Basic needs and preferences | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic needs, wishes, and preferences..

EN → DE / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic needs and preferences to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ich brauche Hilfe.

ikh BROW-khuh HIL-fuh. I need some help.
B

Ich brauche etwas Wasser.

ikh BROW-khuh ET-vahs VAH-suh. I need some water.
A

Ich möchte dieses hier.

ikh MURKH-tuh DEE-zuhs heer. I want this one.
B

Ich möchte das da.

ikh MURKH-tuh dahs dah. I want that one.
A

Ich mag dieses hier.

ikh mahk DEE-zuhs heer. I like this one.
B

Ich mag es nicht.

ikh mahk ess nikht. I do not like it.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” and is the speaker referring to themself in each dialogue sentence. It is used as the subject before forms such as “Ich brauche” and “Ich möchte”. New example: “Ich lerne Deutsch.”
brauche “brauche” means “need” in “Ich brauche Hilfe” and “Ich brauche etwas Wasser”. It is the form used with “Ich” and is followed by the thing needed, as in “Ich brauche ...”. Use it to state a practical need, such as asking for assistance or water.
Hilfe “Hilfe” means “help” in “Ich brauche Hilfe.” Here it refers generally to assistance, without naming a specific task. A useful pattern is “Ich brauche ...” followed by what you need; use “Ich brauche Hilfe” when asking someone for assistance.
etwas “etwas” means “some” or “a little” in “Ich brauche etwas Wasser.” It indicates an unspecified amount of “Wasser”. Use “etwas” before an uncounted thing when requesting or describing a small or unspecified amount.
Wasser “Wasser” means “water” in “Ich brauche etwas Wasser.” In this sentence it is the thing that is needed after “brauche”. Use it in the pattern “Ich brauche etwas Wasser” when asking for an unspecified amount of water.
möchte “möchte” expresses “would like” or a polite “want” in “Ich möchte dieses hier” and “Ich möchte das da.” With “Ich”, it states a choice or wish and is followed by the selected item. Use “Ich möchte ...” when choosing or requesting something politely.
dieses “dieses” means “this” in “dieses hier” and helps identify the item being chosen. Together with “hier”, “dieses hier” points to a specific item near the speaker. Use this expression when selecting something close by.
hier “hier” means “here” in “dieses hier” and reinforces that the selected item is the one indicated near the speaker. It follows “dieses” in this dialogue expression. Use “dieses hier” when pointing out a nearby choice.
das “das” helps identify “the one” in “das da”, the item the speaker wants to choose. Together with “da”, “das da” points to a specific item indicated farther away or elsewhere. Use this expression when selecting an indicated item.
da “da” means “there” in “das da” and reinforces which item is being indicated. It follows “das” in this dialogue expression. Use “das da” when pointing to a particular choice over there.
mag “mag” means “like” in “Ich mag dieses hier” and “Ich mag es nicht.” It is the form used with “Ich” to express a preference, followed by the thing liked or disliked. Use “Ich mag ...” to say that you like a person or thing.
es “es” means “it” in “Ich mag es nicht” and refers to the item being discussed. It is placed after “mag” and before “nicht” in this sentence. Use “Ich mag es” when the thing you like is already clear from the conversation.
nicht “nicht” means “not” and makes “Ich mag es nicht” negative. In this dialogue it comes after “es” to express that the speaker does not like the item. Use it after the object in this pattern to reject or deny the stated preference.

Grammar Points

dieses hier / das da

Dieses hier, das da.

DEE-zuhs heer, dahs dah.

This one here, that one there.

Demonstrative pronouns combine with hier or da to point out a specific thing.

nicht am Satzende

Ich mag es nicht.

ikh mahk ess nikht.

I do not like it.

In this simple sentence, nicht comes after the object es to negate the verb phrase.

German Vocabulary

brauchen verb
BROW-khen to need brauche
da adv
dah there
das pron
dahs that one
dieses pron
DEE-zuhs this one
es pron
ess it
etwas det
ET-vahs some; something
hier adv
heer here
Hilfe noun
HIL-fuh help
ich pron
ikh I Ich
möchten verb
MURKH-ten would like; want möchte
mögen verb
MUR-guhn to like mag
Wasser noun
VAH-suh water

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need some help.

Show AnswerIch brauche Hilfe.

I need some water.

Show AnswerIch brauche etwas Wasser.

I want this one.

Show AnswerIch möchte dieses hier.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

here

Show Answerhier

help

Show AnswerHilfe

to need

Show Answerbrauche

water

Show AnswerWasser