Appearance
Vocab: City — A1
City vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Allee — avenue, tree-lined road
Allee is feminine: use die Allee in the singular and die Alleen in the plural. It usually describes a broad road lined with trees.
Die Allee führt zum Schloss.
The avenue leads to the palace.
führt means leads, and das Schloss is the palace. Die Allee is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb führt stands in position two.
Wir überqueren die Allee.
We cross the avenue.
überqueren means cross. Die Allee is accusative because überqueren takes a direct accusative object, and the finite verb überqueren is in position two.
Wir warten an der Allee.
We are waiting by the avenue.
warten means wait, and an means by or at here. Der Allee is dative because the location meaning of an requires the dative; the finite verb warten stands in position two.
Die Bäume der Allee sind sehr alt.
The trees of the avenue are very old.
die Bäume means the trees, and sehr alt means very old. Der Allee is genitive because it identifies which trees; the finite verb sind is in position two.
Im Park gibt es drei Alleen.
There are three avenues in the park.
im Park means in the park, gibt es means there are, and drei means three. Alleen is plural, and after es gibt the noun is accusative, although the plural form looks the same as nominative.
Athen — Athens
Athen is a proper name and normally has no article. It is used after nach for movement to the city and after in for location in the city.
Im Sommer fliegen wir nach Athen.
In summer we are flying to Athens.
der Sommer means summer, fliegen means to fly, and wir means we. nach Athen expresses a destination; nach is used with city names, and the finite verb fliegen stands in position two.
Viele Touristen besuchen Athen jedes Jahr.
Many tourists visit Athens every year.
viele Touristen means many tourists, besuchen means to visit, and jedes Jahr means every year. Athen is the accusative object of besuchen, while the finite verb besuchen stands in position two.
Berlin — Berlin
Berlin is used without an article. Use in Berlin for location and nach Berlin for movement towards the city.
Ich wohne in Berlin.
I live in Berlin.
wohnen means to live. in takes the dative for a location, but a city name such as Berlin has no visible article or case ending.
Morgen fliege ich nach Berlin.
Tomorrow I am flying to Berlin.
morgen means tomorrow and fliegen means to fly. nach expresses direction to a city and is followed by the bare name Berlin; the finite verb fliege stands in position two.
Cambridge — Cambridge; Cambridge University
Cambridge is a place name in England and normally appears without an article. It can refer to the city or, by association, its famous university.
Cambridge liegt nördlich von London.
Cambridge is north of London.
liegt means is located, nördlich von means north of, and London is the capital of the United Kingdom. Cambridge is a proper noun used without an article, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Wir fahren morgen nach Cambridge.
We are travelling to Cambridge tomorrow.
fahren means travel or go by vehicle and morgen means tomorrow. nach Cambridge expresses a destination and takes no article because Cambridge is a place name; fahren is in position two.
Meine Schwester studiert in Cambridge.
My sister studies at Cambridge.
meine Schwester means my sister and studiert means studies. in Cambridge refers to the university or city and uses no article; in takes dative for a fixed location, while studiert is in position two.
Er hat in Cambridge Geschichte studiert.
He studied history at Cambridge.
Geschichte means history and hat studiert means studied. in Cambridge has no article because it is a proper name; in the perfect, the auxiliary hat is in position two and the participle studiert goes to the end.
das Dorf — village
Dorf is usually smaller than Stadt, which means town or city. Its plural changes the vowel and adds -er: Dörfer.
Das Dorf liegt am Fluss.
The village lies by the river.
liegt means lies or is situated, and der Fluss means river. Das Dorf is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt stands in position two.
Wir besuchen das Dorf.
We are visiting the village.
wir means we and besuchen means visit. Das Dorf is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object, and the finite verb besuchen is in position two.
Sie wohnt in dem Dorf.
She lives in the village.
sie means she and wohnt means lives. In takes the dative for a fixed location, so dem Dorf is dative; the verb wohnt stands in position two.
Die Kirche des Dorfes ist alt.
