Arranging to go out (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
Arranging to go out
When you want to make plans with friends in German, you'll need to know how to suggest activities, arrange times, and decide on meeting places. This topic covers all the essential vocabulary and phrases you need to organise social activities confidently in German-speaking countries.
Key vocabulary for making arrangements
Understanding these fundamental terms will help you navigate social planning conversations with confidence. These expressions form the building blocks of most arrangement discussions.
Time expressions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| morgen (m) | morning |
| Nachmittag (m) | afternoon |
| Abend (m) | evening |
| heute | today |
| morgen | tomorrow |
| heute Morgen/Nachmittag/Abend | this morning/afternoon/evening |
| morgen früh | tomorrow morning |
| morgen Nachmittag/Abend | tomorrow afternoon/evening |
| am Dienstag | on Tuesday |
| nächsten Freitag | next Friday |
| nächstes Wochenende | next weekend |
These time expressions are fundamental building blocks for any social arrangement. Notice how German distinguishes between "morgen" (morning/tomorrow) - context makes the meaning clear!
Meeting arrangements
| German | English |
|---|---|
| besuchen | to visit |
| sich treffen | to meet up |
| Wollen wir...? | Shall we...? |
Time and location phrases
| German | English |
|---|---|
| um halb acht | at half past seven/7:30 |
| um 11:30/um elf Uhr dreißig | at 11:30 |
| um halb zwölf | at half past eleven |
| nach der Schule | after school |
| vor dem Kino | in front of/outside the cinema |
| im Café | in the café |
| am Strand | on the beach |
| am Bahnhof | at the station |
| auf dem Marktplatz | in the market square |
Understanding German time telling
German time telling follows logical patterns, but there's one aspect that often confuses English speakers. The system becomes intuitive once you understand the underlying logic.
German uses a unique system for expressing half-hour times that can be confusing for English speakers. The key difference is with "halb" (half):
- halb drei = half past two (literally "half to three")
- halb vier = half past three (literally "half to four")
This is because Germans think of the half hour as being halfway towards the next hour, rather than halfway past the previous hour. This is a common mistake area for English speakers!
Common time expressions
- zwei Uhr = 2 o'clock
- fünf nach zwei = five past two
- Viertel nach zwei = quarter past two
- halb drei = half past two
- Viertel vor drei = quarter to three
- zehn vor drei = ten to three
Notice the pattern: Germans use "nach" (after) for past the hour and "vor" (before) for to the hour. The 24-hour clock is also commonly used in formal situations.
Making suggestions and arrangements
When arranging to meet up, successful conversations typically involve discussing three key elements: the activity, the timing, and the meeting location. Understanding this structure will help you navigate these conversations more confidently.
Asking questions
- Wann treffen wir uns? = When shall we meet?
- Wo treffen wir uns? = Where shall we meet?
- Um wie viel Uhr? = At what time?
- Hast du Lust...? = Do you fancy...?
Practical Conversation Example:
Person A: "Wollen wir morgen ins Kino gehen?" (Shall we go to the cinema tomorrow?) Person B: "Ja, gerne! Um wie viel Uhr?" (Yes, gladly! At what time?) Person A: "Um halb acht. Treffen wir uns vor dem Kino." (At half past seven. Let's meet in front of the cinema.) Person B: "Perfect! Bis morgen!" (Perfect! See you tomorrow!)
This shows the typical flow: suggestion → time negotiation → location confirmation.
Example sentences with translations
- Wollen wir morgen ins Kino gehen? = Shall we go to the cinema tomorrow?
- Treffen wir uns um halb acht vor dem Café. = Let's meet at half past seven in front of the café.
- Ich besuche dich nächstes Wochenende. = I'll visit you next weekend.
- Sie treffen sich heute Abend am Bahnhof. = They're meeting this evening at the station.
Grammar and pronunciation tips
These grammar points are essential for speaking naturally and avoiding common errors that can make your German sound unnatural.
Key Grammar Points:
- sich treffen is a reflexive verb, so remember to use the reflexive pronouns (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich)
- When stating times, use um before the time: um acht Uhr (at eight o'clock)
- Wollen wir...? is followed by the infinitive at the end of the sentence
Pronunciation Tips:
- The ch sound in nach is pronounced like the ch in the Scottish word "loch"
- Café is pronounced "ka-FEH" with the stress on the second syllable
- halb has a clear "b" sound at the end - don't let it become silent
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these practical translation exercises. Focus on using the correct time expressions and meeting vocabulary.
German to English:
- Wir treffen uns morgen Nachmittag im Café.
- Hast du Lust, nächsten Freitag ins Kino zu gehen?
English to German: 3. Shall we meet at quarter past eight? 4. They are meeting tomorrow morning at the station.
Answers:
- We're meeting tomorrow afternoon in the café.
- Do you fancy going to the cinema next Friday?
- Wollen wir uns um Viertel nach acht treffen?
- Sie treffen sich morgen früh am Bahnhof.
Key Points to Remember:
- halb drei means half past two, not half past three - think "halfway to three"
- Use um before times when saying "at" a specific time
- sich treffen needs reflexive pronouns (wir treffen uns)
- Wollen wir...? is a friendly way to make suggestions
- Location phrases often use different prepositions: vor (in front of), im (in), am (at), auf (on)
- Practice the "halb" time system - it's the most common mistake area for English speakers