Vocab: Household tasks — A2 (1)

Household tasks vocabulary at A2 level.

Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural

abdecken — to cover, to protect by covering; to clear the table

As a separable verb, abdecken splits in a main clause but stays together in the infinitive and Partizip II. It can also mean clearing dishes from a table.

Wir decken ab, bevor es regnet.

We cover it before it rains.

regnet means “it rains”, and bevor means “before”. The finite verb decken is in position two, while the separable prefix ab goes to the end; the object is understood from the context.

Wir haben die Fahrräder abgedeckt.

We covered the bicycles.

die Fahrräder means “the bicycles”. die Fahrräder is accusative because abdecken takes a direct object, and the Partizip II abgedeckt goes to the end after haben.

Früher deckte ab er das Holz.

He used to cover the wood.

früher means “formerly” and das Holz means “the wood”. The accusative object das Holz follows the finite form deckte ab, whose separable prefix is included in the single marked form.

Deck ab, sonst wird alles nass!

Cover it, or everything will get wet!

sonst means “otherwise”, alles means “everything”, and nass means “wet”. The informal imperative is deck ab; the understood object is accusative, although it is omitted here.

Ich deckte ab, wenn dunkle Wolken kamen.

I would cover it whenever dark clouds came.

dunkle Wolken means “dark clouds”, and kamen means “came”. Here the form deckte ab expresses a repeated hypothetical or softened situation; kamen goes to the end because wenn introduces a subordinate clause.

Morgen werden wir den Grill abdecken.

Tomorrow we will cover the barbecue.

morgen means “tomorrow”, and der Grill means “the barbecue”. den Grill is accusative because it is the direct object, and the infinitive abdecken goes to the end after werden.

Nach dem Essen decken ab wir den Tisch.

After the meal, we clear the table.

nach dem Essen means “after the meal”, and der Tisch means “the table”. den Tisch is accusative because abdecken takes a direct object; the marked form decken ab shows the separated verb.

Kannst du bitte abdecken?

Can you please clear the table?

kannst du means “can you”, and bitte means “please”. After the modal verb kannst, the infinitive abdecken stays together at the end, unlike the finite form deckst ab.

abdrehen — to turn off, to shut off; to twist off

abdrehen is separable in a main clause: dreht ... ab. It is commonly used for lights, heating, water and other supplies controlled by a knob or tap.

Ich drehe ab, wenn ich gehe.

I turn it off when I leave.

wenn ich gehe means “when I leave”. The finite verb drehe is in position two and the separable prefix ab goes to the end; the object is understood from the situation.

Sie hat das Licht abgedreht.

She turned off the light.

sie means “she” and das Licht means “the light”. das Licht is accusative because abdrehen takes a direct object, and abgedreht goes to the end after hat.

Er drehte ab den Wasserhahn.

He turned off the tap.

er means “he”, and der Wasserhahn means “the tap”. den Wasserhahn is accusative after abdrehen, and the marked form drehte ab shows the separable verb.

Dreh ab, bitte!

Turn it off, please!

bitte means “please”. dreh ab is the informal singular imperative, with the object omitted; the prefix ab must still come after the verb.

Ich drehte ab, wenn die Musik zu laut wäre.

I would turn it off if the music were too loud.

die Musik means “the music”, and zu laut means “too loud”. The form drehte ab expresses a hypothetical action, while wäre goes to the end because wenn introduces a subordinate clause.

Wir werden die Heizung abdrehen.

We will turn off the heating.

wir means “we”, and die Heizung means “the heating”. die Heizung is accusative as the direct object, and the infinitive abdrehen goes to the end after werden.

Er dreht ab den Deckel vorsichtig.

He carefully twists off the lid.

der Deckel means “the lid”, and vorsichtig means “carefully”. den Deckel is accusative because it is the direct object; the marked form dreht ab shows the separated verb.

Der Griff lässt sich leicht abdrehen.