The village church is old.
die Kirche means the church and alt means old. Des Dorfes is genitive because it means “of the village,” and the neuter noun takes the ending -es.
Viele Dörfer liegen in den Bergen.
Many villages lie in the mountains.
viele means many, liegen means lie or are situated, and die Berge means mountains. Dörfer is the plural of das Dorf, with an umlaut and -er; it is the subject, so it is nominative.
die Ecke — corner; spot, area
die Ecke is feminine and has the regular plural die Ecken. For a street corner, use an der Ecke for a location and um die Ecke for around the corner.
Die Ecke ist sehr dunkel.
The corner is very dark.
dunkel means dark, and sehr means very. Die Ecke is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich sehe die Ecke vom Fenster aus.
I can see the corner from the window.
sehen means to see, das Fenster means the window, and vom ... aus means from. Die Ecke is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; sehe stands in position two.
Wir treffen uns an der Ecke.
We are meeting at the corner.
treffen means to meet, and sich treffen means to meet one another. An takes the dative here because this is a fixed location, so der Ecke is dative; treffen is in position two.
Das Café an der Ecke ist geschlossen.
The café on the corner is closed.
das Café means the café, geschlossen means closed, and an der Ecke means on the corner. The sentence does not contain a genitive use of Ecke; der Ecke here is dative after an for a location, while ist is in position two.
An jeder Straße gibt es Ecken.
There are corners on every street.
jede Straße means every street, and es gibt means there is or there are. Ecken is plural and accusative after es gibt; an jeder Straße is dative because it describes a location.
In dieser Ecke gibt es viele kleine Läden.
There are many small shops in this area.
diese means this, viele means many, and kleine Läden means small shops. In dieser Ecke is dative because in describes a location, and es gibt takes the accusative for what exists.
Wir suchen eine ruhige Ecke zum Lesen.
We are looking for a quiet corner for reading.
suchen means to look for, ruhig means quiet, and zum Lesen means for reading. Eine ruhige Ecke is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; zum is short for zu dem and introduces the purpose.
die Einbahnstraße — one-way street
die Einbahnstraße is a feminine compound made from ein and Bahnstraße. Its plural is die Einbahnstraßen, and the word is common in traffic signs and directions.
Die Einbahnstraße beginnt hier.
The one-way street starts here.
beginnt means starts, and hier means here. Die Einbahnstraße is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich sehe die Einbahnstraße.
I see the one-way street.
sehe means see. die Einbahnstraße is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Wir fahren durch die Einbahnstraße.
We drive through the one-way street.
fahren means drive or travel, and durch means through. durch always takes the accusative, so die Einbahnstraße is accusative here; it is not dative despite the movement meaning.
Das Ende der Einbahnstraße ist dort.
The end of the one-way street is there.
das Ende means the end, and dort means there. der Einbahnstraße is genitive because it tells us which street the end belongs to; feminine nouns have no extra genitive ending.
In Berlin gibt es viele Einbahnstraßen.
There are many one-way streets in Berlin.
in Berlin means in Berlin, gibt es means there are, and viele means many. viele Einbahnstraßen is accusative after the fixed expression gibt es; the plural adds -n to Einbahnstraße.
Frankfurt — Frankfurt
Frankfurt is a city name and normally has no article. Use in Frankfurt for location and nach Frankfurt for travel to the city.
Ich wohne in Frankfurt.
I live in Frankfurt.
wohnen means to live. in Frankfurt answers where someone lives, so in expresses location here; the finite verb wohne stands in position two.
Morgen fliegt Anna nach Frankfurt.
Anna is flying to Frankfurt tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and fliegen means to fly. nach Frankfurt expresses destination, while fliegt is the finite verb in position two.
der Gehsteig — pavement, sidewalk
der Gehsteig is the usual word in Germany and Austria for the paved path beside a road. In Switzerland, das Trottoir is common; do not confuse Gehsteig with the road used by cars.
