German · Elementary (A2) · Chapter 12 of 12
A weekend away
Ein Wochenende am Bodensee
Put A2 German together: tell a friend about a weekend trip, compare, give reasons and tips, and talk about future plans.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Tell a story about a trip in the past
- Give reasons with weil and tips with the imperative
- Talk about plans and the future
- Answer a negative question with doch
Listen
Jan meets his friend Miriam for a coffee in Augsburg. She has just come back from a weekend at Lake Constance. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Jan
Na, Miriam, wie war dein Wochenende am Bodensee?
So, Miriam, how was your weekend at Lake Constance?
Miriam
Toll! Wir sind am Freitag mit dem Zug nach Konstanz gefahren und haben in einem Hotel direkt am See gewohnt.
Great. We went to Konstanz by train on Friday and stayed in a hotel right on the lake.
Jan
Und wie war das Wetter?
And what was the weather like?
Miriam
Am Samstag war es sonnig und warm. Wir haben eine Radtour gemacht und sind im See geschwommen.
On Saturday it was sunny and warm. We went on a bike ride and swam in the lake.
Jan
Im See? War das Wasser nicht zu kalt?
In the lake? Wasn't the water too cold?
Miriam
Doch, ein bisschen. Aber das hat Spaß gemacht.
Yes, a bit. But it was fun.
Jan
Und am Sonntag?
And on Sunday?
Miriam
Da sind wir ins Museum gegangen, weil es den ganzen Tag geregnet hat.
Then we went to the museum, because it rained all day.
Jan
Schön. Wir fahren im Juli auch an den Bodensee. Hast du einen Tipp für uns?
Nice. We're going to Lake Constance in July too. Do you have a tip for us?
Miriam
Fahrt unbedingt mit dem Schiff nach Meersburg. Da ist es am schönsten.
Make sure you take the boat to Meersburg. It's nicest there.
Jan
Gute Idee. Und wir werden bestimmt auch im See schwimmen.
Good idea. And we'll definitely swim in the lake too.
Miriam
Macht das! Im Juli ist das Wasser bestimmt wärmer als jetzt.
Do that. In July the water will definitely be warmer than now.
Understand
Telling a story: Perfekt and Präteritum together
When you tell someone about the past, use the Perfekt for most verbs (, ) and the Präteritum for , and the modal verbs (, ). Words like (first), (then) and (after that) put the events in order.
This table shows the main grammar of A2 in one weekend.
| Grammar | Example | Chapter |
|---|---|---|
| Perfekt with | 1 | |
| Perfekt with | 1 | |
| dative after | , | 2 |
| comparative, superlative | , | 4 |
| , | 5 | |
| future with | 6 | |
| …, | 8 | |
| + accusative | , | 9 |
| imperative () | 9 |
doch: yes to a negative question
If a question contains or and your answer is positive, say instead of : (Yes, it was, a bit.) If you agree with the negative, say :
| Question | Yes, it is / I do | No, it isn't / I don't |
|---|---|---|
Plans, predictions and tips
For plans, the present tense with a time word is enough: Use for what you expect: To give friends tips, use the imperative: (to ), (to ).
- Nächste Woche fahren wir nach Konstanz.We're going to Konstanz next week.
- Nimm unbedingt eine Jacke mit!Make sure you take a jacket.
More in the grammar: Asking questions · The perfect tense (Perfekt) · Comparatives and superlatives: größer, am größten · Talking about the future: present tense and werden · The imperative: Geh! Geht! Gehen Sie! · The simple past (Präteritum): war, hatte, musste
New words
- Na, …?So, …? / Well, …? · a friendly way to start a question
- Wie war …?How was …? / What was … like? · = was (Präteritum of )
- der BodenseeLake Constance
- der Seelake · masculine, plural: ; careful: = the sea
- direkt am Seeright on the lake
- schwimmento swim · Perfekt:
- dochyes (to a negative question) · = Isn't it cold? – Yes, it is.
- den ganzen Tagall day
- der Tipptip, piece of advice · masculine, plural:
- unbedingtdefinitely, whatever you do · … = Make sure you go …
- das Schiffship, boat · neuter, plural:
Practise
1.A friend asks “” You do have time. What do you answer?
2.Complete with the right helping verb.
We went to Konstanz by train.
3.Complete with the Präteritum of .
On Saturday it was sunny and warm.
4.Complete with the comparative of .
In July the water is warmer than in May.
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.We went to the museum because it rained.
6.Match the German with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Wie war dein Wochenende?
How was your weekend?
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.