German for Elementary Learners: Asking for Advice with 'Was soll ich tun?' and 'Hast du Tipps?'
Learn to ask for advice in German using 'Was soll ich tun?' and 'Hast du Tipps?' with clear examples and a short dialogue.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In this lesson you will learn how to ask for advice in German. Asking for advice is different from giving it: you are the one who needs help. Two useful questions are 'Was soll ich tun?' (What should I do?) and 'Hast du Tipps?' (Do you have any suggestions?). You will also learn how to describe a problem briefly, for example 'Ich habe meine Schlüssel verloren' (I lost my keys). We will focus on polite, everyday German that works in both formal and informal situations. By the end, you will be able to ask for advice and respond to a simple problem.
By the end, you can…
- ask for advice using 'Was soll ich tun?' and 'Hast du Tipps?'.
- describe a simple problem in German, such as losing something.
- use polite forms like 'Können Sie mir helfen?' with strangers.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Was soll ich tun?
What should I do?
vahs zol ikh toon
The most direct way to ask for advice. Use it when you are unsure what action to take. It works in both formal and informal situations.
Hast du Tipps?
Do you have any suggestions? (informal)
hahst doo tips
Use with friends, family, or people you address with 'du'. It is casual and friendly. For formal situations, say 'Haben Sie Tipps?'.
Ich habe meine Schlüssel verloren.
I lost my keys.
ikh HAH-buh MY-nuh SHLÜ-sel fer-LOH-ren
A simple way to state a problem. 'Verloren' is the past participle of 'verlieren' (to lose). You can replace 'meine Schlüssel' with other things, e.g., 'mein Handy' (my phone).
Können Sie mir helfen?
Can you help me? (formal)
KÖN-nen zee meer HEL-fen
Use this with strangers, older people, or in professional settings. It is polite and uses the formal 'Sie'. For informal, say 'Kannst du mir helfen?'.
Was würdest du machen?
What would you do?
vahs VÜR-dest doo MAH-khen
A softer way to ask for advice. It invites the other person to imagine themselves in your situation. Use 'Was würden Sie machen?' for formal.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for advice, you can use 'Was soll ich tun?' or 'Was würdest du machen?'. Both are questions. In German, the verb comes first in yes/no questions: 'Hast du Tipps?' (Do you have tips?). For open questions, the question word comes first: 'Was soll ich tun?' (What should I do?). You can also combine a problem statement with a question: 'Ich habe meine Schlüssel verloren. Was soll ich tun?' This pattern works for many problems: 'Ich bin müde. Was soll ich tun?' (I am tired. What should I do?).
When to use it
Use 'Was soll ich tun?' when you need a clear recommendation. It is neutral and works in most situations. Use 'Hast du Tipps?' with friends or peers when you want informal suggestions. For formal contexts, use 'Haben Sie Tipps?' or 'Können Sie mir helfen?'. If you want to be less direct, use 'Was würdest du machen?' or 'Was würden Sie machen?'. Avoid using 'Was soll ich tun?' with strangers if you want to sound very polite; instead, start with 'Entschuldigung, können Sie mir helfen?' (Excuse me, can you help me?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ich habe meine Schlüssel verloren. Was soll ich tun?
I lost my keys. What should I do?ikh HAH-buh MY-nuh SHLÜ-sel fer-LOH-ren. vahs zol ikh toonHast du im Restaurant gefragt?
Did you ask in the restaurant?hahst doo im res-toh-RAHNT guh-FRAHKTNein, noch nicht. Hast du Tipps?
No, not yet. Do you have any suggestions?nine, nokh nikht. hahst doo tipsJa, ruf dort an. Vielleicht haben sie die Schlüssel.
Yes, call them. Maybe they have the keys.yah, roof dort ahn. fee-LYKHT HAH-ben zee dee SHLÜ-selA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, directness is often valued, but politeness still matters. With strangers or in shops, use 'Sie' and phrases like 'Können Sie mir helfen?'. With friends, 'du' and 'Hast du Tipps?' are fine. In Austria and parts of Switzerland, people may use slightly different greetings, but the advice questions here are widely understood. When asking for advice, it is common to briefly state the problem first, then ask. This shows respect for the other person's time.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Was soll ich machen?' instead of 'Was soll ich tun?'
Try this instead: 'Was soll ich machen?' is understandable but less idiomatic for asking for advice. The standard phrase is 'Was soll ich tun?'. Use 'tun' for general actions. Example: 'Ich habe den Bus verpasst. Was soll ich tun?' (I missed the bus. What should I do?).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What should I do?' in German?
Show a sample answer
Was soll ich tun?
This is the standard phrase. 'Was soll ich machen?' is sometimes heard but less idiomatic for advice.
2You lost your phone. Ask a friend for suggestions informally.
Show a sample answer
Ich habe mein Handy verloren. Hast du Tipps?
This states the problem and asks for suggestions with 'du'. You could also say 'Was soll ich tun?' or 'Was würdest du machen?'.
3Ask a stranger politely for help.
Show a sample answer
Entschuldigung, können Sie mir helfen?
This uses the formal 'Sie' and is polite. You could also say 'Haben Sie Tipps?' or 'Was würden Sie machen?'.
To ask for advice in German, use 'Was soll ich tun?' for a direct question, 'Hast du Tipps?' informally, and 'Können Sie mir helfen?' politely with strangers. State your problem briefly first.
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