Der Gehsteig ist heute sehr voll.
The pavement is very crowded today.
heute means today and sehr voll means very crowded. Der Gehsteig is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir überqueren den Gehsteig.
We cross the pavement.
wir means we and überqueren means cross. den Gehsteig is masculine accusative because it is the direct object of überqueren; the article changes from der to den.
Die Kinder spielen auf dem Gehsteig.
The children are playing on the pavement.
die Kinder means the children and spielen means are playing. auf dem Gehsteig is dative because auf describes a fixed location here; the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Die Farbe des Gehsteigs ist grau.
The colour of the pavement is grey.
die Farbe means the colour and grau means grey. des Gehsteigs is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is; the masculine genitive uses des and the ending -s.
Im Sommer sind die Gehsteige voller Menschen.
In summer, the pavements are full of people.
im Sommer means in summer and voller Menschen means full of people. die Gehsteige is the plural subject, while im Sommer is dative because in refers to a time period here.
die Hauptstadt — capital city
This word means the capital city of a country, not simply any large city. The plural is Hauptstädte with an umlaut.
Berlin ist die Hauptstadt von Deutschland.
Berlin is the capital of Germany.
Berlin is the name of Germany’s capital, and Deutschland means Germany. Die Hauptstadt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir besuchen die Hauptstadt im Sommer.
We are visiting the capital in summer.
Wir means we, besuchen means visit, and im Sommer means in summer. Die Hauptstadt is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuchen stands in position two.
In der Hauptstadt gibt es viele Museen.
There are many museums in the capital.
In means in, gibt es means there are, and viele Museen means many museums. Der Hauptstadt is dative because in describes a location here; gibt is in position two, while es is the formal subject.
Das Zentrum der Hauptstadt ist sehr lebendig.
The centre of the capital is very lively.
Das Zentrum means the centre and lebendig means lively. Der Hauptstadt is genitive because it identifies whose centre it is; the finite verb ist remains in position two.
Viele Hauptstädte haben große Bahnhöfe.
Many capital cities have large railway stations.
Viele means many, haben means have, and große Bahnhöfe means large railway stations. Hauptstädte is plural and nominative because it is the subject; haben is in position two.
Die Hauptstadt liegt am Meer.
The capital is by the sea.
Liegt means lies or is situated, and am Meer means by the sea. Die Hauptstadt is the subject, so it is nominative, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Welche Hauptstadt möchtest du einmal sehen?
Which capital would you like to see one day?
Welche means which, möchtest means would like, and einmal means one day or sometime. Welche Hauptstadt is accusative because it is the object of sehen; in this question the finite verb möchtest comes directly after the question word.
die Hauptstraße — main road, main street
Hauptstraße is used for the main road through a town or city. Do not confuse it with Autobahn, which means motorway.
Die Hauptstraße ist heute gesperrt.
The main road is closed today.
Heute means today and gesperrt means closed to traffic. Die Hauptstraße is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich überquere die Hauptstraße vorsichtig.
I cross the main road carefully.
Ich means I, überquere means cross, and vorsichtig means carefully. Die Hauptstraße is accusative because überqueren takes a direct object; the finite verb überquere is in position two.
An der Hauptstraße gibt es einen Bäcker.
There is a baker’s on the main road.
An means at or on, gibt es means there is, and einen Bäcker means a baker’s shop or baker. Der Hauptstraße is dative because an describes a location; gibt is in position two.
Die Geschäfte der Hauptstraße schließen spät.
The shops on the main road close late.
Die Geschäfte means the shops and spät means late. Der Hauptstraße is genitive because it specifies which shops; the finite verb schließen is in position two.
Die Hauptstraßen sind am Abend laut.
The main roads are loud in the evening.
Am Abend means in the evening and laut means loud or noisy. Hauptstraßen is plural and nominative because it is the subject; sind is in position two.
Unsere Hauptstraße führt zum Bahnhof.
Our main road leads to the railway station.
