Lesson 16-1 - Lektion 16-1
Purpose clauses in German
Lesson 16: At the conference. Activity 1
From this activity you will know how to:
- find out where the registration is
- ask when the session opens
- find out when the section meetings take place
- ask where you can find the section manager
Learn the words and expressions for the dialogue
session, sitting
The session takes place tomorrow.
to represent
Which company do you represent?
economy; household
We represent the economy.
institute
He studies at an institute.
to register, to book (in), to announce one’s arrival
You need to register.
information
Where do I get this information?
office, bureau
Where’s the office of the company?
to open
When will the exhibition be open?
section
I am interested in section 2.
sitting, meeting
The sitting is open.
to sit; to meet
When is the section 4 meeting?
head, manager, leader, director
Can I speak with the manager?
break, pause
Let’s take a break!
science
He’s a man of science.
why
I do not know why it is so.
to end; to finish, to complete; to close
The session is closed.
Pay attention to the form and the usage of the words
The verb (sich) anmelden «to book in», «to register» can be used as a noun die Anmeldung «registration», and sometimes «Pass Office, reception» (when entering an institution, factory etc.). The expression Ich bin angemeldet is translated as «I am registered», «I have an appointment»:
Hat Dr. Hirsch Sprechstunde? — Fragen Sie bei der Anmeldung.
Is Dr. Hirsch available? — Ask at the reception.
Sind Sie angemeldet? Do you have an appointment?The nouns die Tagung and die Sitzung are translated as «sitting (session; meeting)» and often used in the same context. The word die Tagung means «sitting», «session» that lasts several days, while the word die Sitzung«sitting», «meeting» means one-time work of a certain institution:
die Tagung der UNO
the session of the UN
die Sitzung des Vorstandes
the meeting of the Board of Directors
Unlike the verb öffnen «to open» (door, book, window etc.), the verb eröffnen means «to open» (meeting, exhibition etc., and also something for the first time: museum, stadium etc.).
Remember the following way of word-formation (2)
die Wirtschaft + -lieh = wirtschaftlich economic
die Wissenschaft + -lieh = wissenschaftlich scientific
Practise in reading the words
Vor der Tagung
Grammar points
You already know that the infinitive relating to another verb (except modals), noun or adjective, is used with the particle zu and can form an infinitive group that is usually marked with a comma:
Ich habe versucht, den Flug für den Montag zu buchen.
I tried to book a flight on Monday.If an infinitive group expresses the purpose of the action, then it is used with the word um «(in order) to», which goes at the beginning of the group:
Ich rufe die Auskunft an, um nach der Abfahrt des Zuges zu fragen.
I call the information desk to ask about the departure of the train.
Um zu tanken, fahre ich zur Tankstelle.
In order to refuel, I drive to the filling station.
The structure with um is used when the same agent is implied both in the infinitive group and in the main clause:
Wir müssen uns beeilen, um den Zug nach München zu schaffen.
We have to hurry in order to catch the train to Munich.
(we are in a hurry, and we want to make it)In cases when different subjects are implied, instead of the infinitive group the subordinate clause of purpose with the conjunction damit «so that, in order that» is used:
Ich hole ihn ab, damit er den letzten Zug schafft.
I’ll pick him up, so that he could catch the last train.
(I’ll pick him up, so that he ...)The present tense is used in subordinate clauses of purpose with the conjunction damit.
Compare:
He said that we should book the flight later this week.
Er sagte, dass wir den Flug noch an dieser Woche buchen sollen.
We are going to the railway station (in order) to pick up our colleagues.
Wir fahren zum Bahnhof, um unsere Kollegen abzuholen.
I called to the workshop, so that they would tow away my car.
Ich rief die Werkstatt an, damit sie meinen Wagen abschleppen.
1. You do not know when the meeting (session etc.) is open. Ask about it. What answer would you give if you were the interlocutor?
B. Die Eröffnung soll am Dienstag stattfinden.
Continue:
die Tagung, die Konferenz, die Sitzung, das Museum, das Stadion, die Schwimmhalle, das neue Filmtheater, das Wissenschafsinstitut
2. You are asked why you are going to the information bureau. Answer. What question would you ask if you were the interlocutor?
B. Um das Programm der Tagung zu bekommen.
Continue:
das Arbeitsprogramm holen, nach der Eröffnung der Tagung fragen, den Leiter der Sektion finden, sich bei dem Direktor anmelden.
3. You are asked why you need to go to the filling station. Answer. What question would you ask if you were the interlocutor?
B. Damit man den Wagen wäscht.
Continue:
das Öl wechseln, den Wagen volltanken, das Öl nachsehen, den Motor reparieren, den Motor nachsehen, das Auto reparieren.
4. You are asked if a certain document is ready. Give a negative answer. How would you ask if you were the interlocutor?
B. Nein, die Arbeit daran ist noch nicht beendet.
Continue:
das Programm der Konferenz, die wissenschaftliche Information, der Plan der Sektionssitzungen, das Kulturprogramm.
5. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words from the dialogue.
1. Ich ein Wirtschaftsinstitut. 2. Wo ist die ? 3. Wann finden die statt? 4. Wo finde ich den der Sektion 3? 5. Wann findet die der Sektion statt? 6. Wann wird die Tagung .
6. Reconstruct the dialogue by filling in the gaps with the appropriate words.
?
7. Try to reproduce the dialogue “Vor der Tagung” by memory.
Check yourself!
What expressions will you use if you want to:
find out where the registration is
ask when the session opens
find out when the section meetings take place
ask where you can find the section manager