The handle can easily be twisted off.

der Griff means “the handle”, and leicht means “easily”. lässt sich ... abdrehen means “can be twisted off”; the infinitive abdrehen stays together because it follows sich lassen.

abschalten — to switch off, to turn off

abschalten is used for devices, lights, and machines and takes an accusative object. It can also mean mentally switching off or relaxing; do not confuse it with ausschalten, which is a close synonym for devices.

Ich schalte das Licht ab.

I am turning off the light.

ich means I and das Licht means the light. Das Licht is accusative because it is the object of abschalten; schalte is in position two and ab goes to the end.

Er hat den Fernseher abgeschaltet.

He switched off the television.

er means he and der Fernseher means the television. Den Fernseher is accusative because it is the direct object; hat is in position two and abgeschaltet goes to the end.

Sie schaltete das Handy ab.

She switched off the mobile phone.

sie means she and das Handy means the mobile phone. Das Handy is accusative after abschalten; schaltete stands in position two and ab is placed at the end.

Schalt bitte das Licht ab.

Please turn off the light.

bitte means please and das Licht means the light. Das Licht is accusative as the object, and the informal command has Schalt first with the prefix ab at the end.

Ich würde den Computer abschalten, wenn er nicht gebraucht würde.

I would switch off the computer if it were not needed.

der Computer means the computer and gebraucht means needed or used. Den Computer is accusative because it is the object; after würde, the infinitive abschalten stays together at the end, while the second würde goes to the end after wenn.

Wir werden die Heizung abschalten.

We will turn off the heating.

wir means we and die Heizung means the heating. Die Heizung is accusative because it is the direct object; werden is in position two and abschalten goes to the end.

abtrocknen — to dry

abtrocknen normally takes an accusative object, such as die Hände abtrocknen. The related reflexive expression sich abtrocknen means to dry oneself.

Sie trocknet die Teller ab, bevor sie sie wegräumt.

She dries the plates before putting them away.

die Teller means the plates, bevor means before, and wegräumt means puts away. die Teller is accusative because abtrocknen takes a direct object; in the main clause trocknet is in position two and ab is at the end.

Ich habe die Teller abgetrocknet.

I dried the plates.

ich means I, and die Teller means the plates. The perfect uses habe plus abgetrocknet; the Partizip II goes to the end and the object remains accusative.

Er trocknete das Geschirr ab, nachdem er es gespült hatte.

He dried the dishes after he had washed them.

das Geschirr means the dishes, nachdem means after, and gespült means washed. das Geschirr is accusative as the direct object; trocknete is in position two and ab is at the end of the main clause.

Trockne die Hände ab!

Dry your hands!

die Hände means the hands. This is an informal singular command; the object is accusative, and the separable prefix ab comes after the object.

Ich würde die Gläser vorsichtig abtrocknen.

I would dry the glasses carefully.

die Gläser means the glasses, and vorsichtig means carefully. die Gläser is accusative because it is the direct object; after würde, the infinitive abtrocknen stays together at the end.

Nach dem Essen werde ich das Geschirr abtrocknen.

After the meal I will dry the dishes.

nach dem Essen means after the meal, and das Geschirr means the dishes. nach takes the dative, so dem Essen is dative; werde is in position two and abtrocknen goes to the end as one infinitive.

abwaschen — to wash, to wash up

As a separable verb, abwaschen becomes wäscht ... ab in a main clause but stays together as abwaschen after a modal or in the infinitive. The perfect is hat abgewaschen, not ist abgewaschen.

Ich wasche jeden Abend das Geschirr ab.

I wash the dishes every evening.

jeden Abend means every evening, and das Geschirr means the dishes or crockery. Das Geschirr is accusative because abwaschen takes a direct object; the finite verb wasche is in position two, and ab goes to the end.

Wir haben nach dem Essen das Geschirr abgewaschen.

We washed the dishes after the meal.

nach dem Essen means after the meal, and das Geschirr means the dishes. The perfect uses haben plus abgewaschen; the Partizip II stands at the end, and the object is accusative.

Früher mein Vater wusch das Geschirr ab.

