Skip to main content
7 days free

Explore Copycat Cafe

Learn languages by copying everyday conversations.

Free German audio course

Learn by copying everyday conversations.

Hear a short scene, understand the useful phrases, copy them out loud, then try your own answers in the pauses.

Episode 5

The market bag

German · A1 beginner · 10 minutes · No signup

Download MP3 (7.1 MB) Read the transcript

Free to play, download, and read, with no account or email needed.

Voices are AI-generated. Jonas, the teacher, and Sam, the learner, are fictional characters.

All episodes

Take them in order: each episode builds on the phrases before it. Every one is free to play, download, and read.

  1. Episode 1

    First coffee mix-up

    A1 beginner · 9 minutes

  2. Episode 2

    The name mix-up

    A1 beginner · 9 minutes

  3. Episode 3

    Looking for the bakery

    A1 beginner · 10 minutes

  4. Episode 4

    Roommate breakfast

    A1 beginner · 9 minutes

  5. Episode 5

    The market bag

    A1 beginner · 10 minutes · Playing on this page

More episodes are coming

Each free audio course will follow the 200 everyday conversations of our app, from A1 to B2. Episodes come out one at a time.

Episodes 1 to 5 are out in every language. See all free audio courses.

To hear when a new episode is out, subscribe to Copycat Cafe on YouTube.

How the lesson works

  1. 1

    Hear the scene

    Sam and Jonas are friends shopping at an outdoor market, and Sam's cloth bag is not where she thinks it is. First, you just listen for where the bag is.

  2. 2

    Understand the useful phrases

    Jonas explains each phrase in English, only as much as helps your next try.

  3. 3

    Copy them out loud

    Say each phrase in the pause after you hear it. Copy the sound and rhythm before worrying about grammar.

  4. 4

    Try your answers

    Change the shopping to a pretzel from memory, ask a friend if they need a bag, then play the shopper twice. A spoken answer follows every pause, so you can compare.

Missed an answer? Keep listening. The words come back, and you don’t need to touch the screen once the episode is playing.

After this episode

You can say what you'll take at a market stall, ask a friend if they need a bag, say you have your own bag, and change your mind and buy one.

Level A1. Written for adult English speakers starting German. You don’t need any German to begin.

Phrases you’ll say

  • Ich nehme einen Apfel und eine Gurke.

    I'll take an apple and a cucumber.

  • Ich nehme einen Apfel.

    I'll take an apple.

  • Brauchst du auch eine Tüte?

    Do you need a bag too?

  • Nein, ich habe meinen Stoffbeutel.

    No, I have my cloth bag.

  • Dann kaufe ich doch eine Tüte.

    Then I'll buy a bag after all.

Phrases you’ll recognize

  • Der liegt noch zu Hause.

    It's still at home.

  • Oder du nimmst meinen Korb.

    Or you can take my basket.

  • Und wie bringst du deine Sachen nach Hause?

    And how will you get your things home?

  • Ich habe nur eine Brezel. Die kann ich in der Hand tragen.

    I only have a pretzel. I can carry it in my hand.

Listening with your screen off

The download is the most reliable way. Save the MP3 and play it offline in any audio app. Your browser puts it with your other downloads (on iPhone, in the Files app).

Playing from this page can keep going when you lock your phone, depending on your phone and browser. Some pause when you switch apps or close the tab. If yours does, use the download.

The speaking pauses are optional. If you’re driving, keep your attention on the road: just listen, or skip the speaking parts. The episode says the same.

Transcript

Every word of Episode 5. Choose a time to play from there. “Your turn” marks a pause for you to speak; German is in bold.

Welcome

Jonas: Welcome back to Copycat Cafe. I'm Jonas. Today we're at a market.

Sam: And I'm Sam. I've brought a shopping list. I have not brought a bag.

Jonas: Sam and I are AI-generated voices. Today you'll learn to say what you'll take at a market stall, ask a friend if they need a bag, and say you have your own. Listen first. Copy the sound. Then try the words for yourself. We'll leave space for you to speak.

Jonas: If you miss an answer, let it go. You'll hear the words again. You don't need to rewind or look at a screen. If you're driving, keep your attention on the road and skip the speaking exercises.

