Giving an opinion
„Ich finde, dass …“
„Meiner Meinung nach …“
„Ich bin der Ansicht, dass …“
German phrases for the exam: expressions that carry you
Phrases (in German “Redemittel”) are fixed expressions for typical intentions: giving an opinion, suggesting something, agreeing, disagreeing, buying time. Whoever knows them formulates faster and sounds surer. Here you find the most important ones, ordered by intention, with a quiz to test yourself.
- Ordered by intention, for speaking and writing.
- Examples of our own, no texts from exams.
- Exercises with evaluation in the app.
Example
Phrases
Ich bin dagegen, das ist teuer.
Ich bin dagegen, weil das zu teuer ist.
The mistake moves into your training
Example of feedback.
Why phrases?
They are part of what is assessed.
The scoring criteria of the speaking exams contain terms such as vocabulary, register and expression, and at ÖSD B2 explicitly “Redemittel”. Fitting expressions also help you not to stall in a conversation: for every intention you have a sentence opener ready.
Speaking
Phrases by intention.
Take one or two expressions from each group that suit you and say them out loud. You do not have to repeat them word for word: what matters is that you can start the intention with a sentence opener.
Giving reasons
„… , weil …“
„Der Grund dafür ist, dass …“
„Das liegt daran, dass …“
Suggesting
„Wir könnten …“
„Wie wäre es, wenn wir …?“
„Ich schlage vor, dass wir …“
Agreeing
„Das sehe ich genauso.“
„Da hast du recht.“
„Einverstanden.“
Disagreeing
„Ich verstehe, was du meinst, aber ich sehe das anders.“
„Da bin ich nicht sicher, weil …“
Asking back
„Wie meinst du das?“
„Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?“
„Habe ich richtig verstanden, dass …?“
Buying time
„Moment, ich überlege kurz.“
„Das ist eine interessante Frage.“
„Dazu fällt mir ein, dass …“
Paraphrasing
„Ich suche das Wort, ich meine so etwas wie …“
„Das ist ein Ding, mit dem man …“
Summing up
„Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass …“
„Insgesamt halte ich … für …“
The expressions are German on purpose: they are what you use in the exam. The headings tell you what each group is for.
Writing
Expressions for emails and posts.
Formal greeting and closing
„Sehr geehrte Frau …, sehr geehrter Herr …“
„Mit freundlichen Grüßen“
Informal greeting and closing
„Hallo …“, „Liebe …“
„Viele Grüße“, „Bis bald“
Stating the reason
„Ich schreibe Ihnen, weil …“
„Ich möchte mich über … informieren.“
Making a request
„Könnten Sie mir bitte … schicken?“
„Ich wäre Ihnen dankbar, wenn …“
Complaining politely
„Leider musste ich feststellen, dass …“
„Ich bitte Sie, das zu prüfen.“
Linking
„deshalb“, „außerdem“, „trotzdem“, „obwohl“
„einerseits …, andererseits …“
Test yourself
Which expression fits?
Three tasks from the phrase exercises in the app. Choose an answer and check it.
Giving an opinion, agreeing and disagreeing
Choose the phrase that fits the intention. Good phrases connect your opinion with a reason.
The answer options are German phrases, because those are what you practise.
1. You want to give your opinion and justify it. What fits best?
- a) Ich bin dagegen, weil das zu teuer ist.
- b) Ich bin dagegen, das ist teuer.
- c) Dagegen weil teuer ist.
Show answer
Correct: a) “Ich bin dagegen, weil …” connects opinion and reason. After “weil” the verb goes to the end of the clause.
2. You fully agree with your conversation partner. What do you say?
- a) Da bin ich anderer Meinung.
- b) Das sehe ich genauso.
- c) Das kann ich nicht beurteilen.
Show answer
Correct: b) “Das sehe ich genauso” (I see it exactly the same way) expresses full agreement.
3. You only partly agree. What do you say?
- a) Da hast du recht, aber ich sehe das auch ein bisschen anders.
- b) Du hast völlig recht.
- c) Das ist falsch.
Show answer
Correct: a) “Da hast du recht, aber …” (You are right there, but …) is a typical phrase for partial agreement.
The same exercises are in the app, with evaluation and entry of your mistakes in your mistake profile.
Phrases by level.
At B1 it is about suggestions and opinion, at B2 about argumentation and qualification.
Frequently asked questions about phrases
Should I learn phrases by heart?
Learn them in context, not as a list: say them out loud in example sentences of your own. A phrase you have already used in a real sentence comes to you more easily in the exam.
How many phrases do I need?
Fewer than you think. Two or three expressions you master for each intention are enough. More important than many is that they are grammatically right, for example with the verb at the end after “weil” and “dass”.
Are the examples from the exam?
No. The expressions and exercises are our own examples. Sprachfuchs is an independent practice service and is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut, ÖSD or telc.
Where do I practise phrases with evaluation?
In the app there are exercises on phrases, colloquial language and slang for every level. Wrong answers end up in your mistake profile and come back in the training.
What does practice cost?
The first exam with evaluation is free, without payment details. More on the pricing page.
Practise phrases in the app.
Register, choose your level and start with the free exam and the phrase exercises.
Start freeSprachfuchs is an independent practice service and is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut, ÖSD or telc. We name the exams only to describe the style of our tasks.
Editorial team Sprachfuchs · Last updated: 12 Nov 2026