In the past, my father washed the dishes.

früher means in the past, and mein Vater means my father. Strong abwaschen becomes wusch ... ab in the simple past; das Geschirr is accusative.

Wasch bitte die Tassen ab!

Please wash the cups!

bitte means please, and die Tassen means the cups. This is the informal singular imperative; the prefix ab follows the accusative object die Tassen.

Ich würde das Geschirr sofort abwaschen, wenn ich Zeit hätte.

I would wash the dishes immediately if I had time.

sofort means immediately, and Zeit means time. Würde ... abwaschen expresses a hypothetical action; das Geschirr is accusative, and hätte goes to the end of the wenn-clause.

Morgen werde ich die Teller abwaschen.

Tomorrow I will wash the plates.

morgen means tomorrow, and die Teller means the plates. Future I uses werde in position two and the infinitive abwaschen at the end; die Teller is the accusative object.

das Altglas — waste glass, used glass for recycling

Altglas is a mass noun for used glass collected for recycling, especially bottles and jars. It normally has no plural; use a phrase such as verschiedene Glassorten when you mean different types of glass.

Altglas gehört in den Container.

Waste glass belongs in the collection container.

gehört in den Container means belongs in the container, and der Container means the collection container. Altglas is an uncountable nominative subject; in den Container expresses direction and therefore uses the accusative.

Bitte wirf Altglas nicht in den Restmüll.

Please do not throw waste glass into the general waste.

bitte means please, wirf means throw, and der Restmüll means general waste. Altglas is an uncountable accusative object after wirf; in den Restmüll shows movement into a place and therefore also uses the accusative.

Wir geben Altglas zum Recycling.

We give waste glass for recycling.

wir geben means we give, and zum Recycling means for recycling. Altglas is an uncountable accusative object of geben; the dative phrase zum Recycling means to or for recycling.

Die Sammlung des Altglases findet am Samstag statt.

The collection of waste glass takes place on Saturday.

die Sammlung means the collection, am Samstag means on Saturday, and findet ... statt means takes place. Des Altglases is genitive and means of the waste glass; statt is the separated prefix of stattfinden and goes to the end.

andrehen — to turn on, to start

This separable verb is used for turning on things such as die Heizung, das Licht, or das Wasser. In the main clause, an separates from andrehen, but the Partizip II is angedreht as one word.

Ich drehe an der Heizung.

I am turning on the heating.

die Heizung means the heating system. der Heizung is dative because an here describes the object being operated on in a fixed phrase; the finite verb drehe is in position two and an goes to the end.

Ich habe die Heizung angedreht.

I turned on the heating.

die Heizung means the heating system. It is accusative because andrehen takes an accusative object; habe is the auxiliary in position two and angedreht closes the sentence.

Früher drehte an er jeden Morgen die Heizung.

He used to turn on the heating every morning.

früher means formerly, and jeden Morgen means every morning. The finite verb drehte is in position two, while the separable prefix an goes to the end; die Heizung is accusative.

Dreh an bitte das Licht.

Please turn on the light.

bitte means please, and das Licht means the light. This is an informal du command; dreh comes first and the separable prefix an stays next to the verb, before the accusative object.

Ich würde andrehen, wenn es kalt wäre.

I would turn it on if it were cold.

würde means would, wenn means if, and kalt means cold. In the würde construction, the infinitive andrehen stays together; in the subordinate clause, the finite verb wäre goes to the end.

Sie wird andrehen, sobald sie nach Hause kommt.

She will turn it on as soon as she gets home.

sobald means as soon as, and nach Hause means home. wird is the finite verb in position two and andrehen is at the end; in the sobald clause, kommt also goes to the end.

anstreichen — to paint; to mark, highlight

anstreichen takes an accusative object: you can paint eine Wand or mark ein Wort. In the meaning ‘mark’, it often refers to highlighting or underlining something in a text, not merely touching it with a pen.

Mein Vater streicht die Küche an.

My father is painting the kitchen.

mein Vater means my father and die Küche means the kitchen. die Küche is accusative because it is the surface being painted; streicht is in position two and an goes to the end.

