Facilitating, Encouraging or Impeding Actions (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Permission, Suggestions, Advice, Demands, Orders
When learning German, you'll need various ways to make polite requests, give advice, and express different levels of authority. This vocabulary helps you navigate social situations appropriately, from asking permission politely to giving direct commands when necessary.
Mastering these different levels of communication is essential for social integration in German-speaking countries. Understanding when to use formal versus informal language shows cultural awareness and respect.
Asking for and granting permission
Learning to ask for permission politely is essential in German. The language offers several ways to make these requests, ranging from very formal to casual approaches. The most important phrase to master is darf ich...? which is the standard polite way to ask permission.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| darf ich...? | may I...? |
| ist es erlaubt? | is it allowed? |
| können Sie mir erlauben? | can you allow me? |
| wäre es möglich? | would it be possible? |
| natürlich | of course |
| kein Problem | no problem |
| gerne | gladly |
| verboten | forbidden |
| nicht gestattet | not permitted |
| leider nicht | unfortunately not |
Example sentences:
- Darf ich das Fenster öffnen? (May I open the window?)
- Ist es erlaubt, hier zu rauchen? (Is smoking allowed here?)
- Natürlich können Sie das machen! (Of course you can do that!)
- Das ist hier verboten. (That's forbidden here.)
Making suggestions and proposals
German offers various ways to make suggestions, from tentative proposals to more confident recommendations. These structures help you sound polite and collaborative. The phrase wir könnten... is particularly useful as it includes the listener in the suggestion, making it less direct and more diplomatic.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| wir könnten... | we could... |
| wie wäre es mit...? | how about...? |
| was hältst du von...? | what do you think of...? |
| vielleicht | perhaps |
| möglicherweise | possibly |
| ich schlage vor... | I suggest... |
| lass uns... | let's... |
| warum nicht...? | why not...? |
| sollen wir...? | shall we...? |
Example sentences:
- Wir könnten heute Abend ins Theatre gehen. (We could go to the theatre this evening.)
- Wie wäre es mit einer Tasse Kaffee? (How about a cup of coffee?)
- Ich schlage vor, dass wir uns um sieben treffen. (I suggest that we meet at seven.)
- Lass uns den Film zu Ende schauen! (Let's finish watching the film!)
Giving advice and recommendations
When offering advice in German, you can choose from gentle suggestions to stronger recommendations. The tone varies depending on your relationship with the person and the situation. The construction du solltest... strikes the perfect balance between being helpful and not overly pushy.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| du solltest... | you should... |
| Sie sollten... | you should... (formal) |
| es wäre besser... | it would be better... |
| am besten | ideally/best |
| ich würde empfehlen... | I would recommend... |
| probier mal... | try... |
| es lohnt sich... | it's worth it... |
| mein Rat ist... | my advice is... |
| an deiner Stelle würde ich... | in your position I would... |
Example sentences:
- Du solltest früher ins Bett gehen. (You should go to bed earlier.)
- Es wäre besser, mit dem Zug zu fahren. (It would be better to travel by train.)
- Am besten rufst du vorher an. (Ideally, you should call beforehand.)
- Probier mal dieses Restaurant aus! (Try this restaurant!)
Making demands and strong requests
Sometimes you need to express urgency or necessity. German provides several ways to make strong requests while maintaining appropriate social boundaries. The phrase es ist notwendig... allows you to express urgency while remaining professional and polite.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| ich möchte, dass... | I want (that)... |
| es ist notwendig... | it's necessary... |
| du musst... | you must... |
| Sie müssen... | you must... (formal) |
| unbedingt | absolutely |
| sofort | immediately |
| es ist wichtig... | it's important... |
| ich bestehe darauf... | I insist... |
| ohne Ausnahme | without exception |
Example sentences:
- Ich möchte, dass du pünktlich kommst. (I want you to come on time.)
- Du musst das heute erledigen. (You must finish that today.)
- Es ist notwendig, einen Termin zu vereinbaren. (It's necessary to make an appointment.)
- Das muss sofort gemacht werden! (That must be done immediately!)
Giving orders and commands
Direct commands in German use the imperative form. The tone can range from friendly instructions to firm orders, depending on the situation and your relationship with the person. Commands in German are formed by dropping the pronoun and adjusting the verb ending, making them more direct than English equivalents.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| mach das! | do that! |
| hör auf! | stop! |
| komm her! | come here! |
| geh weg! | go away! |
| sei ruhig! | be quiet! |
| bleib hier! | stay here! |
| pass auf! | watch out! |
| warte mal! | wait a moment! |
| hilf mir! | help me! |
Example sentences:
- Mach die Tür zu! (Close the door!)
- Hör auf zu reden! (Stop talking!)
- Komm sofort hierher! (Come here immediately!)
- Sei bitte leise! (Please be quiet!)
Contextual Dialogue: At school
A: Darf ich zur Toilette gehen? (May I go to the toilet?) B: Natürlich, aber beeile dich. (Of course, but hurry up.) A: Wie wäre es, wenn wir nach der Schule zusammen lernen? (How about if we study together after school?) B: Gute Idee! Ich schlage vor, wir treffen uns in der Bibliothek. (Good idea! I suggest we meet in the library.)
Common mistakes and tips
Mistake 1: Using können instead of dürfen for permission
- Wrong: Kann ich hier parken?
- Correct: Darf ich hier parken? (May I park here?)
The difference is crucial: können refers to ability, while dürfen refers to permission.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the imperative endings
- Wrong: Du kommst her!
- Correct: Komm her! (Come here!)
Remember that imperatives drop the pronoun and often change the verb ending.
Mistake 3: Using informal forms with strangers
- Wrong: Du solltest das machen (to a stranger)
- Correct: Sie sollten das machen (You should do that)
Always use Sie forms with strangers and authority figures to maintain proper respect.
Pronunciation tip: The word dürfen has an umlaut ü sound - practice this as it's crucial for asking permission correctly. The ü sound is made by saying "ee" while rounding your lips as if saying "oo".
Key Points to Remember:
- Use darf ich...? for polite permission requests
- Wir könnten... is perfect for making gentle suggestions
- Du solltest... gives advice without being too forceful
- Commands use the imperative form (mach!, komm!, hör auf!)
- Always consider the formality level - use Sie forms with strangers and authority figures
- Practice distinguishing between suggestions (könnten), advice (solltest), and demands (musst)