Ein neues Spiel kaufen
Buying a new game · a free German immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
Entschuldigung, haben Sie neue Spiele bekommen?
Excuse me, have you received new games?
Literal Excuse, have you new games received?
A polite way to get a shop assistant's attention and ask about new stock. 'Haben Sie ... bekommen' is the Perfekt tense of 'bekommen' (to receive).
- Perfekt tense: haben + past participle (bekommen)
- Formal 'Sie' used to address the shop assistant politely
Welches Spiel würden Sie mir empfehlen?
Which game would you recommend to me?
Literal Which game would you to-me recommend?
Uses Konjunktiv II (würden + infinitive) to make a polite request. 'Welches' matches the neuter gender of 'das Spiel'.
- Konjunktiv II: würden + infinitive for polite requests
- 'welches' agrees with neuter noun 'das Spiel'
- Indirect object 'mir' (to me) placed before the infinitive
Ich spiele am liebsten Rollenspiele.
I like playing role-playing games the most.
Literal I play most-preferably role-playing-games.
'Am liebsten' is the superlative of 'gern', expressing the strongest personal preference. It acts as an adverb modifying the verb.
- 'am liebsten' = superlative of 'gern', meaning 'most of all'
- Compound noun: Rollen (roles) + Spiele (games) = Rollenspiele
Wie viel kostet dieses Spiel?
How much does this game cost?
Literal How much costs this game?
The standard German question for asking a price. 'Dieses' is the neuter demonstrative pronoun matching 'das Spiel'.
- 'wie viel' = how much, used for price questions
- 'dieses' is the neuter nominative demonstrative form
Das kostet neunundzwanzig Euro.
That costs twenty-nine euros.
Literal That costs nine-and-twenty Euro.
German constructs two-digit numbers with the ones digit first, joined by 'und': neun-und-zwanzig (nine-and-twenty). 'Euro' stays unchanged after numbers.
- German numbers: ones + 'und' + tens (neunundzwanzig)
- 'Euro' has no plural ending after numerals in standard usage
Dieses Spiel ist teurer als das andere.
This game is more expensive than the other one.
Literal This game is more-expensive than the other.
Comparative form of 'teuer'. 'Als' is always used for 'than' in comparisons. Note 'teurer' drops the redundant middle 'e' of 'teuerer'.
- Comparative: teuer → teurer (irregular spelling shortens 'teuerer')
- 'als' = than, used after comparatives
- 'das andere' refers back to 'das Spiel' (neuter)
Wenn dir Strategiespiele gefallen, würde ich dieses empfehlen.
If you like strategy games, I would recommend this one.
Literal If to-you strategy-games please, would I this recommend.
'Gefallen' takes a dative object — 'dir' (to you). The wenn-clause pushes the verb to the end. The main clause uses würde + infinitive for a conditional recommendation.
- 'gefallen' + dative: dir gefallen (they please you)
- Conditional: würde + infinitive at end of main clause
- Wenn-clause: verb moves to final position
Gibt es das auch für die Nintendo Switch?
Is this also available for the Nintendo Switch?
Literal Gives it that also for the Nintendo Switch?
'Gibt es' is an idiomatic expression for availability or existence, literally 'gives it' but meaning 'is there / does it exist'. Very common in shopping contexts.
- 'gibt es' = idiomatic phrase for availability/existence
- Yes/no questions: verb-first word order (gibt es ...)
Kann ich das Spiel zurückgeben, wenn es mir nicht gefällt?
Can I return the game if I don't like it?
Literal Can I the game back-give, if it to-me not pleases?
'Zurückgeben' is a separable verb — the prefix 'zurück-' detaches and moves to the end of the clause. 'Gefällt' is third-person singular of 'gefallen' with dative 'mir'.
- Separable verb: zurückgeben → kann ... zurückgeben (prefix at end)
- 'gefallen' + dative: mir gefällt (it pleases me = I like it)
- Wenn-clause sends its verb to the end
Ich nehme es, danke!
I'll take it, thank you!
Literal I take it, thanks!
German present tense can express a near-future decision. 'Nehmen' (to take) is the natural verb for accepting a purchase. Short and confident — ideal for the checkout moment.
