German · A1 · Family moment
Pack Your Lunchbox in German
Use these simple German instructions to prepare a school lunch with your child. Each instruction uses the informal singular imperative, the command form used with one child.
What you'll learn
- Give simple instructions for packing a lunchbox.
- Name common lunch foods and school items.
- Use objects with imperative verbs.
German phrases for pack your lunchbox
Öffne deine Brotdose.
Open your lunchbox.
Öffne is the command form of öffnen (to open). Deine means 'your' with the feminine noun Brotdose.
Wasch den Apfel.
Wash the apple.
Der Apfel becomes den Apfel because the apple is the direct object.
Nimm eine Banane.
Take a banana.
Nimm is the irregular command form of nehmen (to take).
Leg das Sandwich hinein.
Put the sandwich inside.
Leg tells your child to place something down. Hinein means 'inside' and comes at the end here.
Füll deine Wasserflasche.
Fill your water bottle.
Füll is the command form of füllen (to fill). Keep the umlaut: ü.
Mach den Deckel zu.
Close the lid.
Zumachen means 'to close.' In this command, it splits into mach and zu.
Pack deine Brotdose.
Pack your lunchbox.
Pack is the command form of packen (to pack).
Bring deine Schultasche.
Bring your school bag.
Bring is the command form of bringen (to bring).
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Brotdose
lunchbox
A common word for a box used to carry sandwiches and snacks.
der Apfel
apple
Use den Apfel when the apple is the direct object.
die Banane
banana
Eine Banane means 'a banana.'
das Sandwich
sandwich
The article das stays the same for a direct object.
die Wasserflasche
water bottle
Combines Wasser (water) and Flasche (bottle).
der Deckel
lid
Use den Deckel as the direct object.
die Schultasche
school bag
Deine Schultasche means 'your school bag.'
Giving instructions to one child
Use the informal singular imperative. Start with the command verb and normally leave out du (you). Many commands use the verb stem, but some have special forms.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Regular short form | packen → Pack | Pack deine Brotdose. |
| Form ending in -e | öffnen → Öffne | Öffne deine Brotdose. |
| Irregular form | nehmen → Nimm | Nimm eine Banane. |
Objects in commands
The thing you open, wash, take or pack is the direct object. German uses the accusative case for it. Masculine der changes to den; feminine die and neuter das stay the same.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine object | der Apfel → den Apfel | Wasch den Apfel. |
| Feminine object with 'a' | eine Banane → eine Banane | Nimm eine Banane. |
| Neuter object | das Sandwich → das Sandwich | Leg das Sandwich hinein. |
| Feminine object with 'your' | deine Brotdose → deine Brotdose | Öffne deine Brotdose. |
Separable verbs
Some verbs have a part that moves to the end of a command. With zumachen (to close), put mach first and zu after the object.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Closing something | Mach + object + zu. | Mach den Deckel zu. |
More examples
Wasch bitte den Apfel.
Please wash the apple.
Add bitte (please) to make an instruction more polite.
Mach die Brotdose zu.
Close the lunchbox.
The object goes between mach and zu.