Opinions and negotiations
Meinungen und Verhandlungen
- Express your opinion
- Learn basic phrases to discuss viewpoints
This A2 lesson focuses on expressing opinions and negotiating in everyday situations like shopping (Apfelsaft, Bio-Saft), scheduling (Termin, verschieben), and dining (Schnitzel, Beilagen). Core verbs include sollten and dachte to practice polite suggestions and past thoughts.
Vocabulary (13) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Meiner Meinung nach ______ man bei einer Verhandlung immer offen sein.
(In my opinion, one ______ always be open in a negotiation.)2. Wenn ich du wäre, ______ ich das Angebot sorgfältig prüfen.
(If I were you, ______ I carefully check the offer.)3. Wir ______, dass das Gegenargument von der anderen Seite kommen könnte.
(We ______ that the counter-argument could come from the other side.)4. Ich ______ einverstanden, wenn wir einen Kompromiss finden könnten.
(I ______ agree if we could find a compromise.)Exercise 3: Negotiation in the Office: A Discussion Round
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Sollen - Should
Konjunktiv II Präsens
- ich sollte
- du solltest
- er/sie/es sollte
- wir sollten
- ihr solltet
- sie/Sie sollten
Denken - Think
Präteritum
- ich dachte
- du dachtest
- er/sie/es dachte
- wir dachten
- ihr dachtet
- sie/Sie dachten
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Sollen to shall Share Copied!
Konjunktiv II Präsens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) sollte | I should |
| (du) solltest | You should |
| (er/sie/es) sollte | he/she/it should |
| (wir) sollten | we should |
| (ihr) solltet | you should |
| (sie) sollten | they should |
Denken to think Share Copied!
Präteritum
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) dachte | I thought |
| (du) dachtest | You thought |
| (er/sie/es) dachte | he/she/it thought |
| (wir) dachten | we thought |
| (ihr) dachtet | you thought |
| (sie) dachten | they thought |
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Lesson Overview: Opinions and Negotiations in German (A2 Level)
This lesson focuses on expressing opinions and engaging in negotiations in German. It covers practical dialogue scenarios you might encounter in everyday life, such as choosing products in a supermarket, rescheduling appointments at work, and recommending dishes in a restaurant. The content is designed to help learners communicate their viewpoints clearly and find compromises through polite and effective language.
Core Skills and Topics
- Expressing personal opinions: Phrases like Ich finde, dieser Apfelsaft schmeckt besser (I think this apple juice tastes better) showcase how to state preferences.
- Negotiating and reaching agreements: Useful sentences include Vielleicht nehmen wir die teurere Marke, aber nur eine Flasche (Maybe we buy the more expensive brand, but only one bottle) and Das ist eine gute Idee (That is a good idea).
- Polite suggestions and compromises: Examples such as Sollen wir den Termin verschieben? (Should we postpone the appointment?) and Ich wäre einverstanden, wenn wir einen Kompromiss finden könnten (I would agree if we could find a compromise) illustrate cooperative language.
Key Vocabulary and Expressions
- Meinung (opinion), bevorzugen (to prefer), Qualität (quality), Termin (appointment), Kompromiss (compromise)
- Modal verbs in subjunctive form for polite suggestions: sollte, würde, könnte
- Common connectors and discourse markers: aber (but), deshalb (therefore), einverstanden (agree)
Grammar Highlights
The lesson emphasizes use of Konjunktiv II (Subjunctive II) forms of modal and auxiliary verbs—such as sollte, würde, wäre—which are crucial for polite requests, hypothetical situations, and expressing opinions indirectly. For example:
- Meiner Meinung nach sollte man bei einer Verhandlung immer offen sein. (In my opinion, one should always be open during a negotiation.)
- Wenn ich du wäre, würde ich das Angebot sorgfältig prüfen. (If I were you, I would examine the offer carefully.)
Practical Situations and Dialogues
The lesson includes several dialogues with authentic conversational language:
- At the supermarket: Comparing products and deciding which to buy.
- At the office: Discussing rescheduling meetings and finding suitable dates.
- At a restaurant: Recommending dishes and exchanging opinions about taste.
Differences Between English and German in Expressing Opinions and Negotiations
In German, opinions and negotiations frequently use the Konjunktiv II to express politeness or hypothetical scenarios, which contrasts with the more straightforward declarative or conditional forms in English. For example, Ich wäre einverstanden (I would agree) uses a subjunctive mood that English conveys with "would" plus the base verb.
Additionally, German tends to use modal verbs combined with infinitives to soften statements, such as sollte, könnte, würde, whereas English might use modals alone or in simpler constructions.
Useful Phrases for Learners
- Meiner Meinung nach... — In my opinion...
- Ich finde, dass... — I think that...
- Was meinst du dazu? — What do you think about that?
- Vielleicht sollten wir... — Perhaps we should...
- Einverstanden. — Agreed./I agree.
This content is structured to help learners build effective communication skills for real-life negotiations and expressing opinions politely in German, with a special focus on appropriate vocabulary, modal verb usage, and natural conversational flow.
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