Lesson 2.2 — Einerseits, andererseits — Agreeing and disagreeing (German B1)

Listen first

A panel discusses whether cars should be banned from city centres.

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New vocabulary — tap to hear

zustimmento agree 🔊

widersprechento contradict / disagree 🔊

jedochhowever 🔊

trotzdemnevertheless 🔊

einerseitson the one hand 🔊

andererseitson the other hand 🔊

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« Da muss ich dir widersprechen — das sehe ich ganz anders. » 🔊

I have to disagree with you there — I see it completely differently.

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Pronunciation

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Ich stimme dir zu, dass die Innenstadt zu voll ist. Autos sollten dort verboten werden. 🔊I agree with you that the city centre is too crowded. Cars should be banned there.

Da muss ich dir leider widersprechen. Viele Menschen brauchen das Auto für die Arbeit. 🔊I'm afraid I have to disagree with you. Many people need their car for work.

Das ist ein berechtigter Einwand. Trotzdem könnte man den öffentlichen Nahverkehr ausbauen. 🔊That's a valid objection. Nevertheless, public transport could be expanded.

Einerseits hast du recht, andererseits kostet das viel Geld. 🔊On the one hand you're right, on the other hand it costs a lot of money.

Sicher, jedoch profitieren am Ende alle von sauberer Luft. 🔊Sure, however in the end everyone benefits from cleaner air.

Da ist etwas dran. Vielleicht finden wir einen Kompromiss. 🔊There's something to that. Maybe we'll find a compromise.

Grammar in focus · contrast connectors

'jedoch', 'trotzdem' and 'dennoch' are adverbs, so they take verb-second position: 'Es kostet viel Geld; trotzdem lohnt es sich.' Note 'zustimmen' is separable and takes the dative: 'Ich stimme dir zu.' The pair 'einerseits … andererseits' frames two contrasting sides, each followed by the verb in second position: 'Einerseits ist es teuer, andererseits hilft es allen.'

Write it yourself

Write a short discussion (5-6 sentences) weighing the pros and cons of online learning, using 'einerseits … andererseits' and 'trotzdem'.

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Tip for this task
Gut! Keep verb-second after 'trotzdem': « Trotzdem bevorzuge ich den Präsenzunterricht. » Concede before you contradict for a polite tone.

Quick check

An adaptive quiz confirms you've got it and schedules the right words for review.

1. Which case does 'zustimmen' take? ('Ich stimme ___ zu')

2. After 'Trotzdem' at the start of a clause, the verb is in…

3. Which pair correctly frames two contrasting sides?

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