German Phrase
Versuch, es 2-3 Mal pro Woche zu machen.
Meaning
This sentence is a friendly suggestion: ‘Try to do it two to three times a week.’ It is often used when giving advice about a habit, such as exercising, studying, or practicing a skill.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to encourage someone to adopt a regular routine. It works well in informal conversations, coaching sessions, or health‑related advice.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Versuch,es2-3MalproWochezumachen.
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Versuch’ is the informal singular imperative of the verb ‘versuchen’ (to try).
Pronoun ‘es’
‘es’ refers to the activity or task previously mentioned.
Numeric range ‘2-3 Mal’
German uses a dash to indicate a range; ‘Mal’ is a countable unit meaning ‘times’.
Preposition ‘pro’
‘pro’ means ‘per’ and is used with time periods like ‘Woche’ (week).
Infinitive with ‘zu’
When an infinitive follows a noun or a phrase like ‘Versuch’, it is introduced by ‘zu’.
🗨In Conversation
Wie oft soll ich Deutsch lernen?
How often should I study German?
Versuch, es 2-3 Mal pro Woche zu machen.
Try to do it two to three times a week.
✕Common Mistakes
Versuchen, es 2-3 Mal pro Woche zu machen.
‘Versuchen’ is infinitive, not the imperative. Use ‘Versuch’ for a direct suggestion.
Es 2-3 Mal pro Woche zu machen.
Missing the imperative verb at the beginning; the sentence feels incomplete.
Versuch, zu machen es 2-3 Mal pro Woche.
The infinitive ‘zu machen’ must precede the pronoun ‘es’, not follow it.
↔Alternatives
Versuche, es 2‑3 Mal pro Woche zu tun.
Try to do it 2‑3 times per week.
Versuch, das 2‑ bis 3‑mal wöchentlich zu machen.
Try to do that two to three times weekly.
Mach es 2‑3 Mal pro Woche.
Do it 2‑3 times a week.
Cultural Tip
‘Versuch’ is informal; in a formal setting you would say ‘Versuchen Sie, es 2‑3 Mal pro Woche zu machen.’ German speakers also tend to use the dash in numeric ranges (2‑3) and often add a space before the dash when writing by hand. The word ‘Mal’ is capitalised because nouns are always capitalised in German.