German A2.13 Listening Practice: Go To And Come From A Service
German A2 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for go to and come from a service.
Podcast listening is in beta while creation and discussion tools are refined. This published chapter includes its complete segmented audio and transcript.
Level
A2.13
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
21 segments
What to notice while you listen
What you'll understand
Say that someone goes to or comes from a person or service.
Use zu plus dative for movement to a selected service and von plus dative for origin from it.
New pattern
zu plus dative for a person or service destination and von plus dative for origin
Practice aloud after listening
Gehst du zum Arzt? Ja, ich gehe zum Arzt. Kommst du vom Arzt? Ja, ich komme vom Arzt.
Are you going to the doctor? Yes, I am going to the doctor. Are you coming from the doctor? Yes, I am coming from the doctor.
A short German listening chapter with transcript.
Build a practical there-and-back pair with a person or service destination.
Read while you listen.
1. Hanna · Teacher
Welcome back! I'm Hanna. Today, we are learning how to talk about going to and coming from a service or professional, like a doctor. In German, we use 'zu' for moving towards a service and 'von' for coming from it. Both prepositions take the dative case! Let's listen to a short conversation between Felix and Clara.
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2. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Hallo Clara! Woher kommst du gerade?
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3. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Ich komme vom Arzt, weil mein Hals wehtut.
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4. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Oh je! Gehst du morgen wieder zum Arzt?
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5. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Nein, ich gehe morgen nicht mehr zum Arzt.
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6. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Gut, ich gehe jetzt zum Arzt, bis später!
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7. Hanna · Teacher
Let's break down what Felix and Clara said. First, Felix asked: 'Hallo Clara! Woher kommst du gerade?' This means 'Hello Clara! Where are you coming from right now?'
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8. Lukas · Student
Is 'woher' always used when asking where someone is coming from?
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9. Hanna · Teacher
Yes! While 'wo' means 'where', 'woher' specifically means 'where from'.
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10. Hanna · Teacher
Next, Clara said: 'Ich komme vom Arzt, weil mein Hals wehtut.' Meaning 'I am coming from the doctor because my throat hurts.' Notice 'vom Arzt'. 'Vom' is a contraction of 'von dem'.
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11. Lukas · Student
Does 'von' always trigger the dative case, turning 'der Arzt' into 'dem Arzt'?
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12. Hanna · Teacher
Exactly. 'Von' always takes the dative. The singular noun is 'der Arzt', and plural is 'die Ärzte'. So 'von dem' combines into 'vom'.
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13. Hanna · Teacher
Then Felix replied: 'Oh je! Gehst du morgen wieder zum Arzt?' Meaning 'Oh dear! Are you going to the doctor again tomorrow?'
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14. Lukas · Student
So 'zum' is short for 'zu dem'?
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15. Hanna · Teacher
That's right. 'Zu' also takes the dative case. 'Zu dem Arzt' combines into 'zum Arzt'.
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16. Hanna · Teacher
Clara answered: 'Nein, ich gehe morgen nicht mehr zum Arzt.' That means 'No, I am not going to the doctor anymore tomorrow.'
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17. Lukas · Student
Why do we use 'zu' instead of 'in' when going to the doctor?
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18. Hanna · Teacher
When you go to a person or professional service, German uses 'zu', whereas 'in' is used for going inside a building.
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19. Hanna · Teacher
Finally, Felix said: 'Gut, ich gehe jetzt zum Arzt, bis später!' - 'Good, I am going to the doctor now, see you later!'
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20. Lukas · Student
So to summarize: 'Ich komme vom Arzt' for origin, and 'Ich gehe zum Arzt' for destination?
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21. Hanna · Teacher
Spot on, Lukas! 'Vom' for coming from a service, and 'zum' for going to one. Fantastic work today everyone!
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