Wir haben die Wand blau angestrichen.

We painted the wall blue.

die Wand means the wall and blau means blue. die Wand is accusative because it is the direct object, while angestrichen stands at the end with haben; blau describes the result.

Sie strich die Tür gestern an.

She painted the door yesterday.

die Tür means the door and gestern means yesterday. die Tür is accusative after anstreichen, and the strong past form strich is separated from an.

Streich bitte diesen Satz an!

Please mark this sentence!

bitte means please and diesen Satz means this sentence. diesen Satz is accusative as the object; the informal command separates streich from an.

Wenn ich Zeit hätte, striche ich die Wände an.

If I had time, I would paint the walls.

Zeit means time and die Wände means the walls. die Wände is accusative, and striche ... an expresses a hypothetical action with the prefix separated in the main clause.

Morgen werde ich das Schlafzimmer anstreichen.

Tomorrow I will paint the bedroom.

morgen means tomorrow and das Schlafzimmer means the bedroom. The future auxiliary werde is in position two, while the complete infinitive anstreichen goes to the end.

Der Lehrer streicht die wichtigen Wörter an.

The teacher marks the important words.

der Lehrer means the teacher, wichtigen Wörter means important words, and markiert is the meaning here. die wichtigen Wörter is accusative plural as the direct object; streicht and an are separated around the object.

aufwecken — to wake someone up

aufwecken is a separable verb: auf moves to the end in a main clause, as in weckt ... auf. It takes an accusative object for the person who is woken and forms the perfect with haben.

Ich wecke meinen Sohn jeden Morgen um sieben Uhr auf.

I wake my son up every morning at seven.

meinen Sohn means “my son,” jeden Morgen means “every morning,” and um sieben Uhr means “at seven o’clock.” meinen Sohn is accusative because aufwecken takes the person who is woken as an accusative object; the finite verb wecke is in position two, while auf goes to the end.

Ich habe meine Tochter vorsichtig aufgeweckt.

I woke my daughter up carefully.

meine Tochter means “my daughter,” and vorsichtig means “carefully.” The perfect uses habe plus aufgeweckt, with the Partizip II at the end; meine Tochter is accusative because it is the object.

Der Wecker weckte mich um sechs Uhr auf.

The alarm clock woke me up at six.

der Wecker is “the alarm clock,” mich is “me,” and um sechs Uhr means “at six o’clock.” In the simple past, weckte is in position two and auf separates to the end; mich is accusative because it is the person affected.

Weck mich bitte morgen um sechs auf.

Please wake me up at six tomorrow.

bitte means “please,” and morgen means “tomorrow.” mich is accusative because aufwecken takes an accusative object; in the imperative, weck comes first and the prefix auf goes to the end.

Wenn ich nicht aufpasse, würde ich den Bus verpassen und niemand weckte mich auf.

If I were not careful, I would miss the bus and nobody would wake me up.

wenn means “if,” aufpassen means “to pay attention,” den Bus verpassen means “to miss the bus,” and niemand means “nobody.” The conditional meaning is shown by würde; weckte ... auf is the past form of the separable verb, and mich is accusative.

Ich werde dich morgen früh aufwecken.

I will wake you up early tomorrow.

dich means “you,” and morgen früh means “tomorrow morning.” Future tense uses werde in position two and the infinitive aufwecken at the end; because the verb is whole here, its prefix does not separate.

die Baustelle — building site, roadworks

Baustelle can mean a building site or a place where roadworks are taking place. In traffic instructions, die Baustelle umfahren means to drive around it, not to drive into it.

Die Baustelle liegt neben dem Bahnhof.

The building site is next to the railway station.

liegt means is located, neben means next to, and der Bahnhof is the railway station. Baustelle is nominative because it is the subject; dem Bahnhof is dative because neben expresses location here, and liegt stands in position two.

Ich sehe die Baustelle jeden Morgen.

I see the building site every morning.

Ich sehe means I see and jeden Morgen means every morning. die Baustelle is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehe stands in position two.

Wir fahren mit dem Bus an der Baustelle vorbei.

