German Phrase
Machen wir einen Schulausflug?
Meaning
The sentence is a friendly suggestion meaning ‘Shall we go on a school trip?’ It invites the listener to agree on organising a class outing, often used by students or teachers when planning a field‑trip.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to propose a class excursion, either in a casual conversation with classmates or in a more formal setting with a teacher. It works best when the idea of a trip is already on the table and you need a quick consensus.
✦Grammar Breakdown
MachenwireinenSchulausflug?
Verb‑first in yes/no questions
In German yes/no questions the finite verb moves to the first position, followed by the subject.
Accusative masculine article ‘einen’
‘Schulausflug’ is masculine; as the direct object it takes the accusative article ‘einen’.
Verb ‘machen’ as ‘to do/organise’
‘machen’ can mean ‘to organise’ a trip, so ‘einen Schulausflug machen’ = ‘to go on a school trip’.
Pronoun ‘wir’ (we) as subject
The pronoun ‘wir’ stays after the verb in a V1 question, keeping the subject‑verb order clear.
🗨In Conversation
Machen wir einen Schulausflug?
Shall we go on a school trip?
Ja, das klingt super! Wohin sollen wir fahren?
Yes, that sounds great! Where should we go?
✕Common Mistakes
Machen wir ein Schulausflug?
‘Schulausflug’ is masculine; the accusative article must be ‘einen’, not ‘ein’.
Wir machen einen Schulausflug?
In a yes/no question the verb must be first; placing ‘machen’ after the subject turns it into a statement.
Machen wir einen Schulausflüge?
The singular ‘Schulausflug’ is needed here; the plural would change the meaning to ‘school trips’.
↔Alternatives
Wollen wir einen Schulausflug machen?
Do we want to make a school trip?
Gehen wir auf einen Schulausflug?
Shall we go on a school trip?
Wie wäre es mit einem Schulausflug?
How about a school trip?
Cultural Tip
In Germany school trips (Schulausflüge) are often organised by the class teacher and may include a bus ride to museums, historic sites, or nature parks. They are usually paid for partially by the school and partially by the parents, and students often write a short report afterwards. When suggesting a trip, it’s polite to ask for the teacher’s approval first, especially for longer outings.