Das tägliche Stand-up: Updates teilen und gemeinsam vorankommen
Running a stand-up · a free German immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
Gestern habe ich die neue Datenbankverbindung erfolgreich eingerichtet.
Yesterday I successfully set up the new database connection.
Literal Yesterday have I the new database connection successfully set up.
Uses the Perfekt tense (habe + past participle), the standard way to talk about completed actions in spoken German.
- Perfekt with haben: habe + eingerichtet
- Adverb erfolgreich modifies the action
Heute arbeite ich an der Benutzeroberfläche für das Dashboard.
Today I am working on the user interface for the dashboard.
Literal Today work I on the user interface for the dashboard.
German present tense covers both simple present and present continuous. Heute anchors the time frame at the start for emphasis.
- Present tense: arbeite (1st person singular)
- Time expression heute in initial position triggers verb-second order
Ich habe leider ein Problem mit der API-Integration.
Unfortunately, I have a problem with the API integration.
Literal I have unfortunately a problem with the API integration.
Leider (unfortunately) softens the delivery of bad news professionally. It signals a blocker without sounding dramatic.
- Leider as a sentence adverb expressing regret
- mit takes dative: mit der API-Integration
Die Dokumentation war nicht vollständig, deshalb hat es länger gedauert.
The documentation was not complete, so it took longer.
Literal The documentation was not complete, therefore has it longer taken.
Deshalb (therefore) is a linking adverb connecting cause and effect. After deshalb, the verb moves to position two in the clause.
- Deshalb as coordinating adverb causing verb-second word order
- Perfekt: hat gedauert
Kannst du mir mit dem technischen Problem helfen?
Can you help me with the technical problem?
Literal Can you me with the technical problem help?
Modal verb können (can) is used for polite requests in professional settings. The infinitive helfen is pushed to the end.
- Modal verb können: Kannst (2nd person singular)
- Infinitive helfen at sentence end
- Dative: mit dem Problem
Morgen soll ich das Feature für die Testumgebung fertigstellen.
Tomorrow I am supposed to finish the feature for the test environment.
Literal Tomorrow shall I the feature for the test environment finish.
Sollen expresses an obligation or task assigned by others, such as a manager or sprint plan. The infinitive goes to the end.
- Modal verb sollen (supposed to, per external assignment)
- Separable verb fertigstellen: infinitive stays whole at end
Diese Woche müssen wir den Code-Review abschließen.
This week we need to complete the code review.
Literal This week must we the code review close.
Müssen (must/need to) expresses internal necessity. Diese Woche sets a weekly time frame, common in stand-up planning talk.
- Modal verb müssen: müssen (1st person plural)
- Separable verb abschließen: infinitive at end
Ich bin außerdem für die Abstimmung mit dem Design-Team zuständig.
I am also responsible for the coordination with the design team.
Literal I am additionally for the coordination with the design team responsible.
Außerdem (additionally) adds information to an existing update. Zuständig sein für is the standard phrase for professional responsibility.
- Außerdem as additive linking adverb
- Zuständig sein für + accusative for expressing responsibility
Gibt es noch andere Blocker, über die wir sprechen sollten?
Are there any other blockers we should talk about?
Literal Gives it still other blockers, about which we speak should?
Gibt es (are there) is the standard existence question formula. The relative clause über die wir sprechen sollten refers back to Blocker, with sollten used politely in subjunctive.
- Gibt es for existence questions
- Relative clause with über die (accusative plural relative pronoun; sprechen über governs the accusative)
- Sollten (subjunctive II) for polite suggestion
Trotzdem machen wir gute Fortschritte und das Team arbeitet gut zusammen.
Nevertheless, we are making good progress and the team is working well together.
Literal Nevertheless make we good progress and the team works well together.
Trotzdem (nevertheless) acknowledges challenges while maintaining a positive tone, ideal for closing a stand-up on an encouraging note.
- Trotzdem as concessive adverb with verb-second rule
- Coordinating conjunction und linking two independent clauses
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
der Blocker
the blocker (obstacle)
Wir haben einen Blocker bei der API.
We have a blocker with the API.
Used directly from English in German tech contexts
fertigstellen
to complete, to finish
Ich muss die Aufgabe heute fertigstellen.
I need to complete the task today.
Separable verb: fertig + stellen; in main clause splits: stelle ... fertig
die Abstimmung
the coordination, alignment
Die Abstimmung mit dem Team war hilfreich.
