Subordinate clauses with relative pronouns wie, was, wo, wohin etc.

Lesson 11: Mail – phone – bank. Activity 2

From this activity you will know how to:

• ask for somebody’s phone number
• ask to speak with someone on the phone
• tell somebody something on the phone
• say that it is a wrong number

Learn the words and expressions for the dialogue

Pay attention to the form and the usage of the words

1. The verb sprechen has double government:

   a) it is used as an intransitive verb in the meaning «to speak», «to talk»:

    

   Sie spricht sehr schnell.

   She speaks very fast.

   b) it is used as a transitive verb in the meaning «поговорить с кем-л.», «принять кого-л.» (для беседы):

    

   Kann ich den Direktor sprechen?

   Can I speak to the director? (he can receive me)

2. When saying goodbye on the phone, use the expression Auf Wiederhören!, not the usual Auf Wiedersehen!

3. If a subscriber dialed a wrong number, reply: (Sie sind) falsch verbunden!

4. Telephone numbers are pronounced by groups with pauses, namely:

    

   9 57
   28 05
   6 47 00
   16 07 24
   2 40 38 54

   Neun FünfSieben
   ZweiAcht NullFünf
   Sechs VierSieben NullNull
   EinsSechs NullSieben ZweiVier
   Zwei VierNull DreiAcht FünfVier

Remember the following way of word-formation (1)

das Telefon + das Gespräch = das Telefongespräch
das Telefon + die Zelle = die Telefonzelle telephone box

Practise in reading the words

Das Telefongespräch

Grammar points

1. Subordinate clauses with the relative pronouns wie, was, wo, wohin and others express an indirect question and are often used after the verbs fragen, wissen and some others. Unlike other conjunctions that are used to connect main and subordinate clauses, these relative pronouns are also parts of subordinate clauses:

   Ich weiß nicht, wer das ist.

   I don’t know who that is.

   Er hat mich gefragt, was Uwe geschrieben hat.

   He asked me what I wrote to Uwe.

   Wissen Sie, wie es ihm geht?

   Do you know how he is doing?

   Wir wissen nicht, wann er kommt.

   We don’t know when he will come.

   Ich weiß, wie er heißt.

   I know what his name is.

2. An indirect question without a question word is introduced with the conjunction ob which goes at the beginning of a subordinate clause:

   Er hat mich gefragt, ob ich ihn abholen kann.
   He asked me if I can pick him up.

3. Note the difference in usage of the conjunction dass and the relative pronoun was:

   Er sagt, dass er morgen abreist.

   He says that he is leaving tomorrow.

   Ich weiß nicht, was er gesagt hat.

   I don’t know what he said.

   As you can see, the conjunction dass performs only the copulative function, while the relative pronoun was is a part of a subordinate clause and used in an indirect question.

Subordinate object clauses

1. You want to speak with somebody on the phone. Ask a question. How would you answer if you were the interlocutor?

2. You wanted to talk to Mr. Klein, but he is not there. You are asked what to tell him. Answer the question.

3. You want to know some details about a person. Ask a question. How would you answer if you were the interlocutor?

4. You want to speak with a particular person on the phone. What would you hear if you dialed a wrong number?

5. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words from the dialogue.

1. Ich brauche eine Nummer in Dresden. — Wie heißt der ? 2. Ich sehe nach, er im Hause ist. 3. Er ist nicht da. Kann ich etwas ? 4. Nein, danke! ! 5. Verzeihung! Falsch .

6. Reconstruct the dialogue by filling in the gaps with the appropriate words.

7. Try to reproduce the dialogue “Das Telefongespräch” by memory.

Check yourself!

What expressions will you use if you want to:

ask for somebody’s phone number
ask to speak with someone on the phone
tell somebody something on the phone
say that it is a wrong number