Unsere means our, führt means leads, and zum Bahnhof means to the railway station. Unsere Hauptstraße is the subject in the nominative, and the finite verb führt is in position two.
Fahr nicht so schnell über die Hauptstraße!
Don’t drive across the main road so fast!
Fahr nicht means don’t drive, so schnell means so fast, and über means across here. Die Hauptstraße is accusative because über expresses movement across it; the imperative fahr comes first.
die Innenstadt — city centre, downtown
Innenstadt is a compound of innen, inner, and Stadt, city. In English, downtown can often translate it, but German uses the feminine noun die Innenstadt.
Die Innenstadt ist heute sehr voll.
The city centre is very crowded today.
heute means today and sehr voll means very crowded. die Innenstadt is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir besuchen die Innenstadt.
We are visiting the city centre.
wir besuchen means we are visiting. die Innenstadt is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, nominative and accusative both use die.
Wir treffen uns in der Innenstadt.
We are meeting in the city centre.
wir treffen uns means we are meeting, and in means in. der Innenstadt is dative because in describes a location here; uns means each other or ourselves.
Das Zentrum der Innenstadt ist autofrei.
The centre of the city centre is car-free.
das Zentrum means the centre and autofrei means car-free. der Innenstadt is genitive after das Zentrum and means of the city centre; ist remains in position two.
Viele Innenstädte haben schöne Plätze.
Many city centres have beautiful squares.
viele means many, schöne means beautiful, and Plätze means squares. Innenstädte is a plural subject, while schöne Plätze is an accusative object after haben; the plural has an umlaut and -e.
die Kreuzung — intersection, crossing
For a road intersection, die Kreuzung is more precise than das Kreuz, which usually means a cross or a cross-shaped mark.
Die Kreuzung ist sehr groß.
The intersection is very large.
sehr groß means very large. Die Kreuzung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe die Kreuzung dort vorne.
I can see the intersection up ahead.
dort vorne means up ahead. die Kreuzung is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehe is in position two.
An der Kreuzung wartet ein Taxi.
A taxi is waiting at the intersection.
wartet means is waiting and ein Taxi means a taxi. an der Kreuzung is dative because an describes a fixed location here; the subject ein Taxi follows the verb.
Die Ampel der Kreuzung ist kaputt.
The traffic light at the intersection is broken.
die Ampel means the traffic light and kaputt means broken. der Kreuzung is genitive feminine, meaning “of the intersection,” and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Auf dieser Strecke gibt es viele Kreuzungen.
There are many intersections on this route.
auf dieser Strecke means on this route and viele means many. After es gibt, the noun phrase is accusative, although the plural form Kreuzungen looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Luxemburg — Luxembourg (country); Luxembourg (city)
When Luxemburg means the country, it normally appears without an article. Do not confuse the country with Luxemburg, the capital city; the same name is used for both.
Meine Schwester lebt in Luxemburg.
My sister lives in Luxembourg.
meine Schwester means my sister and lebt means lives. in Luxemburg names the place where someone is located, so in takes the dative here; the finite verb lebt is in position two.
Wir fahren morgen nach Luxemburg.
We are travelling to Luxembourg tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and fahren means travel or go by vehicle. nach Luxemburg expresses movement to a country without an article, and the finite verb fahren stands in position two.
Luxemburg ist eine schöne Stadt.
Luxembourg City is a beautiful city.
ist means is, eine schöne Stadt means a beautiful city. Luxemburg is the subject in the nominative, and the finite verb ist comes in position two.
Im Sommer besuchen viele Touristen Luxemburg.
Many tourists visit Luxembourg City in summer.
im Sommer means in summer, viele Touristen means many tourists, and besuchen means visit. Luxemburg is an accusative object because besuchen takes an accusative object; the finite verb besuchen is in position two.
der Markt — market
Der Markt can mean an open-air market or, more generally, the market as an economic system. For a supermarket, German usually uses der Supermarkt.
Der Markt ist heute sehr voll.
