German Phrase
Kannst du mir das genauer erklären?
Meaning
‘Can you explain that to me in more detail?’ is a polite request for a clearer, more thorough explanation of something that has just been mentioned. It implies that the listener already gave a brief answer, but the speaker needs more specifics.
When to use
Use this sentence in classrooms, meetings, or everyday conversations when you need a deeper clarification. It works well after a short answer, a confusing instruction, or any situation where the speaker feels the explanation was too vague.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Kannstdumirdasgenauererklären?
Kannst (können)
Modal verb ‘können’ in 2nd person singular; it requires the infinitive of the main verb at the end.
du
Personal pronoun, subject of the sentence, placed after the modal verb in a question.
mir
Dative pronoun meaning ‘to me’; the verb ‘erklären’ takes a dative object for the person receiving the explanation.
das
Demonstrative pronoun in accusative, the thing that will be explained.
genauer
Comparative adverb of ‘genau’; it modifies the verb ‘erklären’ to ask for a more precise explanation.
erklären
Main verb in infinitive form, required after a modal verb.
🗨In Conversation
Kannst du mir das genauer erklären?
Can you explain that to me in more detail?
Ja, gern. Also, zuerst musst du …
Sure, gladly. First, you have to …
✕Common Mistakes
Kannst du mir das genauer erklärst?
After a modal verb you must use the infinitive, not the conjugated form.
Kann du mir das genauer erklären?
The modal verb ‘kannst’ must be conjugated to match ‘du’.
Kannst du das mir genauer erklären?
The dative pronoun ‘mir’ must stay before the accusative ‘das’; swapping them sounds unnatural.
↔Alternatives
Könntest du das bitte genauer erläutern?
Could you please elaborate on that?
Erklärst du mir das noch einmal genauer?
Will you explain that to me again, more precisely?
Kannst du das noch etwas genauer beschreiben?
Can you describe that a bit more precisely?
Cultural Tip
German speakers value clarity, so asking for a more precise explanation is perfectly normal. Adding ‘bitte’ or using the conditional ‘könntest du’ makes the request sound even more courteous. In formal settings, you might replace ‘du’ with ‘Sie’: ‘Könnten Sie mir das genauer erklären?’