German B1.2 Listening Practice: Ask For Information Indirectly
Listen to a B1 German dialogue about ask for information indirectly, with audio, transcript, and grammar notes for language learning.
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Level
B1.2
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
23 segments
A short German listening chapter with transcript.
Keep the familiar W-word, remove direct-question order, and close the embedded information clause with its finite verb.
Read while you listen.
1. Hanna · Teacher
Welcome back! Today we are learning how to frame indirect questions in German using the phrase 'Ich weiß nicht'.
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2. Lukas · Student
So instead of asking 'Wo ist der Kurs?', how do we turn that into an indirect statement?
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3. Hanna · Teacher
We start with 'Ich weiß nicht' followed by the question word, and then send the finite verb to the very end. Let's listen to Felix and Clara.
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4. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Entschuldige, Clara, ich suche das Klassenzimmer, aber ich weiß nicht, wo der Kurs ist.
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5. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Ich weiß leider auch nicht, wo die Kurse heute stattfinden.
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6. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Schau mal auf diesen Zettel an der Wand, aber ich weiß nicht, was das ist.
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7. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Das ist der Stundenplan für alle Kurse im zweiten Stock.
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8. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Ah, perfekt, dann gehen wir direkt nach oben!
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9. Hanna · Teacher
In the first sentence, Felix says: 'Entschuldige, Clara, ich suche das Klassenzimmer, aber ich weiß nicht, wo der Kurs ist.' He uses 'ich weiß nicht, wo...' which moves the verb 'ist' to the end.
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10. Lukas · Student
Why does 'ist' go to the end here instead of right after 'wo' like in 'Wo ist der Kurs?'
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11. Hanna · Teacher
Because 'ich weiß nicht' introduces a subordinate clause, which forces the conjugated verb to the final position.
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12. Hanna · Teacher
In sentence two, Clara replies: 'Ich weiß leider auch nicht, wo die Kurse heute stattfinden.' Here we see the plural noun 'die Kurse' and the verb 'stattfinden'.
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13. Lukas · Student
Does the separable verb 'stattfinden' stay together at the end in this structure?
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14. Hanna · Teacher
Yes, in subordinate clauses, separable verbs do not split; the conjugated verb stays attached at the end.
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15. Hanna · Teacher
In the third sentence, Felix says: 'Schau mal auf diesen Zettel an der Wand, aber ich weiß nicht, was das ist.' He uses the question word 'was'.
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16. Lukas · Student
So does 'was' follow the exact same word order rule as 'wo'?
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17. Hanna · Teacher
Exactly. Any question word like 'was', 'wo', or 'wie' triggers verb-final order after 'ich weiß nicht'.
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18. Hanna · Teacher
In sentence four, Clara says: 'Das ist der Stundenplan für alle Kurse im zweiten Stock.' She explains that it is the timetable for all courses on the second floor.
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19. Lukas · Student
What does 'Stundenplan' mean literally?
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20. Hanna · Teacher
It literally translates to 'hour plan', meaning a class schedule or timetable.
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21. Hanna · Teacher
Finally, Felix says: 'Ah, perfekt, dann gehen wir direkt nach oben!' He suggests going straight upstairs.
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22. Lukas · Student
Is 'nach oben' the standard phrase for heading upstairs?
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23. Hanna · Teacher
Yes, 'nach oben' expresses movement towards an upper level or floor.
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