German · Elementary (A2) · Chapter 7 of 12
Clothes and shopping
Kleidung kaufen
Buy and return clothes in German: ask for sizes, try things on, say what you like with gefallen, and use dieser and ihn, sie, es.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Ask for a size and try something on
- Say what you like with gefallen
- Use dieser, diese, dieses
- Use object pronouns: mich, dich, ihn, sie, es …
Listen
Samira is looking for a jacket in a clothes shop in Münster. She has also brought back some trousers. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Shop assistant
Guten Tag. Kann ich Ihnen helfen?
Hello. Can I help you?
Samira
Ja, gern. Ich suche eine Jacke für den Herbst.
Yes, please. I'm looking for a jacket for the autumn.
Shop assistant
Welche Größe haben Sie?
What size are you?
Samira
38. Diese Jacke hier gefällt mir. Kann ich sie anprobieren?
38. I like this jacket here. Can I try it on?
Shop assistant
Natürlich. Die Kabine ist da links.
Of course. The changing room is over there on the left.
Samira
Hm, sie ist leider zu klein. Haben Sie sie auch in 40?
Hmm, it's too small, unfortunately. Do you have it in a 40 too?
Shop assistant
Ja, hier bitte. Und wie gefällt Ihnen dieser Schal?
Yes, here you are. And how do you like this scarf?
Samira
Er ist schön. Ich nehme ihn auch.
It's nice. I'll take it too.
Shop assistant
Gern. Sonst noch etwas?
Certainly. Anything else?
Samira
Ja, ich möchte diese Hose zurückgeben. Sie passt mir nicht.
Yes, I'd like to return these trousers. They don't fit me.
Shop assistant
Kein Problem. Haben Sie den Kassenbon?
No problem. Do you have the receipt?
Samira
Ja, hier ist er.
Yes, here it is.
Understand
this: dieser, diese, dieses
(this, these) has the same endings as , and : , , (dress), plural (shoes). As with , only the masculine changes when it's the object:
In conversation people often add or : (this jacket), (that scarf).
| Use | masculine | feminine | neuter | plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| subject | ||||
| object |
Object pronouns: mich, dich, ihn …
In German, “it” follows the gender of the noun: a word becomes , a word and a word . Plurals become (they). When “it” is the object, only changes, to :
Here are all the personal pronouns as the subject, as the object (accusative) and in the dative, which you know from . In the accusative, only , , , and change:
Watch out: (trousers) is singular in German, so it's (they don't fit me).
| Subject | Accusative (object) | Dative | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| I, me | |||
| you (one friend) | |||
| he, him; it ( nouns) | |||
| she, her; it ( nouns) | |||
| it ( nouns) | |||
| we, us | |||
| you (two or more friends) | |||
| they, them | |||
| you (polite) |
- Die Jacke ist zu klein. Haben Sie sie auch in 40?The jacket is too small. Do you also have it in a 40?
- Das Kleid ist schön. Ich nehme es.The dress is nice. I'll take it.
- Die Schuhe sind bequem. Ich nehme sie.The shoes are comfortable. I'll take them.
gefallen and passen
means “I like the jacket”, literally “the jacket pleases me”. The thing you like is the subject, and the person is in the dative (, , …), as with . Use for how things look and for food and people you like in general.
(to fit) works the same way: (to help) also takes the person in the dative: With a plural subject, the verb is plural:
- Wie gefällt Ihnen die Jacke?How do you like the jacket?
- Die Schuhe gefallen mir.I like the shoes.
- Passt dir der Pullover?Does the jumper fit you?
More in the grammar: Cases: nominative and accusative · Personal pronouns: ich, du, Sie … · The dative case
New words
- Kann ich Ihnen helfen?Can I help you? · = to help; the person is in the dative
- suchento look for
- die Jackejacket · feminine, plural:
- die Größesize · feminine, plural:
- dieser / diese / diesesthis, these
- gefallento be liked; to please · = I like it
- anprobierento try on · separable: ; Perfekt:
- die Kabinechanging room · feminine, plural: ; also
- zutoo · = too small, = too expensive
- der Schalscarf · masculine, plural:
- die Hose(pair of) trousers · feminine, plural: ; singular in German
- zurückgebento give back, to return · separable: ,
- passento fit · = The trousers don't fit me.
- der Kassenbonreceipt (from a till) · masculine, plural:
Practise
1.Samira talks about . Complete: “___ passt mir nicht.”
2.Write , or .
The scarf is nice. I'll take it.
3.Write , or .
How do you like this dress?
4.Write or .
I like the jacket.
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.Can I try the jacket on?
6.Match the clothes.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Kann ich die Jacke anprobieren?
Can I try the jacket on?
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.