German · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 1 of 12
Discussing and debating
Diskutieren und argumentieren
Argue a point in German: zwar … aber, einerseits … andererseits, auch wenn and selbst wenn, and how to interrupt and sum up politely.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Argue for or against an idea and give reasons
- Admit a point and still disagree with zwar … aber
- Say “even if” with auch wenn and selbst wenn
- Interrupt politely and sum up a discussion
Listen
At Sunday coffee in Bielefeld, Nora (31) and her father Klaus (62) argue about a speed limit on the motorway. Her brother Jan (35) tries to join in. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Klaus
Hast du das gelesen, Nora? Jetzt wird schon wieder über ein Tempolimit auf der Autobahn diskutiert.
Have you read this, Nora? Now they're discussing a speed limit on the motorway again.
Nora
Ja, und ich finde, das wird höchste Zeit. Mit Tempo 130 wäre die Autobahn zwar nicht perfekt, aber viel sicherer als jetzt.
Yes, and I think it's high time. With a limit of 130 the motorway wouldn't be perfect, but it would be much safer than now.
Klaus
Sicherer? Das bezweifle ich. Die meisten schweren Unfälle passieren doch gar nicht auf der Autobahn, sondern auf der Landstraße.
Safer? I doubt that. Most serious accidents don't happen on the motorway at all, but on country roads.
Nora
Das stimmt. Aber auch wenn es nur ein paar Unfälle weniger gibt, lohnt es sich schon.
That's true. But even if there are only a few fewer accidents, it's still worth it.
Klaus
Einerseits verstehe ich das. Andererseits fahre ich seit vierzig Jahren ohne Tempolimit, und mir ist noch nie etwas passiert.
On the one hand I understand that. On the other hand, I've been driving without a speed limit for forty years, and nothing has ever happened to me.
Jan
Darf ich kurz etwas dazu sagen?
Can I just say something about that?
Klaus
Moment, Jan, lass mich bitte ausreden. Selbst wenn es ein Tempolimit gäbe, würden sich viele Leute nicht daran halten.
Just a moment, Jan, please let me finish. Even if there were a speed limit, a lot of people wouldn't stick to it.
Jan
Entschuldigung, aber da muss ich dich kurz unterbrechen. In den meisten Ländern Europas gibt es ein Tempolimit, und die Leute halten sich daran.
Sorry, but I have to interrupt you there for a moment. Most countries in Europe have a speed limit, and people stick to it.
Nora
Genau. Und außerdem kommt man entspannter an, wenn man etwas langsamer fährt.
Exactly. And besides, you arrive more relaxed if you drive a bit more slowly.
Klaus
Zwar kommt man entspannter an, aber auch später.
You may arrive more relaxed, but you also arrive later.
Jan
Also, wenn ich das mal zusammenfassen darf: Ihr seid euch einig, dass man mit Tempolimit entspannter ankommt, aber nicht, ob es sich lohnt.
So, if I may sum up: you both agree that you arrive more relaxed with a speed limit, but not on whether it's worth it.
Klaus
So kann man es sagen. Aber jetzt reden wir lieber über etwas anderes, sonst wird der Kaffee kalt.
You could put it that way. But now let's talk about something else, or the coffee will get cold.
Understand
Two-part connectors: zwar … aber, einerseits … andererseits
In a discussion you often admit that the other person has a point, and then disagree anyway. German does this with zwar … aber (it's true that …, but …): sits inside the first part, and starts the second.
can also go first; then it counts as position one, and the verb comes straight after it: Zwar kommt man entspannter an, aber auch später. English often says this with “may”: you may arrive more relaxed, but …
To weigh up two sides, use einerseits … andererseits (on the one hand … on the other hand). Both words count as position one, so the verb follows: Einerseits verstehe ich das. Andererseits fahre ich seit vierzig Jahren ohne Tempolimit.
- Das Auto ist zwar alt, aber es fährt noch gut.The car may be old, but it still runs well.
- Einerseits möchte ich umziehen, andererseits mag ich meine Wohnung.On the one hand I'd like to move, on the other hand I like my flat.
Even if: auch wenn, selbst wenn
and both mean “even if”. Like , they send the verb to the end: . is a little stronger.
Compare them with (although) from B1. is about a fact: and can also be about something that isn't real, and then they take the Konjunktiv II: is the Konjunktiv II of .
- Auch wenn es regnet, gehen wir spazieren.Even if it rains, we'll go for a walk.
- Selbst wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich nicht mitkommen.Even if I had time, I wouldn't come along.
Structuring a discussion
In a German discussion it's normal to disagree openly, but people expect you to let them finish. These phrases help you give your arguments in order, get a word in, and sum up. …? is polite with and ; (with : ) is a firm but polite way to keep talking.
| What you want to do | German |
|---|---|
| put arguments in order | … … … |
| give an example | … |
| ask to say something | |
| interrupt | / |
| keep talking | / |
| doubt a claim | / |
| sum up | : … |
More in the grammar: Linking clauses: als, wenn, obwohl, damit, um … zu · Two-part connectors: zwar … aber, sowohl … als auch, je … desto
New words
- das Tempolimitspeed limit · neuter, plural: ; = a 130 km/h limit; = It's high time.
- die Autobahnmotorway · feminine, plural:
- sichersafe · also “sure”; = safer
- bezweifelnto doubt · = I doubt that.
- der Unfallaccident · masculine, plural: ; = serious, heavy; = fewer, less
- nicht …, sondern …not …, but (rather) … · = not at all
- die Landstraßecountry road · feminine, plural:
- sich lohnento be worth it · = It's worth it.
- einerseits … andererseitson the one hand … on the other hand
- ausreden lassento let (someone) finish speaking ·
- sich halten anto stick to, to keep to (a rule) · + accusative: ; = to it
- unterbrechento interrupt · Präteritum: ; Perfekt:
- entspanntrelaxed · → = more slowly; = to arrive
- sich einig seinto agree, to be in agreement · = We agree.
Practise
1.Which word completes the sentence? “Das Auto ist zwar alt, ___ es fährt noch gut.”
2.Complete with the missing word.
On the one hand I understand that. On the other hand, I've been driving without a speed limit for forty years.
3.Complete with the Konjunktiv II of “”.
Even if there were a speed limit, many people wouldn't stick to it.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.You may arrive more relaxed, but you also arrive later.
5.Match the phrases with their meanings.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.Nora says: “” What does she mean?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Das stimmt zwar, aber ich sehe das anders.
That may be true, but I see it differently.
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.