Frame 14: engersäits... anerersäits...

🇱🇺 Firwat schafft Dir gär doheem?
🇬🇧 Why do you like to work at home?

🇱🇺 Engersäits verléieren ech keng Zäit um Wee fir op d'Aarbecht, an anerersäits kann ech méi Zäit mat menger Famill verbréngen.
🇬🇧 On the one hand, I don't waste time on the way to work, and on the other hand I can spend more time with my family.

Your turn:

This is rarer, so using it in the exam distinguishes you. Like the English on the one hand... on the other hand, it is normally used to indicate a contrast.

🇱🇺 Wat sinn d'Virdeeler an d'Nodeeler vun elektreschen Autoen?
🇬🇧 What are the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars?

🇱🇺 Engersäits sinn elektresch Autoe besser fir d'Ëmwelt, mee anerersäits muss een se oft oplueden.
🇬🇧 On the one hand, electrical cars are better for the environment, but on the other hand you have to charge them more often.

🇱🇺 Wat maacht Dir gär de Weekend?
🇬🇧 What do you like to do on the weekdend?

🇱🇺 Engersäits bleiwen ech gär doheem a relaxe mat menger Famill, anerersäits ginn ech och gär mat Kolleegen eraus.
🇬🇧 On the one hand I like to stay at home and relax with my family, on the other hand I like to go out with friends.

🎧 Listen, repeat + create your own answer.

Nummer veierzeng: engersäits... anerersäits...

🇱🇺 Fuert Dir gär mam ëffentlechen Transport?
🇬🇧 Do you like riding on public transport?

🇱🇺 Engersäits fueren ech gär mam Zuch a mam Tram, well et zu Letzebuerg gratis ass, mee anerersäits fannen ech den Auto méi praktesch wéi mam Bus ze fueren.
🇬🇧 On the one hand, I like to take the train and tram because it's free in Luxembourg, but on the other hand I find it more convenient to ride the bus.

An elo un Iech: Fuert Dir gär mam ëffentlechen Transport?

Frame 15: ech brauch

Crucial verb! Extremely useful for explanations/justifications.

🇱🇺 Ech wëll méi Sport maachen, awer ech brauch méi Zäit.
🇬🇧I want to do more sports, but I need more time.

🇱🇺 Wéi laang brauch de Bus fir bis op Dikkrech [ze fueren]?
🇬🇧 How long does the bus take to go to Diekirch?

🇱🇺 Ech kache gär, awer ech brauch frësch Produiten.
🇬🇧I like to cook, but I need fresh products.

🇱🇺 Ech kann net doheem schaffen. Ech brauch Rou a meng Kanner maachen ze vill Kaméidi.
🇬🇧 I can't work at home. I need quiet and my children make too much noise.

Your turn:

🇱🇺 ech brauch
🇬🇧 I need

🇱🇺 brauchen + [ time ]
🇬🇧 to take + [ time ]

Useful words to combine with:

🇱🇺 ech brauch méi Zäit
🇬🇧 I need more time

🇱🇺 ech brauch méi Suen
🇬🇧 I need more money

🇱🇺 ech brauch Hëllef
🇬🇧 I need help

🇱🇺 ech brauch Rou
🇬🇧 I need calm/quiet

🇱🇺 ech brauch e Plang
🇬🇧 I need a plan

Frame 16: ech wëll

Another important modal verb. Use ech wëll (I want) for goals and plans.

🇱🇺 Ech maachen de Sproochentest. Ech wëll Lëtzebuerger ginn.
🇬🇧 I am taking the ST. I want to become a Luxembourgian.


🇱🇺 Ech maachen Sport. Ech wëll gesond bleiwen.
🇬🇧 I play sports. I want to stay healthy


🇱🇺 Ech wëll d'nächst Woch an d'Vakanz goen.
🇬🇧 I want to go on vacation next week.

More natural: combine with with well:
👍 Ech léiere Lëtzebuergesch, well ech méi einfach mat de Leit schwätze wëll.
🇬🇧 I am learning Luxembourgish, because I want it to be easier to talk to people.

Simpler A2 version:
👍 Ech léiere Lëtzebuergesch. Ech wëll méi schwätzen.

In the exam, you can also use this to describe your choice of topic or picture.