- Present tense 'nehme' used with immediate-future meaning
- 'es' is a pronoun replacing 'das Spiel' (neuter noun)
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
das Spiel
the game
Welches Spiel kaufst du?
Which game are you buying?
Plural: die Spiele
empfehlen
to recommend
Können Sie mir ein Spiel empfehlen?
Can you recommend a game to me?
kosten
to cost
Wie viel kostet dieses Spiel?
How much does this game cost?
gefallen
to please / to like
Das Spiel gefällt mir sehr.
I like this game very much.
Takes dative: mir gefällt (it pleases me)
teuer
expensive
Ist dieses Spiel zu teuer?
Is this game too expensive?
günstig
affordable / cheap
Das ist ein günstiges Angebot.
That is an affordable deal.
das Rollenspiel
the role-playing game
Rollenspiele sind sehr beliebt.
Role-playing games are very popular.
Plural: die Rollenspiele
zurückgeben
to return / give back
Ich möchte das Spiel zurückgeben.
I would like to return the game.
Separable verb: prefix zurück- splits off in main clauses
verfügbar
available
Ist dieses Spiel noch verfügbar?
Is this game still available?
der Rabatt
the discount
Gibt es einen Rabatt auf dieses Spiel?
Is there a discount on this game?
Plural: die Rabatte
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Tim betritt ein Spielgeschäft und schaut sich die neuesten Spiele an. Ein freundlicher Mitarbeiter fragt, ob er helfen kann. Tim erklärt, dass er ein gutes Strategiespiel sucht, das nicht zu teuer ist. Der Mitarbeiter empfiehlt ihm zwei Spiele und erklärt, welches günstiger ist. Tim vergleicht beide und entscheidet sich schließlich für das, das ihm besser gefällt.
Sentence by sentence
Tim betritt ein Spielgeschäft
Tim enters a game shop
'Betritt' is third-person singular of 'betreten' (to enter — a strong verb). 'Spielgeschäft' is a compound: Spiel (game) + Geschäft (shop/store).
schaut sich die neuesten Spiele an
looks at the latest games
'Anschauen' is a separable reflexive verb. The prefix 'an-' moves to the end; 'sich' is the reflexive pronoun. 'Neuesten' is the superlative of 'neu' with a definite article ending.
ob er helfen kann
if he can help
Indirect question introduced by 'ob' (whether/if). The modal 'kann' is sent to the end of the clause — standard subordinate clause word order.
das nicht zu teuer ist
that is not too expensive
Relative clause introduced by 'das' referring back to 'das Strategiespiel' (neuter). In relative clauses, the verb moves to final position.
entscheidet sich schließlich für das, das ihm besser gefällt
finally decides on the one he likes better
'Sich entscheiden für' = to decide on (reflexive). The second 'das' is a relative pronoun. 'Ihm besser gefällt' uses comparative 'besser' (better) with 'gefallen' + dative 'ihm'.
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Comparative Adjectives with 'als' (than)
In German, comparatives are formed by adding '-er' to the base adjective. Some short adjectives also add an umlaut (groß → größer, alt → älter). The word for 'than' is always 'als' — never 'wie' in a direct comparison. This pattern is essential for comparing prices, quality, and features while shopping.
[Adjective]-er + als + [noun/pronoun being compared]
Dieses Spiel ist teurer als das andere.
This game is more expensive than the other one.
Das Rollenspiel ist interessanter als das Sportspiel.
The role-playing game is more interesting than the sports game.
Die Switch ist kleiner als die PlayStation.
The Switch is smaller than the PlayStation.
Dieser Laden ist günstiger als der andere.
This store is cheaper than the other one.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to German: 'How much does this game cost?'
Hint Use 'kosten' for cost and 'dieses' for 'this' (neuter noun).
Translate to English: 'Dieses Spiel ist teurer als das andere.'
Complete the sentence: 'Wenn dir Strategiespiele _____, würde ich dieses empfehlen.'
Hint 'Gefallen' means to please or appeal to someone — it's used like 'to like' in German.
Which sentence correctly uses a comparative adjective with 'als'?
Rewrite using a comparative with 'als': 'Das Rollenspiel kostet vierzig Euro. Das Strategiespiel kostet zwanzig Euro.'
Hint Compare the two games using 'teuer' in its comparative form.
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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