Making Arrangements & Cancelling (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Making Arrangements & Cancelling
Making arrangements and cancelling plans are essential skills for everyday German conversations. Whether you're organising to meet friends or need to change your plans, having the right vocabulary and phrases will help you communicate naturally and politely.
Making arrangements
When you want to arrange to meet someone in German, there are several useful phrases and patterns you can follow. The key is to suggest a time, place, or activity whilst sounding natural and friendly.
Essential vocabulary for arrangements
| German | English |
|---|---|
| treffen | to meet |
| sich sehen | to see each other |
| verabreden | to arrange to meet |
| der Termin | appointment/date |
| die Zeit | time |
| der Ort | place |
| das Café | café |
| der Park | park |
| anrufen | to call |
| Kontakt | contact |
| morgen | tomorrow |
| heute Abend | this evening |
| am Wochenende | at the weekend |
| um acht Uhr | at eight o'clock |
| bleiben | to stay/remain |
Using modal verbs for suggestions
Modal verbs like sollen, können, and wollen are particularly useful when making arrangements. Sollen wir...? (Shall we...?) is a polite way to suggest plans.
Example sentences for making arrangements:
- Sollen wir uns morgen im Park treffen? (Shall we meet in the park tomorrow?)
- Wir können uns um acht Uhr sehen. (We can see each other at eight o'clock.)
- Ich rufe dich heute Abend an. (I'll call you this evening.)
- Lass uns im Café treffen. (Let's meet in the café.)
- Wir bleiben in Kontakt. (We'll stay in touch.)
Cancelling and rescheduling
Sometimes you need to cancel or change your plans. In German culture, it's important to be polite and offer a reason when cancelling, and ideally suggest an alternative.
Essential vocabulary for cancelling
| German | English |
|---|---|
| absagen | to cancel |
| verschieben | to postpone |
| es tut mir leid | I'm sorry |
| leider | unfortunately |
| keine Zeit haben | to have no time |
| nicht können | cannot |
| einen neuen Termin | a new appointment |
| finden | to find |
| das geht nicht | that doesn't work |
| krank sein | to be ill |
| beschäftigt | busy |
| ein Problem haben | to have a problem |
Polite cancellation phrases
When cancelling in German, always start with an apology and give a brief reason. Then offer to reschedule if possible.
Example sentences for cancelling politely:
- Es tut mir leid, ich kann nicht kommen. (I'm sorry, I can't come.)
- Leider habe ich keine Zeit. (Unfortunately, I don't have time.)
- Ich muss absagen. (I have to cancel.)
- Können wir einen neuen Termin finden? (Can we find a new date?)
- Lass uns das verschieben. (Let's postpone it.)
- Lass uns unser Treffen verschieben. (Let's postpone our meeting.)
Example dialogue
Complete conversation: Making and rescheduling arrangements
Anna: Hallo Lisa! Sollen wir uns am Samstag treffen?
(Hello Lisa! Shall we meet on Saturday?)
Lisa: Das ist eine gute Idee! Wo wollen wir uns treffen?
(That's a good idea! Where shall we meet?)
Anna: Lass uns im Café in der Stadt treffen. Um zwei Uhr?
(Let's meet in the café in town. At two o'clock?)
Lisa: Oh, es tut mir leid. Ich kann am Samstag nicht. Ich bin beschäftigt.
(Oh, I'm sorry. I can't on Saturday. I'm busy.)
Anna: Kein Problem! Können wir einen neuen Termin finden?
(No problem! Can we find a new date?)
Lisa: Ja, wie wäre es mit Sonntag?
(Yes, how about Sunday?)
Anna: Perfekt! Wir sehen uns am Sonntag um zwei Uhr.
(Perfect! We'll see each other on Sunday at two o'clock.)
Common mistakes and tips
Modal verb confusion: Students often mix up können (can/to be able to) and müssen (must/to have to). Remember: Ich kann nicht kommen = "I can't come" vs. Ich muss absagen = "I must cancel."
Time expressions: When saying specific times, use um before the time: um acht Uhr (at eight o'clock), not just acht Uhr.
Formal vs informal: In exam situations, pay attention to whether you should use Sie (formal) or du (informal). The choice affects verb endings and pronouns throughout your response.
Pronunciation tip: The word treffen has a sharp double 'f' sound. Practice saying "TREF-fen" with emphasis on the first syllable.
Summary
Key Points to Remember:
- Always use modal verbs (sollen, können) to make polite suggestions for arrangements
- When cancelling, start with Es tut mir leid (I'm sorry) to be polite
- Offer alternatives when you need to cancel: Können wir einen neuen Termin finden?
- Use um before specific times: um acht Uhr, um zwei Uhr
- Practice both formal (Sie) and informal (du) versions depending on the context