🇱🇺 Ech wëll iwwert d'Theema "Medien an Technologie" schwätzen
🇬🇧 I want to talk about the topic "Media and Technology"

🇱🇺 Ech wëll d'Bild Nummer 3, wannechglift.
🇬🇧 I want picture number 3, please.

🎧 Listen, repeat + create your own answer.

Nummer siechzéng: ech wëll

🇱🇺 Firwat léiert Dir Lëtzebuergesch?
🇬🇧 Why are you learning Luxembourgish?

🇱🇺 Ech léiere Lëtzebuergesch well ech wëll méi einfach mat de Leit schwätzen.
🇬🇧 I’m learning Luxembourgish because I want to speak more easily with people.

An elo un Iech: Firwat léiert Dir Lëtzebuergesch?

Frame 17: ech kann...

A third important modal verb. Use ech kann for ability.

🇱🇺 Ech ka gutt kachen.
🇬🇧 I can cook well.

🇱🇺 Ech kann e bëssen Lëtzebuergesch schwätzen.
🇬🇧 I can speak a little Luxembourgish.

🇱🇺 Ech ka mam Bus op d’Aarbecht fueren.
🇬🇧 I can go to work by bus.

Very useful pair:
🇱🇺 Ech kann dat maachen, mee ech brauch Zäit.
🇬🇧 I can do that, but I need time.

Your turn, try:
Ech kann... mee ech kann net...

🇱🇺 Ech ka gutt Englesch schwätzen, mee ech kann net esou gutt Lëtzebuergesch schwätzen.
🇬🇧 I can speak English well, but I can't speak Luxembourgish so well.

🎧 Listen, repeat + create your own answer.

Nummer siwwenzéng: ech kann...

🇱🇺 Kacht Dir gär?
🇬🇧 Do you like cooking?

🇱🇺 Jo, ech kache gär. Ech ka ganz gutt Nuddelen a Geméis kachen.
🇬🇧 Yes, I like cooking. I can cook pasta and vegetables very well.

An elo un Iech: Wat kënnt Dir gutt maachen?

Frame 18: wann ... dann... / wéi…

This is the source of much confusion.

⚠️ Simple rule:

wann = when(ever) / if
wéi = when, in a past story

Use wann for habitual or future situations.


🇱🇺 Wann ech Zäit hunn, (da) liesen ech gär.
🇬🇧 When I have time, (then) I like to read.

🇱🇺 Wann d’Wieder gutt ass, (da) ginn ech an de Park.
🇬🇧 If the weather is good, then I'll go to the park.


Note the structure:

Wann [pronoun] ... [condition verb], dann [action/consequence verb] [pronoun]

🇱🇺 Wann hie wëll, kann hie kommen
🇬🇧 If he wants, he can come

🇱🇺 Wann ech heemkommen, kënne mir iessen
🇬🇧 When I come home, we can eat

🇱🇺 Wann hatt do ass, kacht hatt fir eis
🇬🇧 If she is there, she will cook for us

For the past, use wéi:

🇱🇺 Wéi ech kleng war, hunn ech vill dobausse gespillt.
🇬🇧 When I was little, I played outside a lot.

🇱🇺 Wéi ech Student war, hat ech méi Zäit.
🇬🇧 When I was a student, I had more time.

🎧 Listen, repeat + create your own answer.

Nummer uechtzéng: wann ... dann...

🇱🇺 Wat maacht Dir, wann Dir fräi hutt?
🇬🇧 What do you do when you have a day off/when you have spare time?

🇱🇺 Wann ech fräi hunn, (da) ginn ech gär spadséieren.
🇬🇧 When I’m free, I like going for a walk.

An elo un Iech: Wat maacht Dir, wann Dir fräi hutt?

Frame 19: ech hunn dat [schonn / nach ni] gemaach

The verb is maachen, in this case to do. When asked about a past action, if you understand the question but don't want or are not sure you can reproduce the question, you can say:

🇱🇺 Jo, ech hunn dat schonn gemaach.
🇬🇧 Yes, I have done that before/already.

🇱🇺 Nee, ech hunn dat nach ni gemaach.
🇬🇧 No, I have never done that (yet).

The examiners will likely detect uncertainty, so try to be as precise as you can:

🇱🇺 Nee, ech hunn nach ni Camping gemaach.
🇬🇧 No, I have never done camping.

