Umgangssprache B1: „muss wohl“, „hilft nix“, „na gut, dann…“

Mini-Artikel: Resignation und Pflicht in der Umgangssprache – „muss wohl“ im Kontext.

Dannis

2 min reading time

Keywords:

Lückentext: Der Zug ist weg. Ich ____ auf den nächsten warten.

Correct: 0/8

Think: “I guess I have to …”

Here, “muss wohl” expresses resigned necessity: “I guess I have to wait.” The others don’t convey that resigned mood.

Equivalent to “no use” in English.

“hilft nix” = “it’s no use.” It signals acceptance that something can’t be changed.

You’re agreeing, a bit reluctantly.

“Na gut, dann …” signals reluctant acceptance in spoken German.

Look for the meaning “probably/it seems …”

“muss wohl” is epistemic (“probably”). The other sentences express obligation (deontic).

Pattern: “No use, then …”

“Hilft nix, dann …” fits: “No use, then we take the stairs.” Option 2 is incomplete; 3 has wrong word order.

Informal vs. formal register.

These are colloquial; prefer them in informal spoken contexts, not in formal writing.

In German main clauses, the finite verb is typically in position 2.

Correct word order is “dann mache ich …”, not “dann ich mache …”.

It’s a guess, not a duty.

Here it signals an assumption: “He is probably on the way.”

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