We drive past the building site by bus.

mit dem Bus means by bus and vorbeifahren means to drive past. an der Baustelle is dative because an ... vorbei describes a route past a fixed place; the separable verb is split as fahren ... vorbei.

Wegen der Baustelle kommt der Bus später.

Because of the building site, the bus is coming later.

wegen means because of, kommt means comes, and später means later. der Baustelle is genitive because the formal preposition wegen normally takes the genitive; the verb kommt is in position two after the opening phrase.

In dieser Straße gibt es drei Baustellen.

There are three building sites in this street.

diese Straße means this street and drei means three. Baustellen is plural after drei; after the fixed expression es gibt, the noun phrase is accusative, although the plural article is not visible here.

bedecken — to cover; to cover up

Bedecken takes an accusative object: etwas bedecken means to cover something. The covering material is often introduced with mit plus the dative.

Der Schnee bedeckt die Straße.

The snow covers the road.

der Schnee is “snow” and die Straße is “the road”. Die Straße is accusative because bedecken takes a direct object, and the finite verb bedeckt stands in position two.

Wir haben den Tisch mit einem Tuch bedeckt.

We covered the table with a cloth.

der Tisch means “the table”, mit means “with”, and ein Tuch is “a cloth”. Den Tisch is accusative as the object, while einem Tuch is dative after mit; bedeckt goes to the end with haben.

Der Nebel bedeckte den See.

The fog covered the lake.

der Nebel means “the fog” and der See means “the lake”. Den See is accusative because it is covered, and the regular past form bedeckte is in position two.

Bedecke den Topf!

Cover the pot!

der Topf means “the pot”. The bare command bedecke addresses one person, and den Topf is accusative because it is the object.

Der Rauch würde den ganzen Raum bedecken.

The smoke would cover the whole room.

der Rauch means “smoke” and der ganze Raum means “the whole room”. Würde ... bedecken expresses a hypothetical situation, with the infinitive at the end; den ganzen Raum is accusative.

Die Wolken werden bald den Himmel bedecken.

The clouds will soon cover the sky.

die Wolken means “the clouds”, bald means “soon”, and der Himmel means “the sky”. Werden is in position two and bedecken goes to the end; den Himmel is accusative.

befestigen — to fasten, to attach, to secure

The object being attached is normally accusative: etwas befestigen. The prefix be- is unstressed and never separates, and the Partizip II has no ge-.

Mein Vater befestigt das Regal an der Wand.

My father is attaching the shelf to the wall.

mein Vater is my father, das Regal is the shelf, and die Wand is the wall. das Regal is accusative because it is the object, while an der Wand is dative for a fixed location; befestigt stands in position two.

Mein Vater hat das Regal an der Wand befestigt.

My father attached the shelf to the wall.

mein Vater is my father, das Regal is the shelf, and die Wand is the wall. The perfect uses hat ... befestigt, and the Partizip II goes to the end; das Regal is accusative.

Der Hausmeister befestigte das Schild an der Tür.

The caretaker attached the sign to the door.

der Hausmeister is the caretaker, das Schild is the sign, and die Tür is the door. das Schild is accusative as the object, and befestigte is the finite verb in position two.

Befestige bitte den Gurt!

Please fasten the strap!

bitte means please, and der Gurt is the strap or belt. den Gurt is accusative because it is the object; the imperative befestige comes first.

Ich würde das Bild besser befestigen.

I would attach the picture more securely.

das Bild is the picture and besser means better or more securely. das Bild is accusative because it is the object; würde ... befestigen expresses a hypothetical recommendation, with the infinitive at the end.

Wir werden die Lampe an der Decke befestigen.

We will attach the lamp to the ceiling.

die Lampe is the lamp and die Decke is the ceiling. die Lampe is accusative, while an der Decke is dative for a fixed location; werden is in position two and befestigen closes the clause.

der Behälter — container, receptacle

Behälter is a masculine noun whose plural is unchanged: der Behälter – die Behälter. In the genitive singular it takes -s: des Behälters.

