In this workshop you will speak German to talk about whether something is enough or not enough. You will use short recorded lines about time, coffee, money, and a project. You will first repeat and understand the lines, then choose correct replies, and finally recall the lines in the right order. This helps you say simple things like having too little money or needing more people.
Saying something is enough or not enough
To say that something is enough, you can use a short statement. For example, «Das ist genug.» means that something is sufficient. To say that something is not enough, you can use a negative sentence. «Wir haben nicht genug Zeit.» means that there is not enough time. These two lines show the basic contrast: enough versus not enough. When you speak, keep the subject clear: time, money, coffee, or people. You do not need to add extra words. Just say the short sentence. Practice saying «Das ist genug.» with a calm, finished tone. Then say «Wir haben nicht genug Zeit.» with a slightly concerned tone. The meaning changes with the negative word, not with your voice alone.
Too much and too little
To say that something is too much or too little, German uses short expressions. «Der Kaffee ist zu heiß.» means that the coffee is too hot. Here 'too' means more than is good. «Ich habe zu wenig Geld.» means that the speaker has too little money. Here 'too little' means less than is needed. Notice that the subject changes: coffee in one line, money in the other. When you speak, say the subject first, then the amount word. For example, you can talk about time, money, or coffee. Do not mix the subjects. If you talk about coffee, keep coffee as the subject. If you talk about money, keep money as the subject. This keeps your sentence clear.
Asking about enough and replying
You can ask a yes-or-no question about enough. «Hast du genug Zeit für das Projekt?» asks if someone has enough time for the project. A possible reply is «Nein, ich habe nicht genug Zeit. Ich habe zu viel zu tun.», which says no and explains that there is too much to do. Then the first speaker can suggest a solution: «Dann müssen wir mehr Leute einstellen.» means that more people are needed. The second speaker can agree but point out a problem: «Ja, aber das Budget ist zu klein.» means that the budget is too small. In this scene, one person asks, the other answers, the first suggests, and the second responds. When you practice, keep this order. Do not start with the answer before the question. If you swap roles, the order of the lines stays the same: question, reply, suggestion, response.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Wir haben nicht genug Zeit.
We don't have enough time.
veer HAH-ben nikht ge-NOOK tsyt
Das ist genug.
That is enough.
dahs ist ge-NOOK
Der Kaffee ist zu heiß.
The coffee is too hot.
dair KAH-fee ist tsoo hys
Ich habe zu wenig Geld.
I have too little money.
ikh HAH-be tsoo VAY-nikh gelt
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Hast du genug Zeit für das Projekt?
Do you have enough time for the project?Nein, ich habe nicht genug Zeit. Ich habe zu viel zu tun.
No, I don't have enough time. I have too much to do.Dann müssen wir mehr Leute einstellen.
Then we need to hire more people.Ja, aber das Budget ist zu klein.
Yes, but the budget is too small.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer about time
You will play two roles in a short conversation about a project. One person asks about time, and the other answers. Use only the recorded lines.
Your task: Read the question line «Hast du genug Zeit für das Projekt?» aloud. Then read the reply «Nein, ich habe nicht genug Zeit. Ich habe zu viel zu tun.» aloud. Then read the suggestion «Dann müssen wir mehr Leute einstellen.» aloud. Finally read the response «Ja, aber das Budget ist zu klein.» aloud. After you finish, swap roles: read «Hast du genug Zeit für das Projekt?» as the other person, then «Nein, ich habe nicht genug Zeit. Ich habe zu viel zu tun.», then «Dann müssen wir mehr Leute einstellen.», then «Ja, aber das Budget ist zu klein.». Keep the same order.
Choose the right reply
You will hear or read a line and choose a suitable reply from the recorded lines. The reply must match the meaning of the first line.
Your task: First line: «Hast du genug Zeit für das Projekt?». Which recorded line is a suitable reply? Choose from «Nein, ich habe nicht genug Zeit. Ich habe zu viel zu tun.», «Dann müssen wir mehr Leute einstellen.», or «Ja, aber das Budget ist zu klein.». Then first line: «Dann müssen wir mehr Leute einstellen.». Which recorded line is a suitable reply? Choose from «Nein, ich habe nicht genug Zeit. Ich habe zu viel zu tun.» or «Ja, aber das Budget ist zu klein.». Say your chosen line aloud.
Recall the lines with correct roles
You will recall the recorded lines from memory and say them in the correct order. One person asks, the other answers, the first suggests, and the second responds.
Your task: Without looking at the lines, say the four lines in order: the question about time, the reply about too much to do, the suggestion about more people, and the response about the budget. Then swap roles and say the same four lines in the same order.
Common questions
Do I need to learn extra words to talk about enough and too much?
No. The recorded lines give you short, complete sentences. You can use them as they are. For example, «Wir haben nicht genug Zeit.» means that there is not enough time, and «Das ist genug.» means that something is enough. By repeating these lines, you practice the contrast without adding new words.
Can I practice alone if I do not have a partner?
Yes. You can play both roles yourself. Read the question line «Hast du genug Zeit für das Projekt?» aloud, then answer with «Nein, ich habe nicht genug Zeit. Ich habe zu viel zu tun.». Then read the suggestion «Dann müssen wir mehr Leute einstellen.» and respond with «Ja, aber das Budget ist zu klein.». You can also record yourself and listen back. There is no automatic assessment, so check your own order and pronunciation.
Sources and further reading
- german: expressing adequacy and insufficiencyChecked September 2026
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