Was machen wir am Wochenende?
Making weekend plans · a free German immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
Was machst du dieses Wochenende?
What are you doing this weekend?
Literal What make you this weekend?
A natural opening question about weekend plans. Present tense is used in German to talk about near-future intentions.
- Present tense used for near-future plans
- Question word 'was' triggers subject-verb inversion
Ich wollte fragen, ob du am Samstag Zeit hast.
I wanted to ask whether you have time on Saturday.
Literal I wanted to ask, whether you on Saturday time have.
Uses a subordinate clause with 'ob' (whether). The verb 'hast' moves to the end of the clause, which is mandatory in German subordinate clauses.
- 'ob' subordinate clause sends the verb to the end
- 'wollte' is past tense of 'wollen', used here as a polite framing
Wir könnten ins Kino gehen, wenn du Lust hast.
We could go to the cinema if you feel like it.
Literal We could to-the cinema go, if you desire have.
'Könnten' is the conditional form of 'können', used to make a polite suggestion. The 'wenn' clause is conditional and sends its verb to the end.
- 'könnten' = conditional of 'können' for polite suggestions
- 'wenn' clause sends verb to end of clause
Das klingt super! Wann würde dir das passen?
That sounds great! When would that work for you?
Literal That sounds great! When would to-you that suit?
'Würde' is the conditional of 'werden', used politely to ask about timing. 'Passen' takes the dative, so 'dir' (not 'dich') is correct here.
- 'würde' + infinitive forms the conditional tense
- Dative 'dir' after 'passen' shows the person being considered
Am Freitagabend bin ich leider nicht verfügbar.
On Friday evening I am unfortunately not available.
Literal On Friday-evening am I unfortunately not available.
A polite way to decline. 'Leider' (unfortunately) softens the refusal. When a time expression starts the sentence, the subject and verb invert.
- 'am' + compound time noun = on Friday evening
- Subject-verb inversion after a fronted adverbial
Wie wäre es mit Sonntagnachmittag?
How about Sunday afternoon?
Literal How would-be it with Sunday-afternoon?
'Wie wäre es mit' is a fixed phrase for making alternative suggestions. It uses the subjunctive form 'wäre' (would be) and is followed by a noun in the dative.
- 'wie wäre es mit' + dative = how about...?
- Subjunctive II 'wäre' used in set suggestion phrases
Ich würde gerne einen Tisch reservieren.
I would like to reserve a table.
Literal I would gladly a table reserve.
'Würde gerne' is the standard polite way to express a wish. 'Einen Tisch' is accusative because 'reservieren' is a transitive verb.
- 'würde + gerne + infinitive' = polite expression of wish
- Accusative 'einen Tisch' after transitive verb 'reservieren'
Magst du lieber draußen oder drinnen essen?
Do you prefer eating outside or inside?
Literal Like you rather outside or inside eat?
Uses 'mögen' in the present tense and 'lieber' (the comparative of 'gerne') to ask about preferences. The question is formed by placing the verb first.
- Question formation with subject-verb inversion
- 'lieber' as comparative of 'gerne' expresses preference
Wollen wir uns um drei Uhr treffen?
Shall we meet at three o'clock?
Literal Want we ourselves at three o'clock meet?
'Wollen wir' at the start of a sentence is a common way to make inclusive suggestions. 'Treffen' is used reflexively with 'uns' to mean meeting each other.
- 'wollen wir' = shall we / do we want to
- Reflexive 'uns' with 'treffen' = to meet each other
Das passt mir gut. Bis dann!
That works well for me. See you then!
Literal That suits me well. Until then!
'Das passt mir gut' confirms an arrangement using the dative 'mir'. 'Bis dann' is a casual farewell used when a meeting time has already been set.
- Dative 'mir' after 'passen' = works for me
- 'Bis dann' is an informal goodbye when a plan is already in place
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
das Wochenende
the weekend
Was machst du am Wochenende?
What are you doing at the weekend?
Literally 'week-end'; always neuter gender
vorschlagen
to suggest
Ich schlage vor, ins Kino zu gehen.
I suggest going to the cinema.
Separable verb: 'vor-' splits off in main clauses
verfügbar
available
Bist du am Samstag verfügbar?
Are you available on Saturday?
Common in scheduling and appointment contexts
die Lust
the desire / inclination
Hast du Lust, spazieren zu gehen?