Der Behälter ist leer.

The container is empty.

leer means empty. Der Behälter is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.

Ich öffne den Behälter.

I open the container.

ich öffne means I open. den Behälter is accusative because it is the direct object of öffnen, and the finite verb öffne stands in position two.

Das Gemüse liegt in dem Behälter.

The vegetables are in the container.

das Gemüse means the vegetables and liegt means is located. in takes the dative for a fixed location, so dem Behälter is dative; movement into the container would require the accusative.

Der Deckel des Behälters ist kaputt.

The container’s lid is broken.

der Deckel means the lid and kaputt means broken. des Behälters is genitive and shows whose lid it is; the masculine noun adds -s, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.

In der Küche stehen viele Behälter.

There are many containers in the kitchen.

in der Küche means in the kitchen, stehen means are standing and viele means many. Behälter has no visible plural ending, so viele and the plural verb stehen show that it is plural; in der Küche is dative because it describes location.

bekleben — to cover or stick something with something

bekleben usually follows the pattern etwas mit etwas bekleben: the thing being covered is accusative, and the material after mit is dative. Its Partizip II is beklebt, without ge- because of the inseparable prefix be-.

Tom beklebt die Wand mit bunten Postern.

Tom is covering the wall with colourful posters.

die Wand means the wall, bunt means colourful, and das Poster means the poster. die Wand is accusative because it is the object being covered, while mit bunten Postern is dative after mit; beklebt is in position two.

Wir haben die Schachtel mit Papier beklebt.

We covered the box with paper.

die Schachtel means the box and das Papier means the paper. The perfect uses haben plus beklebt, which goes to the end; die Schachtel is accusative and mit Papier is dative after mit.

Sie beklebte ihr Fahrrad mit Aufklebern.

She covered her bicycle with stickers.

ihr Fahrrad means her bicycle and der Aufkleber means the sticker. ihr Fahrrad is accusative as the object, while mit Aufklebern is dative after mit; the regular past form beklebte stands in position two.

Bekleb das Heft mit diesen Stickern.

Cover the notebook with these stickers.

das Heft means the notebook and diese Sticker means these stickers. The imperative bekleb comes first, das Heft is accusative, and mit diesen Stickern is dative after mit.

Wenn wir Zeit hätten, würden wir den Schrank mit Holz bekleben.

If we had time, we would cover the cupboard with wood.

Zeit haben means have time, der Schrank means the cupboard, and das Holz means the wood. würden introduces the conditional and the infinitive bekleben goes to the end; den Schrank is accusative and mit Holz is dative.

Die Kinder werden die Türen mit Papier bekleben.

The children will cover the doors with paper.

die Kinder means the children and die Türen means the doors. Future tense uses werden in position two and bekleben at the end; die Türen is accusative, while mit Papier is dative after mit.

besorgen — to get, obtain, arrange

This regular weak verb takes an accusative object for the thing obtained: jemand besorgt etwas. Its perfect uses haben, and because it begins with inseparable be-, its Partizip II is besorgt, not gebesorgt.

Ich besorge heute die Fahrkarten.

I will get the tickets today.

heute means today and die Fahrkarten means the tickets. Die Fahrkarten is accusative because besorgen takes the thing obtained as an accusative object; the finite verb besorge stands in position two.

Sie hat ein Geschenk besorgt.

She got a present.

sie means she and ein Geschenk means a present. Ein Geschenk is accusative because it is the object of besorgen; the auxiliary hat is in position two and besorgt goes to the end, and the form is besorgt, not gebesorgt.

Er besorgte schnell neue Schuhe.

He quickly got new shoes.

schnell means quickly and neue Schuhe means new shoes. Neue Schuhe is accusative because they are what he obtained; the weak past form besorgte is the finite verb in position two.

Besorg bitte noch Brot!

Please get some more bread!

bitte means please, noch means some more, and Brot means bread. Besorg is the informal du command and has no ending; Brot is an accusative object, although its mass-noun form has no visible article.

Wenn ich Zeit hätte, besorgte ich die Karten selbst.

