German Phrase
Schau dir die Rückgabebedingungen an, bevor du kaufst.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to look at the return policy before making a purchase. It emphasizes the importance of checking the conditions under which a product can be returned or refunded.
When to use
Use this phrase when advising a friend, a colleague, or a customer to read the return terms before buying, especially in online shopping, in‑store purchases, or when signing up for a service.
✦Grammar Breakdown
SchaudirdieRückgabebedingungenan,bevordukaufst.
Imperativ mit reflexivem Pronomen
‘Schau dir … an’ is a colloquial imperative construction; the verb ‘schauen’ takes a dative reflexive pronoun (dir) and the separable prefix ‘an’ moves to the end.
Komposita: Rückgabebedingungen
‘Rückgabebedingungen’ combines ‘Rückgabe’ (return) and ‘Bedingungen’ (conditions); the main stress is on the first part.
Subjunktion ‘bevor’
‘bevor’ introduces a subordinate clause and pushes the verb ‘kaufst’ to the end of that clause.
2. Person Singular Präsens
‘kaufst’ is the present‑tense form for ‘du’; note the -st ending.
🗨In Conversation
Ich will das neue Handy bestellen, aber ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob ich es zurückgeben kann.
I want to order the new phone, but I'm not sure if I can return it.
Schau dir die Rückgabebedingungen an, bevor du kaufst.
Look at the return conditions before you buy.
✕Common Mistakes
Schau dir die Rückgabebedingungen an, bevor du kaufen.
In the subordinate clause the verb must be at the end; use ‘kaufst’ not ‘kaufen’.
Schau die Rückgabebedingungen an, bevor du kaufst.
The reflexive pronoun must stay in dative; you cannot drop ‘dir’.
Schau dir die Rückgabe Bedingungen an, bevor du kaufst.
Compound nouns are written together in German.
↔Alternatives
Sieh dir die Rückgabebedingungen an, bevor du etwas kaufst.
Check the return conditions before you buy something.
Prüfe die Rückgabebedingungen, bevor du etwas kaufst.
Check the return conditions before you purchase anything.
Lies die Rückgabebedingungen, bevor du etwas bestellst.
Read the return conditions before you order something.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries return policies differ between retailers; many online shops offer a 14‑day “Widerrufsrecht”. Using the informal ‘du’ makes the advice sound friendly and casual, while ‘Sie’ would be used in a formal customer‑service context.