At the market

Jonas: Here's the whole scene. Sam and I are friends, shopping together at an outdoor market, so we say du. I have a basket with me. Listen for one thing: where is Sam's cloth bag? The cloth bag is der Stoffbeutel.

Sam: Ich nehme einen Apfel und eine Gurke.

Jonas: Brauchst du auch eine Tüte?

Sam: Nein, ich habe meinen Stoffbeutel.

Jonas: Der liegt noch zu Hause.

Sam: Oh. Dann kaufe ich doch eine Tüte.

Jonas: Oder du nimmst meinen Korb.

Sam: Und wie bringst du deine Sachen nach Hause?

Jonas: Ich habe nur eine Brezel. Die kann ich in der Hand tragen.

Jonas: So, where is the cloth bag? Say it in English.

Your turn · 3.5-second pause

Jonas: At home. Der liegt noch zu Hause. It's still at home.

Sam: It's a very good bag. It just doesn't leave the house.

What you'll take

Jonas: At the stall, Sam says: ich nehme einen Apfel und eine Gurke. I'll take an apple and a cucumber. Ich nehme, I'll take. Copy it: ich nehme.

Your turn · 3.5-second pause

Jonas: Einen Apfel, an apple. Copy it: ich nehme einen Apfel.

Your turn · 4.5-second pause

Jonas: Eine Gurke, a cucumber. Now the whole line: ich nehme einen Apfel und eine Gurke.

Your turn · 6-second pause

Jonas: Why einen, but eine? In Episode 3, we said each German word for a thing comes with its own little word for the. Apple is der Apfel. Cucumber is die Gurke. When you take or have something, der Apfel becomes einen Apfel. Die Gurke stays eine Gurke. So: einen Apfel, eine Gurke.

Sam: So the apple gets an extra bit, and the cucumber doesn't.

Jonas: Exactly. Genau.

Do you need a bag?

Jonas: Then I ask: brauchst du auch eine Tüte? Do you need a bag too? Brauchst du, do you need. Eine Tüte, a bag, the kind the stall gives you. Copy the start: brauchst du.

Your turn · 3.5-second pause

Jonas: Now the whole question: brauchst du auch eine Tüte?

Your turn · 5-second pause

Jonas: Sam answers: nein, ich habe meinen Stoffbeutel. No, I have my cloth bag. Ich habe, from our breakfast episode. Meinen, my. It's der Stoffbeutel, so my becomes meinen, just like einen Apfel. Copy it: nein, ich habe meinen Stoffbeutel.

Your turn · 5.5-second pause

Jonas: Once more: ich habe meinen Stoffbeutel.

Your turn · 5-second pause

The forgotten bag

Jonas: But I say: der liegt noch zu Hause. It's still at home. Der means it here, the bag, just like der an der Leine meant the dog in Episode 2. Zu Hause, at home. Just recognise this line.

Jonas: Sam changes plans: oh. Dann kaufe ich doch eine Tüte. Oh. Then I'll buy a bag after all. Ich kaufe, I buy. Doch here means after all. Copy it: dann kaufe ich doch eine Tüte.

Your turn · 5.5-second pause

Jonas: I offer something better: oder du nimmst meinen Korb. Or you can take my basket. Oder, or, like links oder rechts. Du nimmst, you take. Here's a quick check. Oder du nimmst meinen Korb. What does Sam get to use: a bag, or a basket? Say it in English.

Your turn · 3.5-second pause

Jonas: A basket. Mein Korb, my basket. Then Sam asks: und wie bringst du deine Sachen nach Hause? And how will you get your things home? Nach Hause means home, as in going home. Zu Hause was at home. And I answer: ich habe nur eine Brezel. Die kann ich in der Hand tragen. I only have a pretzel. I can carry it in my hand. Just recognise these lines.

Sam: One pretzel. That's not shopping. That's a snack with a walk.

Your own shopping

Jonas: Let's change the shopping. Pretzel is die Brezel, from the pretzel sign in Episode 3. Like die Gurke, it keeps eine. So: ich nehme eine Brezel. I'll take a pretzel. Copy it: ich nehme eine Brezel.

