Einkaufen im Supermarkt
Grocery Shopping
German supermarkets are self-service. Cashiers will speak to you directly and quickly. You bag your own groceries. Smaller shops and markets often prefer cash. You may be asked about a loyalty card (Payback-Karte) at checkout.
Ich kaufe heute Brot und Milch.
I am buying bread and milk today.
Grammar
verb position 2
In a German statement, the verb is always the second element. Here 'Ich' is element 1 and 'kaufe' is element 2, no matter what else is in the sentence.
Ich möchte ein Kilo Tomaten.
I would like a kilogram of tomatoes.
Grammar
modal mochten
'Möchten' (would like) is a polite modal verb. When the meaning is clear from context, the infinitive can be dropped — you don't need to say 'haben' at the end here.
Heute gehe ich in den Supermarkt.
Today I am going to the supermarket.
Grammar
inversion
When a time expression like 'heute' starts the sentence, the verb still stays at position 2. The subject then moves to position 3. This is called inversion.
Ich brauche Eier, weil ich heute backe.
I need eggs because I am baking today.
Grammar
nebensatz weil
After 'weil' (because), the verb moves to the end of the clause. This is a Nebensatz (subordinate clause). Compare: 'brauche' at position 2 in the main clause vs 'backe' at the very end after 'weil'.
Das Brot ist frisch, aber die Tomaten sind nicht reif.
The bread is fresh but the tomatoes are not ripe.
Grammar
coordinating conjunction aber
'Aber' (but) is a coordinating conjunction — it joins two main clauses and does NOT change the word order. Both clauses keep verb at position 2.
Ich nehme die Tomaten, weil sie günstiger sind.
I'll take the tomatoes because they are cheaper.
Grammar
nebensatz weil
Again 'weil' sends the verb to the end. Notice 'sind' (are) is pushed all the way to the end of the clause, after the adjective 'günstiger'.
Die Milch steht im Kühlregal.
The milk is in the refrigerated section.
Grammar
verb position 2
'Stehen' (to stand) is used in German to describe where things are located on shelves or in fixed positions — not 'sein'. 'Die Milch steht' = the milk stands/is located.
Ich will keinen Plastikbeutel kaufen.
I don't want to buy a plastic bag.
Grammar
modal wollen
With modal verbs like 'wollen' (to want), the main verb (infinitive) is sent to the end of the sentence. 'Will' sits at position 2, 'kaufen' goes to the end.
Das Pfand bekomme ich an der Kasse zurück.
I get the deposit back at the checkout.
Grammar
inversion separable
The object 'Das Pfand' starts the sentence (position 1), so the verb 'bekomme' stays at position 2 and the subject 'ich' shifts to position 3. The separable prefix 'zurück' goes to the end — this is 'zurückbekommen' split apart.
Ich esse gern Vollkornbrot, deshalb kaufe ich es immer.
I like eating wholegrain bread, so I always buy it.
Grammar
deshalb inversion
'Deshalb' (therefore/so) expresses a consequence. It takes position 1 in the second clause, which forces the verb to position 2 and the subject to position 3 — just like inversion with time expressions.
Der Kassierer sagt, dass die Karte nicht funktioniert.
The cashier says that the card is not working.
Grammar
nebensatz dass
'Dass' (that) introduces a subordinate clause and sends the verb to the end. It often follows verbs of saying or thinking like 'sagen', 'denken', 'glauben'.
Ich soll laut Einkaufsliste noch Käse kaufen.
According to the shopping list I should still buy cheese.
Grammar
modal sollen
'Sollen' means you are supposed to do something based on an external instruction — a list, a person, a rule. Here the shopping list is giving the instruction.
Die Äpfel sind im Angebot, deshalb nehme ich zwei Kilo.
The apples are on offer, so I'll take two kilos.
Grammar
deshalb inversion
Again 'deshalb' triggers inversion: verb before subject in the second clause. This pattern is identical every time — 'deshalb' + verb + subject.
Ich habe kein Bargeld dabei, also bezahle ich mit Karte.
I have no cash on me, so I'll pay by card.
Grammar
also inversion
'Also' (so/therefore) works just like 'deshalb' — it expresses a conclusion and triggers inversion in the following clause. Verb comes before subject.
