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German Phrase

Lass uns nächste Woche mit den Tests anfangen.

/las ʊns ˈnɛːçstə ˈvoːxə mɪt deːn tɛsts ˈʔanfanən/
Meaning"Let's start the tests next week."
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Meaning

‘Let’s start the tests next week.’ The speaker suggests beginning a series of tests (e.g., in a project, a class, or a software rollout) and sets the time frame to the upcoming week.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you and your teammates, classmates, or collaborators are planning to begin testing something together. It is informal, so it fits casual meetings, study groups, or friendly work environments.

Grammar Breakdown

LassunsnächsteWochemitdenTestsanfangen

1

Lass uns (imperative + pronoun)

‘Lass uns’ is the 2nd‑person singular informal imperative of *lassen* followed by the pronoun *uns* and means ‘let’s’. It is the most common way to propose a joint action in casual conversation.

2

Temporal expression – nächste Woche

‘nächste Woche’ (next week) is a time expression that does not require a case change; it simply tells when the action will happen.

3

Preposition *mit* + dative

The preposition *mit* always governs the dative case. Therefore the definite article becomes *den* for the plural noun *Tests*.

4

Verb at the end – anfangen

In main clauses with an infinitive construction, the infinitive verb (*anfangen*) is placed at the end of the sentence.

🗨In Conversation

A

Wann sollen wir mit den Tests beginnen?

When should we start the tests?

Lass uns nächste Woche mit den Tests anfangen.

Let's start the tests next week.

B

Common Mistakes

  • Lass uns nächste Woche mit die Tests anfangen.

    The preposition *mit* requires the dative case, so the article must be *den*, not *die*.

  • Lassen wir nächste Woche mit den Tests anfangen.

    ‘Lassen wir’ is a literal translation of ‘let’s’ but is not idiomatic; native speakers use *Lass uns* (informal) or *Lassen Sie uns* (formal).

Alternatives

  • Wir fangen nächste Woche mit den Tests an.

    We start the tests next week.

  • Lass uns nächste Woche die Tests starten.

    Let's start the tests next week.

  • Lassen Sie uns nächste Woche mit den Tests beginnen.

    Let us start the tests next week.

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Cultural Tip

‘Lass uns’ is strictly informal. In a business or formal setting you would switch to the polite form *Lassen Sie uns…*. Also note that *anfangen* and *beginnen* are largely interchangeable, but *anfangen* sounds a bit more colloquial, while *beginnen* is slightly more formal.