German · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 4 of 12
Feelings and relationships
Gefühle und Beziehungen
Talk about feelings and relationships in German: wenn or als, verbs like sich ärgern über, and uns, euch, sich meaning “each other”.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Talk about how you feel and about an argument
- Choose between wenn and als
- Use verbs with prepositions like sich ärgern über
- Give a friend advice with du solltest
Listen
In a café in Erfurt, Hannah (29) meets her friend Deniz (31). Something is wrong. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Deniz
Hallo, Hannah. Was ist los? Du siehst traurig aus.
Hi, Hannah. What's wrong? You look sad.
Hannah
Ich habe mich gestern Abend mit Niklas gestritten. Im Moment streiten wir uns sehr oft.
I had a fight with Niklas last night. We argue a lot at the moment.
Deniz
Oh nein. Worüber habt ihr euch denn gestritten?
Oh no. What did you argue about?
Hannah
Über seine Arbeit. Seit März arbeitet er in Leipzig. Und wenn er am Wochenende hier ist, sitzt er oft noch am Laptop.
About his work. He's been working in Leipzig since March. And when he's here at the weekend, he's often still sitting at his laptop.
Deniz
Das verstehe ich. Ärgerst du dich darüber?
I can understand that. Does that annoy you?
Hannah
Ja, und ich bin auch traurig. Ich vermisse ihn einfach. Als wir uns kennengelernt haben, haben wir uns jeden Tag gesehen.
Yes, and I'm sad too. I just miss him. When we met, we saw each other every day.
Deniz
Hast du ihm das schon mal ehrlich gesagt?
Have you ever told him that honestly?
Hannah
Nein. Immer wenn ich darüber reden will, sagt er, dass er müde ist. Und gestern bin ich dann laut geworden.
No. Whenever I want to talk about it, he says he's tired. And yesterday I ended up raising my voice.
Deniz
Das kann passieren. Hast du dich schon bei ihm entschuldigt?
These things happen. Have you apologised to him yet?
Hannah
Nein, noch nicht. Ehrlich gesagt ärgere ich mich immer noch über ihn.
No, not yet. To be honest, I'm still annoyed with him.
Deniz
Aber ihr versteht euch doch eigentlich gut. Du solltest ihn anrufen und ihm sagen, dass du ihn vermisst.
But you actually get on well. You should call him and tell him that you miss him.
Hannah
Du hast recht. Ich rufe ihn heute Abend an. Danke, Deniz, du bist ein guter Freund.
You're right. I'll call him this evening. Thanks, Deniz, you're a good friend.
Understand
wenn or als?
Both words can mean “when”, and both send the verb to the end. Use for one moment or one period in the past: , …, , ….
Use for things that happen again and again (“whenever”), in the past, present or future: makes the “every time” meaning stronger. also means “if”, and “when” for a single event in the present or future: The question word “when?” is :
| Situation | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| once in the past | ||
| again and again | ||
| if / when (present or future) | ||
| a question |
Verbs with prepositions: sich ärgern über
Many verbs about feelings go with a fixed preposition. You know (to look forward to). Learn the preposition together with the verb, because it's often different from English: (to be annoyed about or with someone), never .
For things, the question is wo(r)- + preposition, and the answer can be da(r)- + preposition: (Does that annoy you?). The r is added when the preposition starts with a vowel. For people, use the preposition + pronoun:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| + acc. | to be annoyed about / with | |
| + acc. | to be happy about (something now or past) | |
| + acc. | to look forward to | |
| + dat. | to argue with | |
| + dat. | to apologise to | |
| + acc. | to talk about |
Each other: uns, euch, sich
In the plural, the reflexive pronouns , and often mean “each other”: (we see each other every day). (you get on well with each other). (they met on holiday).
To give a friend advice, use (you should), the form of , which you know from the doctor's:
- Wir streiten uns im Moment sehr oft.We argue a lot at the moment.
- Wann habt ihr euch kennengelernt?When did you meet?
- Du solltest dich bei ihr entschuldigen.You should apologise to her.
More in the grammar: Reflexive verbs: sich freuen, sich treffen · Linking clauses: als, wenn, obwohl, damit, um … zu · The Konjunktiv II: würde, hätte, wäre, könnte
New words
- Was ist los?What's wrong? / What's up?
- traurigsad
- sich streitento argue, to have a fight · Perfekt: ; = argument
- im Momentat the moment
- worüber? / darüberabout what? / about it · –
- sich ärgern überto be annoyed about / with · + accusative:
- vermissento miss (someone) · Perfekt: (no ge-)
- ehrlichhonest, honestly · = to be honest
- müdetired
- laut werdento raise your voice · = loud; Perfekt:
- passierento happen · Perfekt: ; = These things happen.
- sich entschuldigen beito apologise to · + dative:
- sich verstehento get on (with each other) · = We get on well.
- der Freund / die Freundinfriend; boyfriend / girlfriend · plural: /
Practise
1. or ? “___ ich ein Kind war, wohnten wir in Erfurt.”
2.Complete with or .
Whenever he's here at the weekend, he sits at his laptop.
3.Complete with the right preposition.
I'm annoyed about his work.
4.Complete with the reflexive pronoun.
What did you argue about?
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.When we met, Niklas was a student.
6.Match the words with their meanings.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Was ist los? Du siehst traurig aus.
What's wrong? You look sad.
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.