German · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 2 of 12
Opinions and reasons
Meinungen und Gründe
Give your opinion in German, explain your reasons with denn, deshalb and obwohl, and agree or disagree politely.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Say what you think with finden, glauben and meiner Meinung nach
- Give reasons and contrasts with denn, deshalb, obwohl and trotzdem
- Agree and disagree politely
Listen
At lunch in Karlsruhe, Katrin (45) and her colleague Ben (31) talk about a plan to close the city centre to cars. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Katrin
Hast du das schon gelesen? Bald sollen in der Innenstadt keine Autos mehr fahren.
Have you read this yet? Soon cars won't be allowed in the city centre any more.
Ben
Ja, und ich finde die Idee super. Meiner Meinung nach gibt es in der Stadt viel zu viel Verkehr.
Yes, and I think it's a great idea. In my opinion there's far too much traffic in the city.
Katrin
Das sehe ich anders. Ich wohne auf dem Land und brauche das Auto, denn bei uns fährt nur einmal pro Stunde ein Bus.
I see it differently. I live in the countryside and need the car, because where I live there's only one bus an hour.
Ben
Aber du kannst doch mit dem Auto bis zum Bahnhof fahren und dann die Straßenbahn nehmen.
But you could just drive to the station and then take the tram.
Katrin
Das stimmt, aber dann brauche ich jeden Tag eine halbe Stunde länger. Ich finde nicht, dass das eine gute Lösung ist.
That's true, but then it takes me half an hour longer every day. I don't think that's a good solution.
Ben
Ich verstehe dich. Trotzdem glaube ich, dass die Stadt ohne Autos schöner wird. Die Luft ist besser, und es ist ruhiger.
I understand. Still, I think the city will be nicer without cars. The air is better, and it's quieter.
Katrin
Da hast du recht. Obwohl ich gern Auto fahre, finde ich den Lärm in der Innenstadt auch schlimm. Aber was ist mit den Geschäften?
You're right there. Although I like driving, I find the noise in the city centre terrible too. But what about the shops?
Ben
Wie meinst du das?
What do you mean?
Katrin
Viele Leute kaufen dann vielleicht lieber online ein.
Then maybe a lot of people will prefer to shop online.
Ben
Das glaube ich nicht. In anderen Städten hat das gut funktioniert, deshalb bin ich optimistisch.
I don't think so. It has worked well in other cities, so I'm optimistic.
Katrin
Hm, ich bin mir nicht sicher. Aber eins ist klar: Wir brauchen mehr Busse.
Hm, I'm not sure. But one thing is clear: we need more buses.
Ben
Da bin ich ganz deiner Meinung.
I completely agree with you there.
Understand
Giving your opinion
You know … and … from A2. … and … work the same way: the verb goes to the end after . You can also leave out and keep normal word order:
To disagree, German puts in the first part, just like English “I don't think”: (in my opinion) counts as position one, so the verb comes straight after it: Meiner Meinung nach gibt es zu viel Verkehr.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| … | I think / I find that … |
| … | I think that … |
| … | I don't think that … |
| … | In my opinion … |
| … | I'm of the opinion that … |
| / | What do you think? |
Reasons and contrasts: denn, deshalb, obwohl, trotzdem
means “because”, like , but it doesn't change the word order: (so, that's why) counts as position one, so the verb comes next.
(although) works like : the verb goes to the end. (still, even so) is like : the verb comes straight after it.
| Word | Meaning | Word order | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| because | verb at the end | …, | |
| because | normal order | …, | |
| so, that's why | verb next | …, | |
| although | verb at the end | …, | |
| still, even so | verb next | …, |
Agreeing and disagreeing politely
In German discussions people say clearly what they think, but a short friendly phrase before a different opinion makes it polite: … or …. With , say and .
| German | English |
|---|---|
| You're right there. | |
| I see it that way too. | |
| I completely agree with you there. | |
| … | Yes, true, but … |
| I see it differently. | |
| I don't think so. | |
| I'm not sure. | |
| What do you mean? |
More in the grammar: Linking clauses: als, wenn, obwohl, damit, um … zu
New words
- die Innenstadtcity centre, town centre · feminine, plural:
- baldsoon · = Soon no more cars are supposed to drive.
- die Meinungopinion · feminine, plural: ; = in my opinion
- der Verkehrtraffic · masculine, no plural
- auf dem Landin the countryside · = country; countryside (plural: )
- dennbecause · normal word order after it
- dochbut … surely, just (makes a suggestion or statement stronger) · = You could just take the bus.
- die Straßenbahntram · feminine, plural:
- die Lösungsolution · feminine, plural:
- trotzdemstill, even so · the verb comes straight after it
- die Luftair · feminine, no plural
- der Lärmnoise · masculine, no plural; = bad, terrible
- das Geschäftshop; business · neuter, plural: ; = people (plural)
- ander-other · = in other cities
Practise
1.A colleague says something you don't agree with. What's a polite way to say so?
2.Complete with in the right form and place.
Although I like driving, I find the noise terrible.
3.Complete with a word that means “because” and keeps the normal word order.
I need the car, because there's only one bus an hour where I live.
4.Complete with a word that means “so, that's why”.
It has worked in other cities, so I'm optimistic.
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.In my opinion there's too much traffic.
6.Match the phrases with their meanings.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Meiner Meinung nach ist das eine gute Idee.
In my opinion that's a good idea.
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.