The market is very crowded today.
heute means today, and sehr voll means very crowded. Markt is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich besuche den Markt am Samstag.
I visit the market on Saturday.
besuche means visit, and am Samstag means on Saturday. Markt is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuche is in position two.
Wir kaufen auf dem Markt frisches Gemüse.
We buy fresh vegetables at the market.
kaufen means buy, and frisches Gemüse means fresh vegetables. Markt is dative after auf because this sentence describes a location, not movement toward it; the finite verb kaufen is in position two.
Die Preise des Marktes sind niedrig.
The market's prices are low.
die Preise means the prices, and niedrig means low. Marktes is genitive because it shows whose prices they are, and sind stands in position two; the genitive ending is -es.
Auf den Märkten gibt es viele regionale Produkte.
There are many regional products at the markets.
viele regionale Produkte means many regional products, and es gibt means there are. Märkten is dative plural after auf for a location; the plural Märkte adds -e and changes a to ä, and dative plural adds -n.
der Marktplatz — market square
Der Marktplatz is a town square, not simply any place where goods are sold. It is commonly used with auf, which takes the dative for a location: auf dem Marktplatz.
Der Marktplatz liegt im Zentrum der Stadt.
The market square is in the town centre.
liegt means is located, im Zentrum means in the centre, and der Stadt means of the town. Marktplatz is nominative because it is the subject, while der Stadt is genitive after Zentrum; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Wir besuchen den Marktplatz am Abend.
We visit the market square in the evening.
besuchen means visit, and am Abend means in the evening. Marktplatz is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object, and the finite verb besuchen stands in position two.
Die Musiker spielen auf dem Marktplatz.
The musicians are playing in the market square.
die Musiker means the musicians, and spielen means play. Marktplatz is dative after auf because it describes a fixed location; the finite verb spielen is in position two.
Die Geschichte des Marktplatzes ist interessant.
The history of the market square is interesting.
die Geschichte means the history, and interessant means interesting. Marktplatzes is genitive because it identifies whose history it is, and ist stands in position two; the genitive singular ends in -es.
Die alten Marktplätze sind beliebte Treffpunkte.
The old market squares are popular meeting places.
alten means old, and beliebte Treffpunkte means popular meeting places. Marktplätze is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural changes a to ä and adds -e, while sind stands in position two.
München — Munich
München is the German name of the city called Munich in English. City names usually appear without an article and do not normally have a plural.
München liegt im Süden Deutschlands.
Munich is in the south of Germany.
liegt means is located, and im Süden Deutschlands means in the south of Germany. München is a proper name and has no article here; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Wir fahren morgen nach München.
We are going to Munich tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and fahren means to travel or go, often by vehicle. Nach München expresses movement to a city, and city names normally have no article; fahren is in position two.
der Ort — place, location
Ort can mean a physical location or a small town, depending on context. With an, a fixed location takes dative, as in an einem Ort; movement toward a place uses accusative after a two-way preposition.
Der Ort ist sehr ruhig.
The place is very quiet.
ruhig means “quiet.” Der Ort is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kenne den Ort gut.
I know the place well.
ich kenne means “I know,” and gut means “well.” Den Ort is accusative because it is the direct object of kennen; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Wir treffen uns an einem Ort am See.
We are meeting at a place by the lake.
wir treffen uns means “we are meeting,” and der See is the lake. An einem Ort is dative because an describes a fixed location here; the finite verb treffen is in position two.
Die Geschichte des Ortes ist interessant.
The history of the place is interesting.
die Geschichte means “the history,” and interessant means “interesting.” Des Ortes is genitive because it says whose history it is; the noun adds -es.
Das ist ein schöner Ort.
That is a beautiful place.
das ist means “that is,” and schön means “beautiful.” Ein schöner Ort is a noun phrase after ist; the adjective schöner has a masculine nominative ending after ein.
Wir besuchen viele Orte in Deutschland.