Your turn · 4.5-second pause

Jonas: Now without hearing the German first. At the stall, say: I'll take an apple.

Your turn · 5-second pause

Jonas: Ich nehme einen Apfel. Now say: I'll take an apple and a pretzel.

Your turn · 6-second pause

Jonas: Ich nehme einen Apfel und eine Brezel. Now ask your friend: do you need a bag too?

Your turn · 5-second pause

Jonas: Brauchst du auch eine Tüte? And say: no, I have my cloth bag.

Your turn · 5.5-second pause

Jonas: Nein, ich habe meinen Stoffbeutel.

Sam: Assuming I remembered it.

At the stall

Jonas: Let's put it together. You take Sam's part, the shopper, for the first half of the scene. I'm the friend with the basket. Start: say you'll take an apple and a cucumber.

Your turn · 6.5-second pause

Jonas: Brauchst du auch eine Tüte?

Jonas: Say: no, I have my cloth bag.

Your turn · 5.5-second pause

Jonas: Der liegt noch zu Hause.

Jonas: Oops. It's at home. Say: oh. Then I'll buy a bag after all.

Your turn · 6.5-second pause

Jonas: Oder du nimmst meinen Korb.

Jonas: Here's one version of your part. Ich nehme einen Apfel und eine Gurke. Nein, ich habe meinen Stoffbeutel. Oh. Dann kaufe ich doch eine Tüte. If you missed a step, that's fine. These gaps are for practice, not a test.

Listen again

Jonas: Let's hear the original scene again. No explanations this time. Notice which bits you recognise.

Sam: Ich nehme einen Apfel und eine Gurke.

Jonas: Brauchst du auch eine Tüte?

Sam: Nein, ich habe meinen Stoffbeutel.

Jonas: Der liegt noch zu Hause.

Sam: Oh. Dann kaufe ich doch eine Tüte.

Jonas: Oder du nimmst meinen Korb.

Sam: Und wie bringst du deine Sachen nach Hause?

Jonas: Ich habe nur eine Brezel. Die kann ich in der Hand tragen.

Your turn

Jonas: Now another market day. Sam will stay quiet. This time you did bring your cloth bag. Start: say you'll take a pretzel and an apple.

Your turn · 6.5-second pause

Jonas: Brauchst du auch eine Tüte?

Jonas: Say: no, I have my cloth bag.

Your turn · 5.5-second pause

Jonas: Super.

Jonas: Great. Now ask me: do you need a bag too?

Your turn · 5-second pause

Jonas: Nein, ich habe meinen Korb.

Jonas: No, I have my basket. Here's one version of your part. Ich nehme eine Brezel und einen Apfel. Nein, ich habe meinen Stoffbeutel. Brauchst du auch eine Tüte?

Sam: A bag and a basket. Nobody carries anything in their hands today.

Keep the phrases

Jonas: One last line from memory. At a market stall, say: I'll take an apple.

Your turn · 5-second pause

Jonas: Ich nehme einen Apfel. Keep ich nehme for what you'll take, and brauchst du, for asking if someone needs something. You heard them, copied them, and filled the basket with your own shopping. You don't need every word from the scene today. Come back and try the gaps again. You now have five small scenes: coffee, names, the way to the bakery, breakfast and the market. This is the free Copycat Cafe audio course. The optional paid app adds pronunciation feedback and conversations that respond to you. Today's matching lesson is The market bag. Tschüss!

Sam: Bye. I'm going home to find that bag.

Was it helpful?

Your answer helps us make the next episodes better.

About this episode

Episode 5 of the free Copycat Cafe German audio course. It’s adapted from “The market bag”, lesson 5 of our German course.

Jonas and Sam are fictional characters with AI-generated voices. The music is original.

Want feedback on your pronunciation?

The free course gives you the phrases, the pauses, and an answer to compare with. It can’t hear you. The Copycat Cafe app is a paid app that adds a pronunciation score on every word you say, and conversations with Copy, your AI conversation partner, that respond to what you actually say. In the app, “The market bag” uses the same scene.

See how Copycat works