🇱🇺 Ech hunn d’lescht Woch Sport gemaach.
🇬🇧 I did sport last week.

Often, it is more natural to directly name the action you did than use gemaach.

🆗 Jo, ech hu scho Schi fuere gemaach.
🚀 Jo, ech si scho Schi gefuer.

Other useful phrases:

🇱🇺 Jo, ech hunn dat schonn e puer Mol gemaach.
🇬🇧 Yes, I have done that a few times already.

🇱🇺 Nee, ech hunn dat nach ni gemaach, mee et kléngt interessant.
🇬🇧 No, I haven't done that yet, but it sounds interesting.

🎧 Listen, repeat + create your own answer.

Nummer nonzéng: ech hu [schonn/nach ni] gemaach

🇱🇺 Hutt Dir schonn eng Kéier en Apparat selwer gefléckt?
🇬🇧 Have you ever repaired a device yourself?

🇱🇺 Nee, ech hunn dat nach ni gemaach. Ech kann näischt selwer flécken.
🇬🇧 No, I've never done that. I can't fix anything myself.

An elo un Iech: Hutt Dir schonn eng Kéier en Apparat selwer gefléckt?

eng Kéier = once, one time
schonn eng Kéier is just a more emphatic way to say schonn

Frame 20: probéieren

Probéieren means to try. Pay attention to the particle ze/z'. You can think of ze as analogous to the English to.

probéieren ze... = to try to...

🇱🇺 Probéiert Dir, all Dag Lëtzebuergesch ze schwätzen?
🇬🇧 Do you try to speak Luxembourgish every day?

🇱🇺 Jo, ech probéieren, all Dag e bëssen Lëtzebuergesch ze schwätzen.
🇬🇧 Yes, I try to speak a little Luxembourgish every day.


🇱🇺 Probéiert Dir, gesond z'iessen?
🇬🇧 Do you try to eat healthily?

🇱🇺 Ech probéieren, vill Geméis z'iessen, mee heiansdo iessen ech Pizza.
🇬🇧 I try to eat more vegetables, but sometimes I eat pizza.


In the past tense:

🇱🇺 Hutt Dir schonn eng Kéier Yoga probéiert?
🇬🇧 Have you ever tried yoga?

🇱🇺 Nee, ech hunn nach ni Yoga probéiert, mee ech géif et gär probéieren.
🇬🇧 No, I've never tried yoga, but I'd like to try it.


Your turn!

🇱🇺 Ech probéieren, ... ze + Verb
🇬🇧 I try to ...

🇱🇺 Ech hunn ... nach ni probéiert.
🇬🇧 I've never tried ...

🎧 Listen, repeat + create your own answer.

Moien alleguer! Haut übe mir probéieren (... ze).

🇱🇺 Probéiert Dir, all Dag Lëtzebuergesch ze schwätzen?
🇬🇧 Do you try to speak Luxembourgish every day?

🇱🇺 Jo, ech probéieren, all Dag e bëssen Lëtzebuergesch ze schwätzen.
🇬🇧 Yes, I try to speak a bit of Luxembourgish every day.

An elo nach d'Vergaangenheet (=past tense):

🇱🇺 Hutt Dir schonn eng Kéier Yoga probéiert?
🇬🇧 Have you ever tried yoga?

🇱🇺Nee, ech hunn nach ni Yoga probéiert, mee ech géif et gär probéieren.
🇬🇧 No, I have never tried yoga, but I would like to try it.

An elo un Iech:

🇱🇺 Wat hutt Dir an der Lescht Neies probéiert?
🇬🇧 What new thing did you try recently?

Frame 21: fir ... ze...

Use this to express purpose: fir [ ... ] ze [ verb ].

🇱🇺 Ech gi spadséieren, fir ze entspanen.
🇬🇧 I go for a walk to relax.

🇱🇺 Ech léiere Lëtzebuergesch, fir mat mengem Noper ze schwätzen.
🇬🇧 I’m learning Luxembourgish to speak with the neighbor.

🇱🇺 Ech spuere Suen, fir an d’Vakanz ze goen.
🇬🇧 I am saving money to go on vacation.

Your turn:

🇱🇺 Ech maachen X, fir Y ze maachen.

ze goes right in front of the verb expressing the goal, Y is the object or complementary information.