We visit many places in Germany.
besuchen means “visit,” viele means “many,” and Deutschland is Germany. Orte is accusative plural because it is the object of besuchen; the plural has an umlaut and -e.
der Park — park
Park normally means a public green area. The plural is regular: Parks.
Der Park ist heute voll.
The park is crowded today.
heute means today, and voll means full or crowded. Der Park is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Die Kinder besuchen den Park.
The children are visiting the park.
Die Kinder means the children, and besuchen means visit. Den Park is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Wir sitzen im Park.
We are sitting in the park.
sitzen means are sitting. Im Park means in the park; im is short for in dem, and in takes the dative when the sentence describes a location rather than movement.
Die Wege des Parks sind sauber.
The paths of the park are clean.
die Wege means the paths, and sauber means clean. Des Parks is genitive because it shows which park the paths belong to; Park takes -s in the masculine genitive.
In Berlin gibt es viele Parks.
There are many parks in Berlin.
In Berlin means in Berlin, and viele means many. Parks is the plural with -s, and gibt es is the fixed expression for saying that something exists.
der Platz — place, seat, space; square; place, position in a competition
For a seat or available space, Platz is often used with haben, finden, or brauchen. It can also mean a town square; the context tells you which meaning is intended.
Der Platz neben mir ist frei.
The seat next to me is free.
neben mir means next to me, and frei means free or unoccupied. Der Platz is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich brauche einen Platz.
I need a seat or place.
brauche means need, and einen means a in the masculine accusative. Einen Platz is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from ein to einen.
Wir sitzen auf dem Platz.
We are sitting in the square.
sitzen means are sitting, and dem is the masculine dative article. Auf dem Platz is dative because auf describes a location here; the finite verb sitzen is in position two.
Die Mitte des Platzes ist gesperrt.
The middle of the square is closed off.
die Mitte means the middle, and gesperrt means closed off. Des Platzes is genitive because it identifies whose middle is meant; the noun adds -es in the genitive.
Die Plätze im Bus sind alle besetzt.
All the seats on the bus are occupied.
im Bus means on or in the bus, alle means all, and besetzt means occupied. Die Plätze is plural and takes sind; the phrase im Bus is a dative location after in dem.
Sie hat den ersten Platz erreicht.
She came first.
erreicht means reached or achieved, and den ersten means first in the masculine accusative. Den ersten Platz is the accusative object of erreichen; hat erreicht forms the perfect, with the participle at the end.
Unser Team steht auf dem zweiten Platz.
Our team is in second place.
unser Team means our team, steht means stands or is positioned, and zweiten means second. Auf dem zweiten Platz is dative because it describes a position, not movement; steht is the finite verb in position two.
die Stadt — city, town
Die Stadt usually means a city or town as a place, while die Innenstadt means the central part of a city.
Die Stadt ist sehr alt.
The city is very old.
alt means old, and sehr means very. Die Stadt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kenne die Stadt gut.
I know the city well.
kennen means to know a person or place, and gut means well. Die Stadt is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; the finite verb kenne is in position two.
Wir fahren in die Stadt.
We are going into the city.
fahren means to go or travel, and in means into or in. In die Stadt is accusative because it expresses movement towards a destination; with a fixed location, in der Stadt would be dative.
Die Straßen der Stadt sind sauber.
The streets of the city are clean.
die Straßen means the streets, and sauber means clean. Der Stadt is genitive because it shows which city the streets belong to; the feminine noun itself does not change.
Viele Städte haben einen Bahnhof.
Many cities have a railway station.
viele means many, haben means have, and einen Bahnhof is a railway station. Städte is plural nominative as the subject, and its vowel changes from a to ä.
In der Stadt gibt es einen großen Park.
There is a large park in the city.
gibt es means there is or there are, and einen großen Park means a large park. In der Stadt is dative because it describes a location, while the accusative object after gibt es is einen großen Park.
die Straße — street, road
Die Straße can mean a street in a town or a road connecting places. Do not confuse auf der Straße (“on the street”) with in der Straße (“in the street”), which are both common location phrases.
