German · Real conversations
Markets and groceries: German conversation practice
Buy a quantity and ask about a product. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A1 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A shopper at a produce stall.
Goal: Buy a quantity and ask about a product.
Read the conversation
Partner
Guten Morgen. Was möchten Sie?
Show English translation
Good morning. What would you like?
You
Ein halbes Kilo Tomaten, bitte.
Show English translation
Half a kilo of tomatoes, please.
Partner
Bitte schön. Diese Melone ist heute sehr gefragt.
Show English translation
Here you are. This melon is popular today.
You
Ist das reif?
Show English translation
Is this ripe?
Partner
Ja, sie ist reif zum Essen. Wir haben auch frisches Brot.
Show English translation
Yes, it's ready to eat. We also have fresh bread.
You
Wann wurde das gemacht?
Show English translation
When was this made?
Partner
Das Brot wurde heute Morgen gebacken. Suchen Sie auch Gemüse?
Show English translation
The bread was made this morning. Are you looking for vegetables too?
You
Haben Sie etwas aus regionalem Anbau?
Show English translation
Do you have anything locally grown?
Partner
Ja, diese Karotten kommen von einem Hof in der Nähe. Soll ich alles einpacken?
Show English translation
Yes, these carrots are from a nearby farm. Shall I bag everything?
You
Könnten Sie das in getrennte Tüten packen?
Show English translation
Could you put these in separate bags?
Try your part first
Partner says: Good morning. What would you like? Your goal: Half a kilo of tomatoes, please.
Reveal a sample reply
Ein halbes Kilo Tomaten, bitte.
Half a kilo of tomatoes, please.
Partner says: Here you are. This melon is popular today. Your goal: Is this ripe?
Reveal a sample reply
Ist das reif?
Is this ripe?
Partner says: Yes, it's ready to eat. We also have fresh bread. Your goal: When was this made?
Reveal a sample reply
Wann wurde das gemacht?
When was this made?
Partner says: The bread was made this morning. Are you looking for vegetables too? Your goal: Do you have anything locally grown?
Reveal a sample reply
Haben Sie etwas aus regionalem Anbau?
Do you have anything locally grown?
Partner says: Yes, these carrots are from a nearby farm. Shall I bag everything? Your goal: Could you put these in separate bags?
Reveal a sample reply
Könnten Sie das in getrennte Tüten packen?
Could you put these in separate bags?
Make it your own
- Choose another fruit.
- Change the quantity.
- Bring your own bag.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking German
Use Sie for formal address and du with people you address informally. Könnten Sie …? is a useful polite request. Keep noun capitals and the verb position shown in each complete sentence.
The examples preserve German accents and ß. Read a full sentence before replacing a detail: a subordinate clause can move the verb to the end, and case can change an article or pronoun.
