German · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 5 of 12
Society and the environment
Hitze in der Stadt
Discuss a local problem and its solutions in German: all types of if-sentences, je … desto, and ways to express concern.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Talk about a problem in your area and suggest a solution
- Use real, unreal and past if-sentences
- Link two changes with je … desto
- Say what worries you
Listen
During a heatwave in Leipzig, neighbours and friends Leonie (38) and Dennis (41) talk in the courtyard of their building. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Leonie
Puh, 34 Grad, und es ist erst elf Uhr. So heiß war es im Juni früher nie.
Phew, 34 degrees, and it's only eleven o'clock. It never used to be this hot in June.
Dennis
Ja, und hier im Hof ist es noch schlimmer. Hier gibt es keinen einzigen Baum, nur Parkplätze.
Yes, and here in the courtyard it's even worse. There isn't a single tree here, only parking spaces.
Leonie
Genau. Je mehr Asphalt es gibt, desto heißer wird es im Sommer. Ich mache mir wirklich Sorgen, vor allem um die älteren Leute im Haus.
Exactly. The more tarmac there is, the hotter it gets in summer. I'm really worried, especially about the older people in the building.
Dennis
Ich auch. Frau Schulze aus dem dritten Stock geht bei dieser Hitze gar nicht mehr aus dem Haus.
Me too. Mrs Schulze from the third floor doesn't leave the house at all in this heat.
Leonie
Wenn man hier vor zwanzig Jahren Bäume gepflanzt hätte, wäre es heute viel kühler.
If someone had planted trees here twenty years ago, it would be much cooler today.
Dennis
Stimmt. Aber es ist noch nicht zu spät. Ich habe gelesen, dass die Stadt Geld für Bäume in Innenhöfen gibt.
True. But it's not too late yet. I read that the city is giving money for trees in courtyards.
Leonie
Echt? Dann könnten wir doch aus zwei Parkplätzen einen kleinen Garten machen.
Really? Then we could turn two parking spaces into a small garden.
Dennis
Die Idee finde ich gut. Allerdings befürchte ich, dass nicht alle Nachbarn mitmachen würden. Ohne Parkplatz müssten sie abends lange suchen.
I like the idea. But I'm afraid not all the neighbours would go along with it. Without a parking space, they'd have to look for a long time in the evenings.
Leonie
Das verstehe ich. Aber je länger wir warten, desto schlimmer wird es. Wenn wir nichts machen, ist es hier im August wieder unerträglich.
I understand that. But the longer we wait, the worse it gets. If we do nothing, it'll be unbearable here again in August.
Dennis
Du hast recht. Wenn die anderen einverstanden sind, schreiben wir zusammen einen Antrag an die Stadt.
You're right. If the others agree, we'll write an application to the city together.
Leonie
Gut. Dann lade ich alle Nachbarn am Samstag zu einem Treffen hier im Hof ein.
Good. Then I'll invite all the neighbours to a meeting here in the courtyard on Saturday.
Dennis
Aber bitte erst abends. Bei dieser Hitze kommt mittags garantiert niemand.
But please not until the evening. In this heat nobody will come at midday, that's guaranteed.
Understand
If-sentences: real, unreal and past
You know all the pieces from B1. Here they are together. For something that is possible, use the normal present: For something imagined now, use the Konjunktiv II: For a past that didn't happen, use / + participle:
You can also mix the times: an unreal past condition with a result that is true now. Then the part is in the past, and the main clause in the present Konjunktiv II: Wenn man vor zwanzig Jahren Bäume gepflanzt hätte, wäre es heute viel kühler.
| Type | part | main clause |
|---|---|---|
| possible | ||
| imagined now | ||
| past, not real | ||
| past → now |
The more …, the more …: je … desto
To say that one thing changes together with another, use je + comparative in the first part and desto + comparative in the second: (The more tarmac there is, the hotter it gets.)
Watch the word order. The part is a subordinate clause, so its verb goes to the end. The part starts with + comparative, and then the verb comes straight after it. In speech you'll also hear instead of : .
- Je länger wir warten, desto schlimmer wird es.The longer we wait, the worse it gets.
- Je älter man ist, desto gefährlicher ist die Hitze.The older you are, the more dangerous the heat is.
- Je früher, desto besser.The sooner, the better.
Saying what worries you
These phrases help you express concern in a discussion. is about people or things you care about; … (to fear that …) is about something bad that might happen. … is a softer way to say the same.
- Ich mache mir Sorgen um meine Großeltern.I'm worried about my grandparents.
- Ich befürchte, dass es nicht klappt.I'm afraid it won't work out.
- Es macht mir Sorgen, dass die Sommer immer heißer werden.It worries me that the summers are getting hotter and hotter.
More in the grammar: The Konjunktiv II: würde, hätte, wäre, könnte · Two-part connectors: zwar … aber, sowohl … als auch, je … desto
New words
- der Hofcourtyard · masculine, plural: ; = inner courtyard
- einzigsingle, only · = not a single tree
- der Parkplatzparking space; car park · masculine, plural:
- der Asphalttarmac, asphalt · masculine
- sich Sorgen machen umto worry about · + accusative:
- die Hitzeheat · feminine; = hot
- pflanzento plant · = plant
- kühlcool · = cooler
- befürchtento fear, to be afraid (that) · … = I'm afraid that …
- der Nachbar / die Nachbarinneighbour · plural: / ; ,
- mitmachento take part, to go along with it · separable:
- unerträglichunbearable
- einverstandenin agreement · = I agree. / That's fine by me.
- der Antragapplication (to an authority) · masculine, plural: ; = to apply
Practise
1.Which word completes the sentence? “Je mehr Asphalt es gibt, ___ heißer wird es.”
2.Complete the unreal past condition.
If someone had planted trees twenty years ago, it would be cooler today.
3.Complete with the reflexive pronoun.
I'm worried about the older people.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.The longer we wait, the worse it gets.
5.Match the words.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.Which sentence talks about an imagined situation now?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Ich mache mir wirklich Sorgen.
I'm really worried.
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.