Lesson 14-1 - Lektion 14-1
The verb haben or sein + zu + infinitive
Lesson 14: Urban transport. At the doctor’s. Activity 1
From this activity you will know how to:
- find out how to get to somewhere
- ask where the bus stop is
- find out if you need to change the transport
- ask if you should get off
Learn the words and expressions for the dialogue
way, road, path
How do I find the road?
stadium
Are you also going to the stadium?
bus
Let’s better go by bus!
line, route
Where does the bus line 13 stop?
tram, streetcar
I like to go by tram.
to change (buses/trains etc)
Change (the transport) at the theatre.
stop; bus stop; station
Where is the bus stop?
always
I always go by bus.
straight on or ahead
Always go straight on!
town/city hall
Where is the city hall situated?
to get off; to get out, to disembark
Are you getting off now?
to get in/on, to embark
There you get on the bus.
end
The post office is located at the end of the street.
station, stop
This is the fourth stop.
university
Do you study at the university?
library
I’m going to the library.
Pay attention to the form and the usage of the words
Two German nouns die Haltestelle and die Station correspond to the English word «stop». If we talk about a bus stop or a tram stop, we use the word Haltestelle. If we talk about an underground station or a railway station and also about how many stops you need to go through by these transports, then we use the word Station:
An der dritten Haltestelle müssen Sie aussteigen.
You need to get off (the bus) on the third stop.
Auf der dritten Station müssen Sie aussteigen.
You need to get off on the third stop/station (in the underground).
Wo ist die nächste U-Bahnstation?
Where is the nearest underground station?To the English expression «How do I get to...?» there is a German expression Wie komme ich...? At the same time, if we talk about the names of the institutions, buildings, streets, squares, then we use the preposition zu. If we talk about the names of the cities, urban areas or coutries, we use the preposition nach:
Wie komme ich zur Bibliothek?
How do I get to the library?
Wie komme ich nach Nürnberg?
How do I get to Nuremberg?
Remember the following way of word-formation (1)
das End(e) + die Station = die Endstation terminal, last stop
halte(n) + die Stelle = die Haltestelle stop
Practise in reading the words
Wir fragen nach dem Weg
Grammar points
You already know that the infinitive with the particle zu can be used after nouns, adjectives and also after other verbs . One of these verbs is the verb haben. The structure haben + zu + infinitive will be logically translated as “have to” (or must), however, it has a stronger meaning:
Ich habe noch ein Telegramm zu schicken.
I still have to send a telegram.The word order in this structure is the following: the verb haben goes on the second place (in interrogative sentences without a question word — on the first place), while the infinitive — at the end of the sentence. Separable verbs have the particle zu between the prefix and the root of a verb:
Sie haben am Theaterplatz einzusteigen.
You have to get on (the bus) at the Theatre square.The expression used in the dialogue nichts zu danken! «you’re welcome, not at all, don’t mention it» is the short form of the described above structure: Sie haben nichts zu danken! «You don’t have to thank me».
The same structure can be formed with the help of the auxiliary verb sein + zu + infinitive. In this case, the whole sentence become passive:
Das Telegramm ist noch heute zu schicken.
The telegram still has to be sent today.
Nichts zu machen.
There’s nothing to be done.
Haben or sein + zu + infinitive
Sie haben das Formular auszufüllen. = You have to fill in the form.
Sie müssen das Formular ausfüllen.
Ich habe das Paket abzuholen. = I have to collect the parcel.
Ich muss das Paket abholen.
Die Rechnung ist zu bezahlen. = The bill must be paid.
Die Rechnung muss bezahlt werden.
Die Uhr ist nicht zu reparieren. = The watch cannot be repaired.
Die Uhr kann nicht repariert werden.
1. You do not know if the bus goes at a certain destination. Ask a question. What answer would you give if you were the interlocutor?
B. Nein, da müssen Sie mit Linie 8 fahren.
Continue:
das Theater, das Hotel, die Bibliothek, das Rathaus, das Filmtheater, die Universität, das Postamt, das Warenhaus.
2. You need to get to a certain institute. Ask a question. What answer would you give if you were the interlocutor?
B. Gehen Sie geradeaus und dann nach rechts.
Continue:
die Schule, die Lessingstraße, das Haus der Mode, das Kino, das Filmtheater, der Parkplatz, die Gaststätte, das Rathaus.
3. You do not know where the bus stop is. Ask a question. What answer would you give if you were the interlocutor?
B. Sie ist am Rathaus. Dort ist die Endstation.
Continue:
das Stadion, das Museum, die Post, die Kaufhalle, die Universität, das Hotel, das Theater, die Bibliothek, die Sporthalle.
4. You do not know where you should get off (the bus). Ask the passengers. What answer would you give if you were them?
B. Sie haben an der Universität auszusteigen.
Continue:
das Kaufhaus, der Schillerplatz, die Bank, die Ausstellung, das Filmtheater, die Schwimmhalle, das Rathaus, das Museum.
5. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words from the dialogue.
1. Am Stadion ist . 2. Wie ich zum Stadion? 3. Fahren Sie dem Bus Nr. 23. 4. Muss ich ? 5. Vielen Dank! — Nichts ! 6. Wo ist die ? 7. Gehen Sie immer und dann nach links.
6. Reconstruct the dialogue by filling in the gaps with the appropriate words.
.
Die Busse halten gegenüber dem Rathaus.
7. Try to reproduce the dialogue “Wir fragen nach dem Weg” by memory.
Check yourself!
What expressions will you use if you want to:
find out how to get to somewhere
ask where the bus stop is
find out if you need to change the transport
ask if you should get off
