German Phrase
Kann ich mal deinen Ausweis sehen, bitte?
Meaning
Literally: ‘Can I, for a moment, see your ID, please?’ It is a polite, informal way to ask someone to show their identification, often used in shops, clubs, or when checking age.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to verify a person’s identity or age in a casual setting—e.g., a bartender checking a customer’s age, a shop assistant confirming a loyalty card, or a security guard at an event.
✦Grammar Breakdown
KannichmaldeinenAusweissehenbitte
Modalverb + Infinitiv
‘Kann’ is the present‑tense form of the modal verb *können*; it is followed by the infinitive ‘sehen’ to express ability or permission.
Personalpronomen ‘ich’
The subject pronoun ‘ich’ (I) follows the modal verb in standard word order.
‘mal’ as a softener
‘mal’ (short for ‘einmal’) is a colloquial particle that makes the request sound less formal and more casual.
Akkusativ ‘deinen Ausweis’
‘Ausweis’ is a masculine noun; the possessive ‘dein‑’ takes the accusative ending ‘‑en’ because it is the direct object of ‘sehen’.
Verb ‘sehen’ (infinitive)
The main verb stays in infinitive form after a modal verb.
Polite particle ‘bitte’
Placing ‘bitte’ at the end adds politeness, similar to ‘please’ in English.
🗨In Conversation
Kann ich mal deinen Ausweis sehen, bitte?
Can I see your ID, please?
Klar, hier ist er.
Sure, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Kann ich mal dein Ausweis sehen, bitte?
The noun ‘Ausweis’ is the direct object, so the possessive must be in accusative: ‘deinen Ausweis’.
Kann ich sehen dein Ausweis, bitte?
Word order after a modal verb is fixed: modal + subject + infinitive at the end.
Bitte kann ich mal deinen Ausweis sehen?
‘Bitte’ should stay at the end of the sentence, not in the middle.
↔Alternatives
Darf ich bitte deinen Ausweis sehen?
May I please see your ID?
Könntest du mir kurz deinen Ausweis zeigen?
Could you quickly show me your ID?
Zeig mir bitte deinen Ausweis.
Show me your ID, please.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries, asking for an ID is common in age‑restricted situations, but it is considered impolite to do so without a clear reason. Use the informal ‘du’ form only if you already have a familiar relationship; otherwise, switch to the formal ‘Sie’ (e.g., ‘Könnten Sie mir bitte Ihren Ausweis zeigen?’).