The coordination with the team was helpful.
Also means vote; context determines meaning
zuständig
responsible, in charge
Wer ist für das Projekt zuständig?
Who is responsible for the project?
Used with sein für: zuständig sein für + accusative
deshalb
therefore, that is why
Es gab einen Fehler, deshalb habe ich neu gestartet.
There was an error, so I restarted.
Causes verb-second word order in the following clause
trotzdem
nevertheless, despite that
Es war schwierig, trotzdem haben wir es geschafft.
It was difficult; nevertheless, we managed it.
Great for showing resilience in professional updates
außerdem
additionally, also, furthermore
Ich arbeite am Backend und außerdem schreibe ich Tests.
I am working on the backend and I am also writing tests.
Used to stack information within an update
der Fortschritt
the progress
Wir machen gute Fortschritte diese Woche.
We are making good progress this week.
Often used in plural: Fortschritte
sollen
to be supposed to, should (per others)
Ich soll den Bericht bis Freitag abgeben.
I am supposed to submit the report by Friday.
Expresses obligation assigned externally, not self-imposed
vollständig
complete, thorough, full
Die Dokumentation ist noch nicht vollständig.
The documentation is not yet complete.
Common when describing deliverables or handoffs
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Das Team trifft sich jeden Morgen um neun Uhr für das Stand-up. Jeder berichtet kurz, was er gestern gemacht hat und was er heute plant. Heute hat Mia erklärt, dass sie einen Blocker bei der Datenbankverbindung hat, deshalb kann sie die neue Funktion noch nicht testen. Trotzdem macht das Team insgesamt gute Fortschritte und alle arbeiten gut zusammen.
Sentence by sentence
Das Team trifft sich jeden Morgen um neun Uhr
The team meets every morning at nine o'clock
Trifft sich is a reflexive verb (sich treffen = to meet each other). Jeden Morgen uses the accusative for recurring time expressions.
Jeder berichtet kurz, was er gestern gemacht hat und was er heute plant
Everyone briefly reports what they did yesterday and what they plan to do today
Indirect questions introduced by was use verb-final word order. Gestern and heute contrast past and present, a core stand-up structure.
Mia hat erklärt, dass sie einen Blocker bei der Datenbankverbindung hat
Mia explained that she has a blocker with the database connection
Dass (that) introduces a subordinate clause where the conjugated verb moves to the end: ...hat. Standard structure for reporting what someone said.
deshalb kann sie die neue Funktion noch nicht testen
so she cannot yet test the new function
Deshalb causes verb-second order: kann comes immediately after. Noch nicht (not yet) indicates something pending or blocked.
Trotzdem macht das Team insgesamt gute Fortschritte
Nevertheless, the team is making good overall progress
Trotzdem signals a contrast with the previous difficulty. Placed first, it pushes the verb macht to position two per German word-order rules.
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Modal Verbs for Workplace Tasks: müssen, können, sollen
Modal verbs express ability, necessity, or obligation and are essential for stand-up meetings. The modal verb occupies position two in the sentence and the main verb moves to the end as an infinitive. Müssen expresses internal necessity, können expresses ability or possibility, and sollen expresses an externally assigned obligation.
Subject + modal verb (position 2) + ... + infinitive (end)
Ich muss den Code-Review heute abschließen.
I need to finish the code review today.
Kannst du mir mit dem Problem helfen?
Can you help me with the problem?
Sie soll das Feature bis morgen fertigstellen.
She is supposed to complete the feature by tomorrow.
Wir können das Meeting auf Dienstag verschieben.
We can move the meeting to Tuesday.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Yesterday I successfully set up the new database connection.
Hint Use the perfect tense with 'habe ... eingerichtet'.
Die Dokumentation war nicht vollständig, _____ hat es länger gedauert.
Hint You need a word that means 'therefore' or 'that's why'.
Morgen _____ ich das Feature für die Testumgebung fertigstellen. Which modal verb fits best?
Ich bin außerdem für die Abstimmung mit dem Design-Team zuständig.
Hint 'Zuständig sein für' means to be responsible for something.
Rewrite this sentence using 'trotzdem' to show contrast: 'Es gibt Blocker. Das Team macht gute Fortschritte.'
Hint 'Trotzdem' means 'nevertheless' and goes at the start or mid-sentence.
That’s today’s phraseberry.
Nice work, you understood something real today. Come back tomorrow for a fresh one.
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