Breakdown of Wir möchten bitte die Rechnung bezahlen.
wir
we
möchten
would like
bitte
please
die Rechnung
the bill
bezahlen
to pay
Questions & Answers about Wir möchten bitte die Rechnung bezahlen.
Why is bezahlen at the very end of the sentence?
Because this sentence uses the modal verb möchten (would like). In German, when you use a modal verb, it takes the second position in the sentence, and the main action verb (bezahlen) gets pushed to the very end in its dictionary form (the infinitive).
What is the difference between saying Wir möchten and Wir wollen here?
Both express a desire, but möchten means 'would like' and is much more polite. Wir wollen means 'we want,' which can sound too direct or demanding when you are speaking to a waiter in a restaurant.
Why is bitte in the middle of the sentence instead of at the end?
In German, bitte is very flexible. It often comes right after the first verb, which makes the whole request sound soft and polite right from the start. You could also put it later, like Wir möchten die Rechnung bitte bezahlen, but placing it early in the sentence is very natural.
Why does Rechnung use die? Is it plural?
No, die Rechnung is singular here. It uses die because Rechnung is a feminine noun. A helpful trick for beginners is that almost all German nouns ending in -ung are feminine!
Could I just say zahlen instead of bezahlen?
Yes! In German restaurants, you will often hear people simply say Wir möchten bitte zahlen. Both zahlen and bezahlen mean 'to pay' and are perfectly fine to use interchangeably in this situation.
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