German · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 12 of 12

Final review

Wiedersehen nach zwanzig Jahren

Review B2 German in a long conversation at a school reunion, and learn als ob for “as if”: Du siehst aus, als ob du achtzehn wärst.

12 lines, with a translation of each

In this chapter you'll learn to

Hold a long, natural conversation catching up with someone
Use als ob and als + Konjunktiv II for “as if”
Combine the B2 grammar: sollen, zwar … aber, je … desto, hätte … sollen, the passive
Recognise idioms, particles and colloquial phrases in context

Listen

At their school reunion in Passau, Stefanie (38) and Alexander (38) meet again twenty years after their Abitur. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.

Speed:

Hide translations (test yourself)

Alexander
Steffi? Das gibt's doch nicht. Du siehst aus, als ob du immer noch achtzehn wärst.
Steffi? I don't believe it. You look as if you were still eighteen.
Stefanie
Ach, Alex, du übertreibst. Aber schön, dich zu sehen. Zwanzig Jahre nach dem Abi, kaum zu glauben.
Oh, Alex, you're exaggerating. But it's good to see you. Twenty years since our Abitur, hard to believe.
Alexander
Ja, echt. Und was machst du so? Du sollst ja in Wien leben, habe ich gehört.
Yes, really. So what are you up to? I heard you live in Vienna.
Stefanie
Stimmt, seit acht Jahren. Ich arbeite da als Journalistin bei einem Radiosender. Zwar vermisse ich manchmal Bayern, aber Wien ist mir richtig ans Herz gewachsen.
That's right, for eight years now. I work there as a journalist for a radio station. I do miss Bavaria sometimes, but I've really grown fond of Vienna.
Alexander
Das kann ich verstehen. Ich bin nach dem Studium hiergeblieben und unterrichte jetzt an unserem alten Gymnasium.
I can understand that. I stayed here after university, and now I teach at our old school.
Stefanie
Echt jetzt? Du warst doch der, der immer Ärger mit Herrn Brunner hatte.
Seriously? You were the one who was always in trouble with Mr Brunner.
Alexander
Tja, das Leben ist voller Überraschungen. Heute sitzen wir im gleichen Lehrerzimmer, und er tut so, als hätte er alles vergessen.
Well, life is full of surprises. Today we sit in the same staffroom, and he acts as if he'd forgotten everything.
Stefanie
Herrlich. Und bereust du manchmal, dass du nie weggezogen bist?
Wonderful. And do you sometimes regret that you never moved away?
Alexander
Manchmal schon. Ich hätte nach dem Studium ein Jahr ins Ausland gehen sollen. Aber je älter man wird, desto schwieriger wird so etwas.
Sometimes, yes. I should have gone abroad for a year after university. But the older you get, the harder that sort of thing becomes.
Stefanie
Ach was, dafür ist es nie zu spät. In Wien werden gerade an vielen Schulen Lehrer gesucht, auch aus Deutschland.
Oh, come on, it's never too late for that. Lots of schools in Vienna are looking for teachers at the moment, from Germany too.
Alexander
Meinst du das ernst? Dann musst du mir mehr erzählen. Aber zuerst hole ich uns was zu trinken.
Are you serious? Then you have to tell me more. But first I'll get us something to drink.
Stefanie
Gute Idee. Und dann erzählst du mir, was aus den anderen geworden ist. Ich habe ja seit Jahren von niemandem etwas gehört.
Good idea. And then you can tell me what became of the others. I haven't heard from anyone in years.

Understand

As if: als ob + Konjunktiv II

To say that something only seems to be true, use als ob (as if) with the Konjunktiv II and the verb at the end: The Konjunktiv II shows that it isn't real: Stefanie isn't eighteen.

You can also leave out . Then the verb comes straight after : Er tut so, als hätte er alles vergessen. Both versions mean the same. For something in the past, use / + participle: . … means “to act as if, to pretend”.

Er tut so, als ob er nichts wüsste.He's pretending not to know anything.
Es sieht aus, als würde es gleich regnen.It looks as if it's going to rain any minute.

B2 grammar together

This conversation uses the grammar of the whole level. Look back at the chapter if one of these points isn't clear yet.

From the dialogue	Grammar point	Chapter
	for what people say	2
…	…	1
	n-declension	7
	regrets: …	7
…	…	5
	the passive	4
, ,	idioms, particles, informal speech	8, 9

Catching up with someone

When you meet someone again after a long time, these phrases keep the conversation going. (what are you up to?) is relaxed; … asks what happened to someone. (oh, come on) waves away a worry, and (hard to believe) and (that was ages ago) react to time passing.

Was ist eigentlich aus Jonas geworden?Whatever happened to Jonas?
Das ist ja ewig her.That was ages ago.
Erzähl mal, wie geht's dir?Tell me, how are you?

More in the grammar: The Konjunktiv II: würde, hätte, wäre, könnte · Modal particles: doch, ja, mal, halt, eben, denn · The n-declension: der Student, den Studenten · Two-part connectors: zwar … aber, sowohl … als auch, je … desto

New words

übertreibento exaggerate · ; Perfekt:
der Sender(radio or TV) station · masculine, plural: ; = radio station
jemandem ans Herz wachsento grow fond of, to become dear to someone · = heart;
unterrichtento teach · Perfekt: ; = academic secondary school
der Ärgertrouble; annoyance · masculine; = to be in trouble with someone
die Überraschungsurprise · feminine, plural: ; = full of surprises
der Lehrer / die Lehrerinteacher · plural: / ; = staffroom
so tun, als obto act as if, to pretend ·
vergessento forget · ; Perfekt:
herrlichwonderful, delightful · also ironic:
wegziehento move away · separable; Perfekt:
das Auslandabroad, foreign countries · neuter; = to go abroad; = abroad
ernstserious · = Are you serious?
Was ist aus … geworden?What became of …? · = What happened to him?

Practise

1.Complete: “Du siehst aus, als ob du immer noch achtzehn ___.”
2.Complete with the Konjunktiv II of .
Er tut so, als er alles vergessen.
He acts as if he'd forgotten everything.
3.Complete with the right form of .
Du hattest immer Ärger mit Brunner.
You were always in trouble with Mr Brunner.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.
The older you get, the harder it becomes.
5.Match the phrases with their meanings.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.Alexander says: “” What does he mean?

0 of 6 exercises done.

Say it out loud

Schön, dich zu sehen. Was machst du so?

Good to see you. What are you up to?

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.

1.What does “” mean?
2.Which sentence means “He acts as if he didn't know anything”?
3.“” How does Stefanie feel about Vienna?
4.“” What does this tell you?
5.Stefanie wants to hear “”. What does she want to know?

0 of 5 answered.