Listen for the turn
| When you hear | What follows |
|---|---|
| eigentlich | A qualification of what was just said |
| doch nicht | A reversal — the previous plan is off |
| lieber | A preference replacing the suggestion |
| aber Moment mal | A correction is coming |
| also gut / abgemacht | The decision, which is usually the answer |
Tracking three things is enough: what each speaker wants, what gets rejected, and what they agree.
Who said what
At B1 and above, questions often ask which speaker holds which view. Note the positions against initials as you listen — reconstructing them afterwards from memory is unreliable once both speakers have changed their minds once.
Politeness forms carry meaning. *Könnten Sie vielleicht…* is a request; *Sie sollten…* is advice. Questions at B2 distinguish them.
Conversations — FAQs
2 questions
At lower levels often yes. Confirm for your exam and level.
Who wants what, what is rejected, and the final decision.
More hören (listening) question types
Sources
Written from the test board's own published material and checked on 1 October 2026.