👍 Ech liesen, fir nei Saachen ze léieren.

🎧 Listen, repeat + create your own answer.

Nummer eenanzwanzeg: fir ... ze ...

🇱🇺 Firwat maacht Dir Sport?
🇬🇧 Why do you do sport?

🇱🇺 Ech maache Sport, fir gesond ze bleiwen. Ech fille mech duerno besser.
🇬🇧 I do sport to stay healthy. I feel better afterwards.

An elo un Iech: Wat maacht Dir, fir gesond ze bleiwen?

Frame 22: ech war...

Use ech war for I was.

🇱🇺 Wou waart Dir Méindeg?
🇬🇧 Where were you on Monday?

🇱🇺 Ech war op der Aarbecht.
🇬🇧 I was at work.

🇱🇺 Wou waart Dir gëschter?
🇬🇧 Where were you yesterday?

🇱🇺 Ech war doheem.
🇬🇧 I was at home.

❗️ Very useful for the exam: "war" can also be used to stand for many verbs of motion/displacement.

🇱🇺 Wéini sidd Dir fir d'lescht an Äert Heemechtsland gaang?
🇬🇧 When did you last go to your home country?

🇱🇺 Ech war de leschte Mount a mäin Heemechtsland.
(or: Ech sinn de leschte Mount a mäin Heemechtsland gaang.)

🇬🇧 I went to my home country last month.


🇱🇺 Wéi oft sidd Dir d'lescht Joer an d'Ausland gereest?
🇬🇧 How often did you travel abroad last year?

🇱🇺 Ech war d'lescht Joer méi wéi zéngmol an d'Ausland.
(or Ech sinn d'lescht Joer méi wéi zéngmol an d'Ausland gereest.)

🇬🇧 I traveled abroad more than ten years last year.

🎧 Listen, repeat + create your own answer.

Nummer zweeanzwanzeg: ech war...

🇱🇺 Wou waart Dir gëschter Owend?
🇬🇧 Where were you yesterday evening?

🇱🇺 Gëschter Owend war ech doheem. Ech war midd an ech wollt raschten.
🇬🇧 I was at home last night. I was tired and wanted to rest.

An elo un Iech: Wou waart Dir gëschter Owend?

Frame 23: ech hat...

ech hat = I had

🇱🇺 Hat Dir Méindeg Congé?
🇬🇧 Did you have Monday off?

🇱🇺 Jo, ech hat Congé. Ech sinn an de Kino gaang.
🇬🇧 Yes, I had the day off. I went to the cinema.


🇱🇺 Hat Dir als Kand vill Frënn?
🇬🇧 Did you have a lot of friends as a child?

🇱🇺 Jo, ech hat als Kand vill Frënn.
🇬🇧 Yes, I had a lot of friends as a child.

❗️ Combine with "gär" to mean things you liked in the past.

🇱🇺 Wéi e Film hat Dir als Kand gär?
🇬🇧 What movie did you like as a child?

🇱🇺 Als Kand hat ech Harry Potter ganz gär.
🇬🇧 As a child, I really liked Harry Potter.

🎧 Listen, repeat + create your own answer.

Nummer dräianzwanzeg: ech hat...

🇱🇺 Wat hat Dir als Kand besonnesch gär an der Schoul?
🇬🇧 What did you especially like at school as a child?

🇱🇺 Ech hat Turnen immens gär. Dat war mäi Liblingsfach.
🇬🇧 I really liked physical education. That was my favorite subject.

An elo un Iech: Wat hat Dir als Kand besonnesch gär an der Schoul?

Frame 24: et ass + [ adjective ] + ze…

Perfect for giving a justification or more precise evaluation than just "ech hunn X gär"

🇱🇺 Et ass wichteg, Lëtzebuergesch ze schwätzen.
🇬🇧 It is important to speak Luxembourgish.

🇱🇺 An der Stad ass et einfach, mam Tram ze fueren.
🇬🇧 It is easy to take the tram in Luxembourg city

🇱🇺 Fir mech ass et deier, all Dag am Restaurant z'iessen.
🇬🇧 For me, it is expensive to eat in a restaurant every day.


Your turn:

🇱🇺 Et ass + [ adjective ] + ze + [ verb ].

Useful adjectives to combine with this fram:
wichteg, schwéier, einfach, flott, deier, praktesch, gesond