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German Phrase

Probier mal, den Treiber zu aktualisieren.

/ˈpʁoːbiɐ maːl deːn ˈtʁaɪbɐ t͡suː ˈaktʊaliˈziːʁən/
Meaning"Try updating the driver."
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Meaning

‘Try updating the driver.’ The speaker suggests, in a friendly and informal way, that the listener should attempt to install a newer version of a software driver, usually to fix a hardware problem.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you are helping a friend or a colleague with a technical issue and want to give a quick, informal suggestion. It works well in casual conversations, chat messages, or over the phone, but not in formal business emails.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Probiermal,denTreiberzuaktualisieren.

1

Imperativ (2nd person singular)

‘Probier’ is the informal imperative form of ‘probieren’, used when speaking to a single person you address with ‘du’.

2

Modalpartikel ‘mal’

‘mal’ softens the command, making it sound more casual and friendly, similar to ‘just’ in English.

3

Accusative object

‘den Treiber’ is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb ‘probieren’.

4

Infinitiv mit ‘zu’

The construction ‘zu aktualisieren’ is an infinitive clause that functions as the object of ‘probieren’.

5

Punctuation

A comma separates the main clause from the infinitive clause, which is required in German.

🗨In Conversation

A

Mein Drucker druckt nichts mehr.

My printer stopped printing.

Probier mal, den Treiber zu aktualisieren.

Try updating the driver.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Probieren Sie mal, den Treiber zu aktualisieren.

    ‘Probieren Sie mal’ mixes the informal ‘mal’ with the formal ‘Sie’; use either ‘Probier mal’ (informal) or ‘Versuchen Sie’ (formal).

  • Probier mal den Treiber aktualisieren.

    The infinitive clause needs ‘zu’ and a comma: ‘zu aktualisieren.’

  • Probier mal, das Treiber zu aktualisieren.

    ‘Treiber’ is masculine, so the accusative article is ‘den’, not ‘das’.

↔Alternatives

  • Versuch doch, den Treiber zu aktualisieren.

    Try, after all, updating the driver.

  • Du könntest den Treiber aktualisieren.

    You could update the driver.

  • Aktualisiere den Treiber.

    Update the driver.

  • Versuchen Sie, den Treiber zu aktualisieren.

    Please try updating the driver.

de

Cultural Tip

The particle ‘mal’ is a hallmark of everyday spoken German. It makes commands sound less abrupt and more collegial. In a formal setting (e.g., with a customer or a manager) you would drop ‘mal’ and use the polite form ‘Versuchen Sie…’ or a full sentence like ‘Bitte aktualisieren Sie den Treiber.’