Learn Hardcore German: Können wir den Termin umbuchen, falls der Besprechungsraum nicht frei ist? - Can we rebook the appointment if the meeting room is not free?

Umbuchen literally means “to rebook,” typically used for tickets, rooms, or other reservations. For appointments/meetings, Germans more often say den Termin verschieben or verlegen (“reschedule/move”). Your sentence is understandable, but in a business context, verschieben is usually the safest choice.

Why is it den Termin and not der Termin?

Termin is masculine (der Termin). Here it’s the direct object of the verb, so it takes the accusative: den Termin. Subject: wir (nominative). Object: den Termin (accusative).

Why does the sentence start with Können?

It’s a yes/no question. In German, yes/no questions put the finite verb first (verb–subject–rest): Können wir den Termin …?

Why is umbuchen at the end of the main clause?

With modal verbs like können, the main (lexical) verb appears as a bare infinitive at the end of the clause: Können wir … umbuchen. No zu is used with modals.

Why is there a comma before falls?

Falls introduces a subordinate clause. German requires a comma before subordinate clauses: main clause , subordinate clause.

What’s the difference between falls and wenn?

Both can mean “if.” Falls emphasizes a hypothetical/contingent condition (“in case”). Wenn is more general (“if/when”) and very common in speech. In your sentence, both are fine; falls sounds a touch more formal/precautionary.

Why is it nicht frei and not frei nicht or nicht ist frei?

In the falls clause the finite verb goes to the end: … nicht frei ist. The negation nicht precedes the adjective frei. Options like frei nicht or nicht ist frei are ungrammatical here.

Could I use a different word than frei?

Yes. Common alternatives: belegt or besetzt (“occupied”), or verfügbar (“available,” usually with a negation: nicht verfügbar). Examples: falls der Raum belegt ist / falls der Raum nicht verfügbar ist.

Is Besprechungsraum the only option? What about Konferenzraum?

Both are fine. Besprechungsraum = meeting room; Konferenzraum = conference room. You’ll also hear Meetingraum (informal/Anglicism) and regionally Sitzungszimmer (CH/AT).

What gender is Besprechungsraum, and why is it capitalized?

It’s masculine: der Besprechungsraum (base word der Raum is masculine, and compounds inherit the base word’s gender). All German nouns are capitalized, including each part of a compound written as one word.

Could I say dürfen wir instead of können wir?

You can, but it changes the nuance. Können wir …? asks about possibility/ability. Dürfen wir …? asks for permission. In a polite request, dürfen can sound more directly about authorization.

How do I make the question more polite?

Use the conditional or an impersonal phrasing:

Könnten wir den Termin verschieben, falls der Besprechungsraum nicht frei ist?
Wäre es möglich, den Termin zu verschieben, falls der Besprechungsraum nicht frei ist?

Why is ist at the end of the falls clause?

Because falls introduces a subordinate clause, and in subordinate clauses the finite verb goes to the end: … der Besprechungsraum nicht frei ist.

Can I move the falls clause to the front?

Yes: Falls der Besprechungsraum nicht frei ist, können wir den Termin umbuchen? Main clause still keeps verb-second order after the comma.

When do I use umzubuchen with zu?

Use zu when there’s no modal and the verb is in an infinitive construction. With separable verbs, zu goes between the prefix and the stem: umzubuchen. Example: Er versucht, den Termin umzubuchen. With modals, no zu: Wir können … umbuchen.

How does the separable verb umbuchen work in other forms?

Present (no modal): Wir buchen den Termin um.
Perfect: Wir haben den Termin umgebucht. (prefix + ge + stem + t)
Future: Wir werden den Termin umbuchen.

Does weil work instead of falls?

It changes the meaning. Weil = because (real/known reason). Falls = if/in case (hypothetical). … weil der Besprechungsraum nicht frei ist implies you already know it’s occupied.

Is there a nuance between Termin and Besprechung?

Yes. Der Termin is the scheduled slot/appointment. Die Besprechung is the meeting itself. You typically einen Termin verschieben (reschedule an appointment) and eine Besprechung absagen/durchführen (cancel/hold a meeting).