Learn how to ask "What are you doing?"
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| Eric: Welcome to 3-Minute German Season 1, Lesson 12 - What are you doing? In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask what someone is doing in German. |
| Body |
| Eric: Here's the informal way to ask 'What are you doing?' in German. |
| Albert: [Normal] Was machst du? |
| Eric: First is a word meaning 'what' |
| Albert: [Normal] was [Slow] was |
| Eric: Next is the word meaning 'to do' |
| Albert: [Normal] machst [Slow] machst |
| Eric: Last is the word meaning 'you’ (informal) |
| Albert: [Normal] du [Slow] du |
| Eric: Note the rising intonation. Listen again to the informal question meaning 'What are you doing?' |
| Albert: [Slow] Was machst du? [Normal] Was machst du? |
| Eric: Now, imagine you're speaking to a stranger. Here's the formal way to ask, 'What are you doing?' |
| Albert: [Normal] Was machen Sie? |
| Eric: First is a word meaning 'what' |
| Albert: [Normal] was [Slow] was |
| Eric: Next is the word meaning 'to do' |
| Albert: [Normal] machen [Slow] machen |
| Eric: Last is the word meaning 'you’ (formal) |
| Albert: [Normal] Sie [Slow] Sie |
| Eric: Note again the rising intonation. Listen again to the formal question meaning 'What are you doing?' |
| Albert: [Slow] Was machen Sie? [Normal] Was machen Sie? |
| Eric: Here's a response meaning 'I'm doing homework' |
| Albert: [Normal] Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben |
| Eric: First is a word meaning 'I' |
| Albert: [Normal] Ich [Slow] Ich |
| Eric: Next is the word meaning 'to do' |
| Albert: [Normal] mache [Slow] mache |
| Eric: Next is the word meaning 'my' |
| Albert: [Normal] meine [Slow] meine |
| Eric: Last is the word meaning 'homework' |
| Albert: [Normal] Hausaufgaben [Slow] Hausaufgaben |
| Eric: Listen again to the response, 'I'm doing homework' |
| Albert: [Slow] Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben [Normal] Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben |
| Eric: Here's a response meaning, 'I'm cooking now.' |
| Albert: [Normal] Ich koche gerade! |
| Eric: First is a word meaning 'I' |
| Albert: [Normal] Ich [Slow] Ich |
| Eric: Next is the word meaning 'to cook' |
| Albert: [Normal] koche [Slow] koche |
| Eric: Last is the word meaning 'straight,’ ‘just,’ ‘just now,’ or ‘right now' |
| Albert: [Normal] gerade [Slow] gerade |
| Eric: Listen again to the response meaning 'I'm cooking now.' |
| Albert: [Slow] Ich koche gerade! [Normal] Ich koche gerade! |
| Cultural Insight |
| Eric: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight. |
| Albert: In some situations, the question Was machst du? can also mean more generally "What do you do?" or "What is your job?" |
| This is a really common question you can ask, or that you might be asked the first time you meet someone. |
Outro |
|---|
| Eric: And that’s all for this lesson. Don’t forget to check out the lesson notes, and we’ll see you in the next lesson! |
Comments
HideWhat are you doing while listening to this lesson?
Hi Anna,
Thank you for posting.
That's a good question and we are currently working on
a way to be able to do that, but for the moment you have
to re-visit the lesson to check. 😉
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards,
Reinhard
Team GermanPod101.com
Ich denke gerade. ( do I get a notification when you respond to my comment? Vo bitte?
Hi Ellen,
Thank you for your feedback!
😄
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Kind regards,
Reinhard
Team GermanPod101.com
Ich Lerne deutsch Gerard!
Hi Тарык,
Multi-tasking. Very good!😉
Thank you for posting.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Kind regards,
Reinhard
Team GermanPod101.com
Ich höre Musik an!)
Hallo Charlie,
Thank you for leaving the comment.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Cristiane
Team GermanPod101.com
I am reading the transcription while listening. This helps me to fully comprehend the spoken German.
Hallo Joe,
Thank you for joining us!
Wish you all the best with your German learning, and let us know if you have any questions. We'll be happy to help you out :)
Sincerely,
Cristiane
Team GermanPod101.com
Hi, Team. !
I wanted to start at the Beginner Level to refresh my memory, and to refamiliarize myself with the sounds and rhythm of German again. ( I studied a little German many years ago. )
When I get a little more practice ----- a bit more confidence in using the language again----- and more time from my present, crazy schedule ----- I want to benefit more from your teaching skills. !
♥ 👌 😎
Hi, again. !
I also, of course, am taking the quiz, looking at the vocabulary, taking in the lesson notes and cultural info ( also helpful), studying the transcript, and now am glad to comment and interact. !
♥ 👌 😎
I am reviewing German. ( I studied a little some years ago) , and I appreciate your thorough system !
Also, it is so good to have an opportunity to hear the language , and to replay the audio !
Thank you, Team. !
♥ 👌 😎
Hello Legolover,
Thank you for your comment ?.
Let me correct the sentence: "ich mache miene math Hausefugaben" should be "Ich mache meine Mathehausaufgaben."
Just let me know if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Anne
Team GermanPod101.com
ich mache miene math Hausefugaben
Vielen Dank, Jennifer.
Ich mache hausaufgaben gerade!
Danke!
Hi Gloria,
Thanks for the comment. Hier sind meine Korrekturen zu deinem Satz:
"Sie fragen, was ich beim Anschauen der Lektion tue? Ich schreibe die deutschen Vokabeln und Sätze auf."
Keep up the good work!:thumbsup:
Cheers,
Jennifer
Team Germanpod101.com
Was mache ich während ich auf die Lektion höre? Ich schreibe die deutsche Vokabeln und die Sätze.
(What am I doing while listening to the lesson? I am writing the German vocabulary words and the sentences.)
Hi David,
You´d rather say: "Ich sehe fern."
Jennifer
Team Germanpod101.com
Ich fernsehe.