German A1.7 Listening Practice: Ask For Missing Information
German A1 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for ask for missing information.
Podcast listening is in beta while creation and discussion tools are refined. This published chapter includes its complete segmented audio and transcript.
Level
A1.7
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
19 segments
What to notice while you listen
What you'll understand
Ask simple questions about place, people, and an unidentified thing using familiar sein clauses.
Use wo to ask for a place and wer or was to ask which person or thing is present in three bounded sein questions.
New pattern
bounded W-question frames with wo, wer, and was in familiar sein clauses
Practice aloud after listening
Wo bist du? Wer ist hier? Was ist hier?
Where are you? Who is here? What is here?
A short German listening chapter with transcript.
Ask for one missing detail by starting with a question word and reusing the sein forms you already control.
Read while you listen.
1. Hanna · Teacher
Welcome! Today we are learning how to ask for missing information using wo, wer, and was with the verb sein. Let's listen to a short conversation between Felix and Clara.
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2. Lukas · Student
I am ready, Hanna!
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3. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Wo bist du?
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4. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Ich bin hier!
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5. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Wer ist hier?
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6. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Was ist hier?
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7. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Ein Telefon ist hier!
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8. Hanna · Teacher
Let's look at the first sentence. Felix asked: Wo bist du?
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9. Hanna · Teacher
This means 'Where are you?'. Use 'wo' to ask about a place or location.
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10. Lukas · Student
Does 'wo' always ask for a place?
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11. Hanna · Teacher
Yes, 'wo' always means 'where'.
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12. Hanna · Teacher
Next, Felix asked: Wer ist hier?
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13. Hanna · Teacher
This means 'Who is here?'. Use 'wer' to ask about a person.
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14. Lukas · Student
Why do we use 'ist' with 'wer'?
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15. Hanna · Teacher
'Wer' takes the third-person singular verb form, so we use 'ist'.
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16. Hanna · Teacher
Then Clara asked: Was ist hier?
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17. Hanna · Teacher
This means 'What is here?'. Use 'was' to ask about an unknown object or thing.
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18. Lukas · Student
So 'wo' is for places, 'wer' for people, and 'was' for things?
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19. Hanna · Teacher
Exactly right, Lukas! You have the pattern.
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