German · A2 · Family moment
Before You Head Out in German
Use these friendly reminders to build safe, reassuring habits before outings, games and sleepovers. Each phrase uses bevor (“before”) to connect two actions.
What you'll learn
- Give clear, friendly reminders using the informal du form.
- Use bevor to say what needs to happen before another action.
- Put the conjugated verb at the end of a bevor clause.
German phrases for before you head out
Schau nach links und rechts, bevor du über die Straße gehst.
Look both ways before you cross the road.
Nach links und rechts means “to the left and right.” Gehst comes at the end of the bevor clause.
Überprüfe deine Fahrradlichter, bevor du losfährst.
Check your bike lights before you leave.
Losfahren means “to set off” by bike or vehicle. In the bevor clause, losfährst stays together.
Erzähl mir von deinem Plan, bevor du dich mit deinen Freunden triffst.
Tell me your plan before you meet your friends.
Sich mit jemandem treffen means “to meet up with someone.” With du, use dich.
Erledige deine Aufgabe, bevor du mit dem Spiel anfängst.
Finish your chore before you start the game.
Eine Aufgabe erledigen means “to complete a task.” Here, Aufgabe refers to the child's chore.
Frag deinen Freund oder deine Freundin, bevor du das Foto teilst.
Ask your friend before you share the photo.
Use deinen Freund for a male friend or deine Freundin for a female friend.
Lade dein Handy auf, bevor du zur Übernachtungsparty gehst.
Charge your phone before you go to the sleepover.
Aufladen means “to charge.” In this command, it splits into Lade … auf. Übernachtungsparty is a sleepover gathering.
Prüfe die Busfahrzeiten, bevor du das Sportzentrum verlässt.
Check the bus times before you leave the sports centre.
Verlassen means “to leave a place.” Use du verlässt, with ä.
Pack deine Sachen, bevor du ins Bett gehst.
Pack your things before you go to bed.
Deine Sachen means “your things.” Ins Bett gehen is the usual expression for “to go to bed.”
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
bevor
before
Connects two actions. The verb in the clause introduced by bevor goes at the end.
die Straße
road; street
Über die Straße gehen means “to cross the road.”
die Fahrradlichter
bike lights
Plural. One bike light is das Fahrradlicht.
die Aufgabe
task; chore
For a household chore, you can also say eine Aufgabe im Haushalt.
das Foto teilen
to share the photo
Teilen is commonly used for sharing photos digitally.
das Handy aufladen
to charge the mobile phone
Handy is the everyday German word for a mobile phone.
die Übernachtungsparty
sleepover; slumber party
A gathering where children or friends stay overnight.
die Busfahrzeiten
bus times
The times when buses run. A timetable is der Fahrplan.
das Sportzentrum
sports centre
Use das Sportzentrum verlassen for “to leave the sports centre.”
Bevor clauses: put the verb last
Bevor introduces a subordinate clause. It tells you which action happens later. Put a comma between the clauses and place the conjugated verb at the end of the bevor clause. The present tense works for future plans here.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pattern | Main clause, bevor + subject + other words + conjugated verb. | Pack deine Sachen, bevor du ins Bett gehst. |
| Order of actions | Do the main-clause action first; do the bevor-clause action later. | Frag deine Freundin, bevor du das Foto teilst. |
| Separable verb | In a bevor clause, the prefix stays attached to the verb. | Überprüfe deine Fahrradlichter, bevor du losfährst. |
Friendly commands for one child
These reminders use the informal singular imperative. Start with the command form of the verb and normally leave out du. Keep du in the bevor clause. You can add bitte to make the request more polite.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple command | Command verb + other words. | Pack deine Sachen. |
| Separable command | Command verb + other words + separated prefix. | Lade dein Handy auf. |
| Add bitte | Command verb + bitte + other words. | Pack bitte deine Sachen, bevor du ins Bett gehst. |
More examples
Frag mich bitte, bevor du das Foto teilst.
Please ask me before you share the photo.
The request comes first. The verb teilst ends the bevor clause.
Lade dein Handy auf, bevor du ins Bett gehst.
Charge your phone before you go to bed.
Aufladen splits in the command, while gehst comes last in the bevor clause.