German · Real conversations
Expressing preferences: German conversation practice
Explain what you would enjoy and make a joint choice. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A2 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A friend deciding what to do or eat together.
Goal: Explain what you would enjoy and make a joint choice.
Read the conversation
Partner
Möchtest du woanders hingehen?
Show English translation
Would you like to go somewhere else?
You
Ich würde lieber hierbleiben.
Show English translation
I'd rather stay here.
Partner
Dann bleiben wir. Was möchtest du trinken?
Show English translation
Let's stay, then. What would you like to drink?
You
Ich habe Lust auf Kaffee.
Show English translation
I'm in the mood for coffee.
Partner
Es gibt einen starken und einen milderen Kaffee.
Show English translation
They have a strong coffee and a milder one.
You
Mir ist beides recht.
Show English translation
Either is fine with me.
Partner
Gut. Auf der Karte steht auch ein scharfer Snack.
Show English translation
Fine. There's also a spicy snack on the menu.
You
Ich mag scharfes Essen nicht besonders.
Show English translation
I'm not very keen on spicy food.
Partner
Wir können etwas Mildes wählen. Ich komme gern hierher.
Show English translation
We can choose something mild. I like coming here.
You
Was gefällt dir an diesem Ort?
Show English translation
What do you like about this place?
Try your part first
Partner says: Would you like to go somewhere else? Your goal: I'd rather stay here.
Reveal a sample reply
Ich würde lieber hierbleiben.
I'd rather stay here.
Partner says: Let's stay, then. What would you like to drink? Your goal: I'm in the mood for coffee.
Reveal a sample reply
Ich habe Lust auf Kaffee.
I'm in the mood for coffee.
Partner says: They have a strong coffee and a milder one. Your goal: Either is fine with me.
Reveal a sample reply
Mir ist beides recht.
Either is fine with me.
Partner says: Fine. There's also a spicy snack on the menu. Your goal: I'm not very keen on spicy food.
Reveal a sample reply
Ich mag scharfes Essen nicht besonders.
I'm not very keen on spicy food.
Partner says: We can choose something mild. I like coming here. Your goal: What do you like about this place?
Reveal a sample reply
Was gefällt dir an diesem Ort?
What do you like about this place?
Make it your own
- Choose between two different meals.
- Explain a preference without rejecting the person.
- Let your partner make the final choice.
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.
