German · BeginnerIch brauche ein TaxiI need a taxi

Follow along

245 lines
00:00Intro
Hello Mia! Nice to see you.
Hello Lukas! How are you today?
Good, thanks! But yesterday I had big stress.
Big stress? What was going on?
My way into town was very complicated.
Haha! You and your adventures in Heidelberg.
Yesterday I was really in great trouble.
Was your bicycle broken again?
Yes, exactly. The front tire had no air.
And you wanted to go to the train early, right?
Right. I had to get to the station very quickly.
On foot you were much too slow.
Much too slow. And it was raining.
What did you do in this emergency?
I immediately knew: Ich brauche ein Taxi.
A taxi is perfect in the city.
Very comfortable and above all dry.
But many beginners are afraid of taking a taxi.
That is true. One has to speak in German.
Yet it is quite easy with set phrases.
With six simple sentences one manages every ride.
Therefore today we learn six important taxi sentences.
Yes! Six sentences for tourists and learners.
Let us go through the sentences briefly.
Our first sentence is: Ich brauche ein Taxi.
Sentence number two is the destination: Zum Bahnhof, bitte.
Sentence number three shows hurry: Ich habe es eilig.
Sentence number four helps when getting out: Können Sie hier halten?
Sentence number five asks for the price: Wie viel kostet die Fahrt?
And sentence six settles the money: Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Six clear sentences for daily life.
I am very curious about your story.
It was an exciting ride through Heidelberg.
Did you still catch the train?
I will reveal that right away in the story.
Good! After the music we will hear your taxi story.
So, yesterday was Friday in Heidelberg.
Friday morning at half past seven, right?
Yes. At half past seven I stood in front of the door.
With your large travel bag for the weekend?
With my travel bag on my shoulders.
And your train departed at eight o'clock?
Exactly at eight o'clock to Frankfurt.
Half an hour is very little time.
I went very relaxed into the courtyard.
To your old yellow bicycle?
My bicycle had no air.
Oh no! A flat tire again already?
The tire in front was completely soft and empty.
Do you never pump up your tires then?
Unfortunately I forget that again and again.
And then you had to think quickly.
Then it rained heavily.
Cold autumn rain on the street! How uncomfortable.
The rain ran down over my face.
Walking to the station was impossible.
Impossible in twenty-five minutes.
And no tram at the stop?
The next tram came only in ten minutes.
Then there was almost no time left.
I knew: Ich brauche ein Taxi, immediately.
Did you call a taxi on the street?
On the street corner stood a taxi.
A beige taxi with a yellow sign?
Yes, the yellow light on the roof was glowing.
The light always means: The taxi is available!
I ran over quickly and got in.
And what did you say first?
I said: Zum Bahnhof, bitte.
Very good! Polite and directly to the destination.
The driver was named Mr. Weber.
Was Mr. Weber friendly to you?
Very friendly. He smiled immediately.
And how was the ride through town?
At Bismarckplatz there was suddenly dense traffic.
At Bismarckplatz there are always many cars in the morning.
Many buses and cars at every traffic light.
One naturally gets nervous then.
I said: Ich habe es eilig.
Did Mr. Weber understand the situation?
He nodded and turned quickly.
Good taxi drivers know many small streets.
We drove along Kurfürsten-Anlage.
Passing very close to the main station.
Directly in front of the station was a construction site.
A red barrier on the street?
Yes. All cars stood in a long line.
And the clock on the dashboard was running!
It was seven fifty-two!
Only eight minutes left until departure!
I said: Können Sie hier halten?
Very smart! On foot it was faster to the platform.
Mr. Weber immediately pulled over to the right.
And how much did the ride cost?
I asked: Wie viel kostet die Fahrt?
What was on the taximeter in front?
Fourteen euros and fifty cents.
A very fair price for this rescue.
However, I had no cash with me.
No bills and no coins?
Not a single cent in the wallet.
Oh dear! Were you able to pay by card?
I asked: Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
And what did Mr. Weber say?
He passed the payment device to the back.
A modern card device for contactless payment!
I briefly tapped my bank card against it.
Beep! And everything was paid already.
I said: Sixteen euros, keep the change.
A nice tip for the fast driver.
Then I took my bag.
And ran at a jog to the station?
I ran up the stairs to platform three.
Was the train to Frankfurt still standing there?
The doors were still open. I got in!
And then the doors closed?
Exactly one minute later the train departed.
What great luck, Lukas!
Without the taxi, the train would have been gone.
A great story with a good ending!
And now we explain every sentence very accurately.
After the music we begin with the explanations.
Let us begin with sentence number one.
Our first sentence is: Ich brauche ein Taxi.
One uses this sentence very often.
That means in English: I need a taxi.
For example at the hotel reception.
Or on the phone with the taxi dispatch.
One simply says politely: Ich brauche ein Taxi.
The verb is brauchen, to need. Ich brauche.
Du brauchst, er braucht, wir brauchen.
The word Taxi is neuter: ein Taxi.
When it rains, one often needs a taxi.
Exactly like me yesterday in the rain.
One can also say: Ein Taxi, bitte.
But: Ich brauche ein Taxi is a full sentence.
Very good! Let us come to sentence number two.
Sentence number two is: Zum Bahnhof, bitte.
That means in English: To the train station, please.
You get in and state your destination.
The word zum is short for zu dem.
The station is masculine, so: zum Bahnhof.
One can also name other places.
For example: Zum Hotel, bitte.
Or: Zum Flughafen, bitte.
And with feminine words it is: zur.
Like for example: Zur Innenstadt, bitte.
The word bitte is very important in Germany.
With bitte every request sounds much nicer.
A friendly passenger receives good service.
Now we come to sentence number three.
Our third sentence is: Ich habe es eilig.
That means in English: I am in a hurry.
One says that when time is scarce.
When the train or airplane leaves soon.
The driver then knows immediately.
He drives fast and takes the best route.
Naturally he observes all traffic rules.
But he does not wait long.
Lukas is almost always in a hurry.
Because you always get up too late!
Yesterday only my tire was to blame!
Haha! Let us come to sentence number four.
Our fourth sentence is: Können Sie hier halten?
That means in English: Can you stop here?
One needs this sentence shortly before the destination.
Können Sie is the polite form for strangers.
In a taxi one uses the form Sie.
One can also say: Können Sie hier anhalten?
Halten and anhalten have the same meaning.
That is very practical in front of a construction site.
Or the street is full of cars.
One gets out, then one goes on foot.
That often saves a lot of time and nerves.
Very good! Let us come to sentence number five.
Our fifth sentence is: Wie viel kostet die Fahrt?
That means in English: How much is the ride?
At the end of the ride one pays the driver.
Die Fahrt is the journey with the car.
The verb kosten asks for the price.
In the front of the taxi is a small digital display.
One calls that in German der Taxameter.
There stands the exact price in euros.
One can also ask: Wie viel macht das?
But: Wie viel kostet die Fahrt is very clear.
And now we come to sentence number six.
Our sixth sentence is: Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
That means in English: Can I pay by card?
Many people have no cash with them today.
In German taxis card payment works almost always.
With debit card, credit card, or mobile phone.
But it is good to ask briefly beforehand.
The verb zahlen means: one gives money.
One can say zahlen or bezahlen.
Both words are completely correct in daily life.
All six sentences are now explained.
Now you are ready for our quiz!
Let us test the sentences in six situations.
After the music we will ask the questions.
Here comes situation number one.
You stand in the rain without a bus. What do you say on the phone?
I call and say: Ich brauche ein Taxi.
Excellent! The taxi will come immediately then.
We continue with situation number two.
You get in and want to go to the train. What do you say to the driver?
I name my destination: Zum Bahnhof, bitte.
Perfect! Short, clear, and very polite.
Here is situation number three.
Your appointment starts soon. Time is tight. What do you say?
I look at the clock: Ich habe es eilig.
Very good! The driver takes the fastest route.
Let us come to situation number four.
In front of the hotel is lots of traffic. You want to get out. What do you say?
I point to the right: Können Sie hier halten?
Exactly right! That way you save lots of time in traffic.
Here comes situation number five.
The taxi is stopped. You cannot see the display. What do you ask?
I ask for the price: Wie viel kostet die Fahrt?
Right! The driver names the exact amount.
And now to situation number six.
You have no cash in your pocket. What do you ask before paying?
I hold my card ready: Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Fantastic, Lukas! Six out of six points solved.
Thanks, Mia! The quiz was really super.
In a moment we will repeat all sentences once more.
After the music follows the summary.
Let us repeat all six sentences once more.
Sentence one: Ich brauche ein Taxi.
Sentence two: Zum Bahnhof, bitte.
Sentence three: Ich habe es eilig.
Sentence four: Können Sie hier halten?
Sentence five: Wie viel kostet die Fahrt?
Sentence six: Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Six sentences for a relaxed taxi ride.
And now comes your personal task!
Imagine: you are in a new city.
It is raining and the suitcase is very heavy.
Which sentence do you say immediately on the street?
Speak the sentence out loud in German now!
Exactly! Ich brauche ein Taxi.
Speaking out loud helps very much when learning.
And do not forget to check your bicycle tires!
Haha, a very practical piece of advice from Lukas.
Thank you very much for listening, until next time!
Bye and have a good trip!