Do you feel like going for a walk?
'Lust haben' = to feel like doing something
treffen
to meet
Wollen wir uns um sechs treffen?
Shall we meet at six?
Used reflexively: sich treffen = to meet each other
reservieren
to reserve / to book
Ich habe einen Tisch reserviert.
I reserved a table.
Used for restaurants, hotels, and tickets
passen
to suit / to work for someone
Passt dir Freitagabend?
Does Friday evening work for you?
Takes the dative: passt mir / dir / ihm
lieber
rather / preferably
Ich esse lieber draußen.
I prefer eating outside.
Comparative of 'gerne'; expresses preference over an alternative
leider
unfortunately
Ich kann leider nicht kommen.
Unfortunately I cannot come.
A polite softener when declining an invitation
draußen
outside
Es ist schoen, draußen zu sitzen.
It is nice to sit outside.
Opposite: drinnen (inside)
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Anna schreibt Felix eine Nachricht und fragt, ob er dieses Wochenende Zeit hat. Sie schlägt vor, am Samstagnachmittag ins Café zu gehen. Felix antwortet, dass er am Samstag leider nicht verfügbar ist, aber der Sonntag gut passen würde. Anna ist einverstanden und würde gerne einen Tisch für zwei reservieren. Sie einigen sich darauf, sich um halb drei vor dem Café zu treffen.
Sentence by sentence
Anna schreibt Felix eine Nachricht und fragt, ob er dieses Wochenende Zeit hat.
Anna writes Felix a message and asks whether he has time this weekend.
Two main clauses joined by 'und', followed by a subordinate clause with 'ob'. In the 'ob' clause, the conjugated verb 'hat' moves to the very end.
Sie schlägt vor, am Samstagnachmittag ins Café zu gehen.
She suggests going to the café on Saturday afternoon.
'Vorschlagen' is a separable verb; the prefix 'vor' splits off to the end of the main clause. The infinitive phrase 'zu gehen' follows the time expression.
Felix antwortet, dass er am Samstag leider nicht verfügbar ist, aber der Sonntag gut passen würde.
Felix replies that he is unfortunately not available on Saturday, but that Sunday would work well.
Two 'dass' clauses connected by 'aber'. In the second clause, 'würde' is the conditional used to soften the counter-suggestion.
Anna ist einverstanden und würde gerne einen Tisch für zwei reservieren.
Anna agrees and would like to reserve a table for two.
'Einverstanden sein' means to agree or be in agreement. 'Würde gerne' plus an infinitive at the end is the standard polite conditional for expressing a wish.
Sie einigen sich darauf, sich um halb drei vor dem Café zu treffen.
They settle on meeting at half past two in front of the café.
'Sich einigen auf' means to agree on something. Note that 'halb drei' in German literally means half-three, which equals 2:30 in English.
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Modal Verbs for Plans and Preferences (wollen, koennen, moegen)
German modal verbs express intentions, abilities, and preferences. In weekend-planning conversations, 'wollen' (to want), 'koennen' (can/to be able to), and 'moegen' (to like) are essential. The modal verb is conjugated and placed second in the clause, while the main verb appears as an infinitive at the end. In the conditional, 'koennten' and 'wuerde gerne' make suggestions more polite.
Subject + modal verb (conjugated) + ... + infinitive (at end of clause)
Ich will dieses Wochenende ins Theater gehen.
I want to go to the theatre this weekend.
Kannst du am Samstag kommen?
Can you come on Saturday?
Wir koennten auch einen Spaziergang machen.
We could also go for a walk.
Magst du lieber draußen sitzen?
Do you prefer sitting outside?
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to German: 'We could go to the cinema if you feel like it.'
Hint Use the modal verb 'könnten' for a polite suggestion.
Am Freitagabend bin ich leider nicht ______.
Hint This word means 'available' in English.
You want to ask a friend if Sunday afternoon works for them. Which sentence is most natural?
Translate to English: 'Magst du lieber draußen oder drinnen essen?'
Hint 'Lieber' expresses preference, think of it as 'rather' or 'preferably'.
Rewrite more politely using 'würde gerne': 'Ich reserviere einen Tisch.' (I am reserving a table.)
Hint 'Würde gerne' is a polite way to express 'would like to'.
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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