People are often identified by what they do for a living. When you want to ask in German what someone’s occupation is, you have different options to ask that question:

You simply reply:

“Ich bin …” = “I am a …”  and insert the occupation you carry out, e.g. “Ich bin Student/in” (I am a student) or “Ich bin Lehrer/in” (I am a teacher). Please note that you do not need an indefinite article here (ein, eine). Literally, you just say I am student and I am teacher, respectively.

Unlike English, in German you can always identify the gender of the people in their occupations. Usually, you add the suffix –in to the masculine noun in order to indicate that the person who carries out that profession is a woman. Additionally, you need to apply the corresponding article when it is necessary. Here is a list of some occupations:

And now it is your turn. People in their occupations use a variety of tools or implements to carry out their daily work. Match the occupations in the left column with the tools in the right column. Good luck!

Key:

1-d, 2-g, 3-f, 4-j, 5-b, 6-e, 7-c, 8-i, 9-h, 10-a

Vocabulary:

(Stethoskop – stethoscope; Wörterbuch – dictionary; Fotoapparat – camera; Lehrbuch – textbook; Kasse – cash register; Serviertablett – serving tray; Handschellen – handcuffs; Hörsaal – lecture hall; Bühne – stage, Brief – letter)