Key phrases

6 to keep
Ich brauche ein TaxiIch brauche ein Taxi
I need a taxi
Ich brauche ein Taxi, bitte.Ich brauche ein Taxi, bitte. — I need a taxi, please.
Zum Bahnhof, bitteZum Bahnhof, bitte
To the train station, please
Zum Bahnhof, bitte.Zum Bahnhof, bitte. — To the train station, please.
Ich habe es eiligIch habe es eilig
I am in a hurry
Ich habe es eilig, bitte fahren Sie schnell.Ich habe es eilig, bitte fahren Sie schnell. — I am in a hurry, please drive fast.
Können Sie hier halten?Können Sie hier halten?
Can you stop here?
Satz Nummer vier hilft beim Aussteigen: Können Sie hier halten?Sentence number four helps when getting out: Können Sie hier halten? — Can you stop here?
Wie viel kostet die Fahrt?Wie viel kostet die Fahrt?
How much is the ride?
Wie viel kostet die Fahrt?Wie viel kostet die Fahrt? — How much is the ride?
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Can I pay with card?
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? — Can I pay with card?

Du bist dran

Your turn
laut sagen
Today's small task

Stell dir vor: Du bist in der Stadt und brauchst ein Taxi. Welchen Satz sagst du laut?Imagine: you are in the city and you need a taxi. Which sentence do you say out loud?

cocoaIch brauche ein Taxi
0:0013:16