German · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 19
Im RestaurantAt the restaurant
Ordering at a restaurant — with the accusative and "möchten". To order politely you say "ich möchte" (I would like): Ich möchte einen Kaffee. With the direct object (accusative) only the MASCULINE changes: der/ein → den/einen. Feminine (die) and neuter (das) stay the same. So: einen Kaffee (m), das Frühstück (n), die Speisekarte (f). New vocabulary: Frühstück, Mittagessen, Abendessen, essen, trinken, Restaurant, Speisekarte, Kellner, bestellen, Kaffee.
Dialogue
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ein Kaffee oder einen Kaffee?— ein Kaffee or einen Kaffee?
- LukasMike, was möchtest du?Mike, what would you like?
- MikeIch möchte ein Kaffee.I'd like a coffee. (slip: Kaffee is masculine → accusative "einen Kaffee")
- LukasDer Kaffee ist männlich: einen Kaffee.Kaffee is masculine: einen Kaffee.
- MikeAh, ich möchte einen Kaffee und das Frühstück.Ah, I'd like a coffee and the breakfast.
Dialogue
i
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Die Speisekarte, bitte— The Menu, Please
- KellnerGuten Tag. Was möchten Sie?Hello. What would you like?
- LenaIch möchte das Mittagessen und einen Kaffee, bitte.I'd like lunch and a coffee, please.
- KellnerSehr gern. Hier ist die Speisekarte.With pleasure. Here is the menu.
- LenaDanke schön.Thank you very much.
Vocabulary
i
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- Frühstück
n.n.breakfast (n)
- Mittagessen
n.n.lunch (n)
- Abendessen
n.n.dinner (n)
- essen
verbto eat
- trinken
verbto drink
- Restaurant
n.n.restaurant (n)
- Speisekarte
n.f.menu (f)
- Kellner
n.m.waiter (m)
- bestellen
verbto order
- Kaffee
n.m.coffee (m)
Grammar
i
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The accusative and "möchten"
Explanation
To order politely you use "möchten": ich möchte, du möchtest, er/sie möchte. The thing you want is in the ACCUSATIVE (direct object). Good news: only the MASCULINE changes! der → den, ein → einen. Feminine and neuter stay the same: die → die, das → das. So: Ich möchte einen Kaffee (der Kaffee → einen), but Ich möchte das Frühstück (stays das) and die Speisekarte (stays die). The English-speaker mistake is "ich möchte ein Kaffee" — it must be "einen Kaffee". For eating and drinking: essen (ich esse), trinken (ich trinke).
Examples
- Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte.I'd like a coffee, please.
- Was möchtest du essen? — Ich möchte das Frühstück.What do you want to eat? — I'd like the breakfast.
- Ich esse das Mittagessen und trinke einen Kaffee.I eat lunch and drink a coffee.
- Die Speisekarte, bitte.The menu, please.
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