Die Straße ist heute sehr voll.
The street is very busy today.
heute means “today,” and sehr voll means “very busy or crowded.” Die Straße is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir überqueren die Straße an der Ampel.
We cross the street at the traffic light.
überqueren means “cross,” and an der Ampel means “at the traffic light.” Die Straße is accusative, but its form is identical to the nominative because it is feminine; überqueren takes a direct object.
Das Café liegt an der Straße.
The café is on the street.
das Café means “the café,” and liegt means “is located.” An der Straße describes a fixed location, so an takes dative; der Straße has the same noun form as the genitive but a different function.
Der Name der Straße ist schwer auszusprechen.
The name of the street is difficult to pronounce.
der Name means “the name,” and schwer auszusprechen means “difficult to pronounce.” Der Straße is genitive because it means “of the street”; the infinitive phrase auszusprechen goes to the end.
In dieser Stadt gibt es viele Straßen.
There are many streets in this city.
in dieser Stadt means “in this city,” and gibt es means “there are.” Straßen is plural after viele; in the expression es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative, although the plural form does not show the case here.
Stuttgart — Stuttgart
Meine Schwester lebt in Stuttgart.
My sister lives in Stuttgart.
Meine Schwester means my sister, and lebt means lives. In Stuttgart names the place where someone is located and therefore uses the dative idea of location; the finite verb lebt stands in position two.
Wir fahren morgen nach Stuttgart.
We are travelling to Stuttgart tomorrow.
Wir means we, fahren means travel or go by vehicle, and morgen means tomorrow. Nach Stuttgart expresses direction to a city, and the finite verb fahren stands in position two.
der Treffpunkt — meeting point, meeting place
Treffpunkt is a compound made from treffen, to meet, and Punkt, point. It normally means the place where people meet, not the time of a meeting.
Der Treffpunkt ist vor dem Bahnhof.
The meeting point is in front of the train station.
vor dem Bahnhof means in front of the train station. Der Treffpunkt is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir suchen den Treffpunkt.
We are looking for the meeting point.
suchen means look for. Den Treffpunkt is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Ich warte an dem Treffpunkt.
I am waiting at the meeting point.
warte means am waiting, and an means at in this location phrase. Dem Treffpunkt is dative because an takes the dative for a fixed location; an dem is usually shortened to am.
Die Adresse des Treffpunkts steht in der Nachricht.
The address of the meeting point is in the message.
die Adresse means the address, and die Nachricht means the message. Des Treffpunkts is genitive because it identifies whose address it is; the masculine noun takes -s.
In der Stadt gibt es mehrere Treffpunkte.
There are several meeting points in the city.
in der Stadt means in the city, and mehrere means several. Treffpunkte is the plural of Treffpunkt; after es gibt, the plural phrase is accusative, although the article die is not visibly different.
das Zentrum — centre, central area
das Zentrum usually means the centre of a town or area. Its plural is die Zentren, not die Zentrums.
Das Zentrum ist heute sehr voll.
The centre is very crowded today.
heute means today and voll means crowded or full. Das Zentrum is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir besuchen das Zentrum.
We are visiting the centre.
wir means we and besuchen means visit. Das Zentrum is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object, while the finite verb besuchen is in position two.
Ich fahre mit dem Bus ins Zentrum.
I am going to the centre by bus.
fahre means go or travel, mit dem Bus means by bus, and ins means into the. Dem Bus is dative after mit, while ins Zentrum is accusative because it expresses movement towards a place.
Die Straßen des Zentrums sind eng.
The centre’s streets are narrow.
die Straßen are the streets and eng means narrow. Des Zentrums is genitive because it shows possession, and the finite verb sind agrees with plural Straßen.
In vielen Zentren gibt es kleine Cafés.
There are small cafés in many centres.
vielen means many and kleine Cafés means small cafés. Zentren is the plural after in here because in vielen Zentren describes a location, so in takes the dative.