If I had time, I would get the tickets myself.

wenn means if, Zeit means time, die Karten means the tickets, and selbst means myself. The sentence uses the Konjunktiv II form besorgte for an unreal situation; the verb comes at the end of the wenn-clause but returns to position two in the main clause.

Ich werde morgen ein Geschenk besorgen.

I will get a present tomorrow.

morgen means tomorrow and ein Geschenk means a present. Ein Geschenk is accusative because it is the object; werde is in position two and the infinitive besorgen goes to the end.

die Besorgung — errand; task; procurement

Besorgung is often used for a practical errand, while Besorgungen commonly means several errands. It is related to besorgen, “to obtain” or “to take care of” something.

Die Besorgung dauert nur zehn Minuten.

The errand will take only ten minutes.

dauert means “takes” in the sense of time, and nur zehn Minuten means “only ten minutes”. Die Besorgung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb dauert stands in position two.

Ich erledige die Besorgung nach der Arbeit.

I will take care of the errand after work.

erledige means “take care of”, and nach der Arbeit means “after work”. Die Besorgung is accusative because erledigen takes a direct object, while nach takes the dative here because it expresses time.

Meine Schwester hilft mir bei der Besorgung.

My sister helps me with the errand.

meine Schwester is “my sister”, and hilft means “helps”. Bei always takes the dative, so der Besorgung is dative; mir is also dative because helfen means to help someone.

Der Beginn der Besorgung ist für neun Uhr geplant.

The start of the errand is planned for nine o’clock.

der Beginn means “the start”, and geplant means “planned”. Der Besorgung is genitive after der Beginn to show whose beginning it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.

Heute stehen drei Besorgungen auf meiner Liste.

Today there are three errands on my list.

heute means “today”, drei means “three”, and auf meiner Liste means “on my list”. Besorgungen is plural; auf takes the dative here because the list is a location, not a destination.

die Biotonne — organic-waste bin

A Biotonne is the household bin for Biomüll. The plural is Biotonnen, formed with -n.

Die Biotonne steht vor dem Haus.

The organic-waste bin is in front of the house.

steht means is standing or is located, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Die Biotonne is nominative because it is the subject; dem Haus is dative because vor describes a fixed location here.

Der Hausmeister leert die Biotonne.

The caretaker empties the organic-waste bin.

der Hausmeister means the caretaker and leert means empties. die Biotonne is accusative because leeren takes a direct object; the finite verb leert is in position two.

Wir geben der Biotonne einen neuen Deckel.

We give the organic-waste bin a new lid.

geben means to give, einen neuen Deckel means a new lid, and Deckel means lid. der Biotonne is dative because it is the recipient, while einen neuen Deckel is accusative; geben commonly takes both objects.

Der Deckel der Biotonne ist kaputt.

The lid of the organic-waste bin is broken.

der Deckel means the lid and kaputt means broken. der Biotonne is genitive and identifies which bin the lid belongs to; feminine genitive has the same form as feminine nominative, so the article carries the case.

Biotonnen stehen hinter dem Haus.

Organic-waste bins are behind the house.

stehen means stand or are located, hinter means behind, and dem Haus means the house. Biotonnen is a plural subject without an article; dem Haus is dative because hinter describes location, not movement.

bohren — to drill, to bore

The usual object pattern is etwas bohren, for example ein Loch bohren. With a destination, in takes the accusative for movement, as in in die Wand bohren.

Mein Vater bohrt ein Loch in die Wand.

My father is drilling a hole in the wall.

mein Vater means my father, ein Loch means a hole, and die Wand means wall. Ein Loch is accusative because bohren takes the thing being drilled; in die Wand is accusative because it expresses movement or direction into the wall.

Wir haben ein Loch in das Holz gebohrt.

We drilled a hole in the wood.

das Holz means wood, and ein Loch means a hole. Ein Loch is accusative as the object of bohren; haben is in position two and gebohrt goes to the end as the Partizip II.

Der Handwerker bohrte vorsichtig in die Wand.

