Breakdown of Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren.
ich
I
möchten
would like
einen Termin vereinbaren
to arrange an appointment
Questions & Answers about Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren.
Why does the verb vereinbaren go at the very end of the sentence?
In German, when you use a helping verb like möchte (would like), the second verb in the sentence is pushed to the very end in its dictionary form (infinitive). So instead of saying 'I would like to arrange an appointment,' German word order is literally 'I would like an appointment to arrange.'
Why is it einen Termin instead of just ein Termin?
The word Termin is a masculine noun (der Termin). Because it is the direct object of the sentence, which means it is the thing being arranged, it must be in the accusative case. For masculine nouns, the word ein changes to einen in the accusative case.
Could I just say einen Termin machen instead of using vereinbaren?
Yes, in casual spoken German, people often say einen Termin machen. However, einen Termin vereinbaren is the standard, more polite way to say 'arrange an appointment' and is exactly what you should use when calling a doctor's office or a business.
Is vereinbaren a separable verb? If I use it without möchte, does the ver- go to the end?
No, the prefix ver- is inseparable. If you used it in a normal present tense sentence without möchte, it would stay attached to the verb, like this: Ich vereinbare einen Termin (I am arranging an appointment).
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