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German Phrase

Gibt's schon Schäden?

/ɡɪpt͡s ʃoːn ˈʃɛːdn̩/
Meaning"Are there already damages?"
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Meaning

Literally: 'Are there already damages?' It is used to inquire whether any damage has already occurred, often after an accident, a delivery, or a renovation.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you want to quickly check the condition of an object, a vehicle, a piece of equipment, or a property after it has been handled, moved, or involved in an incident. It is informal and works well in spoken conversation.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Gibt'sschonSchäden?

1

Gibt's (gibt es)

Contraction of the impersonal verb 'geben' + 'es' used to ask if something exists; in formal contexts use 'gibt es'.

2

schon

Adverb meaning 'already', placed before the noun phrase to indicate something has occurred earlier than expected.

3

Schäden (plural)

Plural noun for 'damage' or 'injury'; note the umlaut and the plural ending -en.

4

Question mark

German yes‑no questions invert the verb and subject; here the verb is already in first position, so no further inversion is needed.

🗨In Conversation

A

Gibt's schon Schäden?

Are there already any damages?

Ja, die vordere Stoßstange ist eingedrückt und die Scheibe hat einen kleinen Riss.

Yes, the front bumper is dented and the windshield has a small crack.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Gibt's schon Schaden?

    The noun 'Schaden' is singular; the question asks about multiple damages, so use the plural 'Schäden'.

  • Gibt es schon Schäden?

    While grammatically correct, using the full form 'gibt es' sounds formal; in casual speech native speakers prefer the contraction 'Gibt's'.

  • Gibt's Schäden schon?

    Placing 'schon' after the noun sounds unnatural; it should precede the noun phrase.

↔Alternatives

  • Gibt es bereits Schäden?

    Are there already damages?

  • Sind bereits Schäden vorhanden?

    Are there already damages present?

  • Sind Schäden aufgetreten?

    Have any damages occurred?

de

Cultural Tip

The contraction 'Gibt's' is typical of everyday spoken German and sounds natural in casual conversation. In written or formal contexts you should use the full form 'Gibt es'. Also, remember that 'Schäden' is plural; if you refer to a single type of damage you would say 'ein Schaden' (e.g., 'Gibt es schon einen Schaden?').