following.

  • Gibt es ein Thema, das dich nie langweilt?Is there a topic you never get bored of?
  • Über ___ könnte ich stundenlang reden.I could talk about ___ for hours.
  • Was magst du an ___ am meisten?What do you like most about ___?
  • Ich kenne mich nicht so gut aus, aber es macht mir Spaß.I'm no expert, but I enjoy it.
  • In letzter Zeit verfolge ich das.I've been following this lately.
  • Ich höre gern, was andere dazu sagen.I like hearing what other people think about it.

Scene — the Späti crates

Evening on Fliederstraße. Priya crosses to the Späti. Deniz is lifting a crate of bottles by the door.

A few empty crates sit on the pavement. He looks ready to start another theory about the old key.

Priya crosses toward the Späti as Deniz lifts a crate of bottles beside empty crates on the pavement.

Learn — lasting topics

Six lines help you name a lasting topic, ask what someone likes most, and admit you are still learning.

You'll also get a way to say you have been following it lately.

  1. Priya pauses on the pavement and turns toward the Späti with a curious, open gesture.

    Gibt es ein Thema, das dich nie langweilt?

    Is there a topic you never get bored of?

    When to use it: Ask a friend if they have a topic they never get bored of.

    Use du with a friend here; a stranger would get Sie.

    Say it: dich uses the soft ch, as in ich.

  2. Deniz holds a crate halfway lifted and gestures eagerly from the Späti doorway.

    Über ___ könnte ich stundenlang reden.

    I could talk about ___ for hours.

    When to use it: Name a topic you could talk about for hours.

    In a main clause, the verb comes second, even after Über.

    Say it: Über starts with a rounded ü, not a plain u.

  3. Priya tilts her head and leans forward with interested curiosity.

    Was magst du an ___ am meisten?

    What do you like most about ___?

    When to use it: Ask what someone likes most about a topic.

    The blank after an names the topic you want a detail about.

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

  4. Deniz stands beside the crate with a modest palms-up shrug while Priya listens at the shop entrance.

    Ich kenne mich nicht so gut aus, aber es macht mir Spaß.

    I'm no expert, but I enjoy it.

    When to use it: Say you enjoy a topic even if you are not an expert.

    With the separable verb auskennen, aus goes at the end of the clause.

    Say it: mich uses the soft ch, as in ich.

  5. Priya leans in with interest as Deniz listens from the foreground.

    In letzter Zeit verfolge ich das.

    I've been following this lately.

    When to use it: Say you have been following a topic lately.

    The verb stays second: verfolge follows In letzter Zeit.

    Say it: Letzter ends with a weak -er sound.

  6. Deniz leans against the doorway and listens while Priya considers his theory.

    Ich höre gern, was andere dazu sagen.

    I like hearing what other people think about it.

    When to use it: Say you like hearing what other people think about a topic.

    After was, the verb comes last: sagen is at the end.

    Say it: höre uses a rounded ö, not a plain o.

Story — a new theory

Deniz could talk about the key for hours. Priya asks what he likes most, then asks for a tip after he starts a new theory.

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

  1. The fridge wall hums. Deniz wipes his hands on his vest.
  2. DenizNa, Priya!Hey, Priya!
  3. PriyaGibt es ein Thema, das dich nie langweilt?Is there a topic you never get bored of?
  4. DenizÜber den Schlüssel könnte ich stundenlang reden.I could talk about the key for hours.
  5. PriyaWas magst du an dem Schlüssel am meisten?What do you like most about the key?
  6. DenizDie Theorien. Ich habe wieder eine neue.The theories. I've got a new one again.
  7. PriyaIm Ernst?Seriously?
  8. DenizVielleicht gibt's einen Raum hinter der Fundkiste.Maybe there's a room behind the lost-property box.
  9. PriyaIn letzter Zeit verfolge ich das.I've been following this lately.
  10. DenizDann bist du ja schon mittendrin.Then you're already right in the middle of it.
  11. PriyaIch kenne mich nicht so gut aus, aber es macht mir Spaß.I'm no expert, but I enjoy it.
  12. PriyaHast du einen Tipp, wie ich mehr darüber erfahren kann?Have you got a tip for how I can find out more about it?
  13. DenizFrag mal im Kiez rum. Jeder hat eine Theorie.Ask around the neighbourhood. Everyone has a theory.
  14. PriyaIch höre gern, was andere dazu sagen.I like hearing what other people think about it.
  15. DenizWas hältst du von meiner Theorie?What do you think of my theory?
  16. PriyaIch höre erst mal zu.I'll listen first.
  17. He bends and hoists a crate of bottles onto the stack.
  18. DenizIch habe Pfandflaschen.I have returnable bottles.
  19. PriyaDann helfe ich dir.Then I'll help you.

Practice — never bored

Eleven short exercises wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay on these six lines, so the round stays focused.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    Über ___ könnte ich stundenlang reden.

  3. What do you say?

    A friend just named a lasting topic. Ask what they like most about it.

  4. Fill the gap

    I'm no expert, but I enjoy it.

    Ich kenne mich nicht so gut ____, aber es macht mir Spaß.

  5. Swap the word

    You have been keeping up with this topic lately.

    In letzter Zeit ____ ich das.

  6. Build the line

    I like hearing what other people think about it.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. What do you say?

    Deniz just started a wild new theory. Show that you can barely believe it.

  8. True or false?

    She likes hearing what other people think about the topic.

  9. What does it mean?

    Was hältst du von ___?

  10. Pick the reply

    Deniz says:

    Macht dir das Thema Spaß?

    Do you enjoy the topic?

    And you reply with:

  11. Find the mistake

Say it — say it back

Now you're Priya at the Späti, talking with Deniz about a topic that never gets old.

When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line. Tap ▶ first if you want to hear it.

  1. DenizNa, Priya!Hey, Priya!
  2. Priya (you)Ask if there is a topic he never gets bored of.

    Gibt es ein Thema, das dich nie langweilt?

    Is there a topic you never get bored of?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Gibt es ein Thema, das dich nie langweilt?Is there a topic you never get bored of?
Über ___ könnte ich stundenlang reden.I could talk about ___ for hours.
Was magst du an ___ am meisten?What do you like most about ___?
Ich kenne mich nicht so gut aus, aber es macht mir Spaß.I'm no expert, but I enjoy it.
In letzter Zeit verfolge ich das.I've been following this lately.
Ich höre gern, was andere dazu sagen.I like hearing what other people think about it.
Next: lesson 187My goals

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these lasting topics handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these topic lines ready for the Späti.

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