Obwohl der Aufschnitt teuer ist, kaufe ich ihn trotzdem.
Although the cold cuts are expensive, I buy them anyway.
Grammar
nebensatz obwohl
'Obwohl' (although) introduces a concessive Nebensatz — verb goes to the end ('ist'). When the Nebensatz comes first, the main clause then inverts: verb before subject ('kaufe ich').
Wo finde ich die Milchprodukte?
Where can I find the dairy products?
Grammar
w frage
In a W-question (who, what, where, when, why, how), the question word takes position 1, the verb stays at position 2, and the subject moves to position 3.
Was kostet das Brot?
How much does the bread cost?
Grammar
w frage
'Was kostet...?' is the colloquial way to ask the price of something. 'Was' is position 1, 'kostet' is position 2. Note: 'Was kostet' not 'Wie kostet' — a common learner mistake.
Wie viel kostet ein Kilo Äpfel?
How much does a kilo of apples cost?
Grammar
w frage
'Wie viel kostet...?' is the slightly more formal way to ask about price. 'Wie viel' is treated as one question word at position 1.
Haben Sie Tüten?
Do you have bags?
Grammar
ja nein frage
In a yes/no question, there is no question word. The verb moves to position 1 and the subject shifts to position 2. The opposite of a normal statement.
Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?
Can I pay by card?
Grammar
modal question
When asking a yes/no question with a modal verb, the modal goes to position 1, the subject to position 2, and the infinitive to the end. Modal + subject + ... + infinitive.
Wo ist die Kasse, bitte?
Where is the checkout, please?
Grammar
w frage
Simple W-question. Adding 'bitte' at the end softens the question and sounds more polite — a small word that makes a big social difference in German.
Gibt es hier Bio-Produkte?
Are there organic products here?
Grammar
gibt es
'Gibt es...?' (Is there / Are there?) is a fixed expression for asking about the existence of something. 'Es' is a dummy subject — it doesn't refer to anything specific.
Welches Brot empfehlen Sie?
Which bread do you recommend?
Grammar
welch frage
'Welch-' (which) must agree with the noun's gender. 'Das Brot' is neuter, so it becomes 'Welches'. For 'der' nouns it would be 'Welcher', for 'die' nouns 'Welche'.
Darf ich die Trauben probieren?
May I try the grapes?
Grammar
modal durfen
'Dürfen' expresses permission. In a question, it moves to position 1. Compare: 'können' = can (ability), 'dürfen' = may (permission) — they are not interchangeable.
Wissen Sie, wo der Zucker ist?
Do you know where the sugar is?
Grammar
indirect question
An indirect question embeds a question inside another sentence. After 'Wissen Sie,' the inner question becomes a subordinate clause — verb goes to the end ('ist'). This is softer and more polite than asking directly.
Ist das Angebot noch gültig?
Is the offer still valid?
Grammar
ja nein frage
Another yes/no question — verb first, subject second. 'Noch' (still) is an important word for checking ongoing validity.
Warum ist die Milch hier teurer als im Discounter?
Why is the milk here more expensive than at the discounter?
Grammar
w frage comparison
W-question with 'warum' (why). Also introduces the comparative: 'teurer als' (more expensive than). Comparatives in German add -er to the adjective, just like English.
Können Sie mir sagen, ob die Bananen reif sind?
Can you tell me whether the bananas are ripe?
Grammar
indirect question ob
'Ob' (whether) introduces an indirect yes/no question. Like 'dass' and 'weil', it sends the verb to the end. 'Können Sie mir sagen, ob...' is a very polite way to ask for information.
Wo kann ich den Einkaufswagen zurückbringen?
Where can I return the shopping trolley?
Grammar
w frage modal separable
W-question with a modal and a separable verb. In questions and statements, separable verbs stay together as an infinitive at the end — 'zurückbringen' is NOT split here because it's in infinitive form.
Haben Sie gesehen, ob die Kasse noch offen ist?
Have you seen whether the checkout is still open?
Grammar
perfekt indirect ob
Perfect tense yes/no question: 'haben' at position 1, past participle 'gesehen' at the end of the main clause. Then an 'ob' clause adds a second verb-to-end structure inside.