The tradesman carefully drilled into the wall.

der Handwerker means tradesman, and vorsichtig means carefully. Bohrte is the weak-verb preterite and stands in position two; in die Wand is accusative because it describes the direction of the drilling.

Bohr bitte ein kleines Loch.

Please drill a small hole.

bitte means please, klein means small, and ein Loch means a hole. Bohr is the du imperative, and ein kleines Loch is accusative because it is the object of the command.

Wenn ich Zeit hätte, bohrte ich das Loch selbst.

If I had time, I would drill the hole myself.

wenn means if, Zeit means time, and selbst means myself or myself alone. In the wenn clause the verb hätte goes to the end; bohrte is the Konjunktiv II form here, and das Loch is accusative.

Morgen werde ich ein Loch in die Tür bohren.

Tomorrow I will drill a hole in the door.

morgen means tomorrow and die Tür means door. Werde is in position two and the infinitive bohren goes to the end; ein Loch is accusative, while in die Tür shows direction and therefore also takes accusative.

die Box — box, container; compartment, stall, private box

Box can mean a physical container, a compartment, or a small enclosed area depending on context. It is pronounced like the English word, but its plural is Boxen.

Die Box steht auf dem Tisch.

The box is on the table.

steht means is standing or is located, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die Box is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a fixed location.

Bitte stell die Box in den Schrank.

Please put the box in the cupboard.

stell means put or place, in den Schrank means into the cupboard, and bitte means please. Die Box is accusative as the direct object; in den Schrank is accusative because in shows movement into a place.

Ich gebe meiner Schwester die Box.

I give the box to my sister.

gebe means give and meiner Schwester means to my sister. Meiner Schwester is dative because she receives something, while die Box is accusative because it is the thing given; gebe stands in position two.

Der Deckel der Box ist kaputt.

The lid of the box is broken.

der Deckel means the lid and kaputt means broken. Der Box is genitive because it shows which box the lid belongs to; the finite verb ist stands in position two.

Die Boxen stehen neben der Tür.

The boxes are next to the door.

stehen means are located, neben means next to, and die Tür means the door. Die Boxen is plural nominative as the subject; neben der Tür is dative because it describes a fixed location.

Unsere Plätze sind in einer Box über dem Spielfeld.

Our seats are in a box above the playing field.

unsere Plätze means our seats, über dem Spielfeld means above the playing field, and Spielfeld means playing field. In einer Box is dative because in describes a location, not movement; the verb sind stands in position two.

Das Pferd wartet in seiner Box.

The horse is waiting in its stall.

das Pferd means the horse, wartet means is waiting, and seiner means its. In seiner Box is dative because it describes where the horse is; with a movement verb, in could instead take the accusative.

der Brand — fire, blaze

In everyday German, der Brand usually means a damaging fire, while das Feuer is the more general word for fire. The plural is die Brände, with an umlaut and -e.

Der Brand ist in der Küche ausgebrochen.

The fire broke out in the kitchen.

die Küche means the kitchen, and ausbrechen means to break out or start suddenly. Der Brand is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two, while ausgebrochen goes to the end with sein.

Die Feuerwehr löscht den Brand.

The fire brigade is putting out the fire.

die Feuerwehr is the fire brigade, and löschen means to put out. Den Brand is accusative because löschen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.

Die Feuerwehrleute nähern sich dem Brand.

The firefighters approach the fire.

die Feuerwehrleute means the firefighters, and sich nähern means to approach. Dem Brand is dative because sich nähern governs the dative, not the accusative; the finite verb nähern stands in position two.

Die Ursache des Brandes ist noch unklar.

The cause of the fire is still unclear.

die Ursache means the cause, and unklar means unclear. Des Brandes is genitive because it identifies the cause belonging to the fire; the masculine noun adds -es in the genitive singular.

In der Stadt gab es gestern zwei Brände.

There were two fires in the city yesterday.

die Stadt means the city, gestern means yesterday, and zwei means two. Brände is the plural form with the umlaut ä and ending -e; after es gab, it is the accusative plural, which looks the same as the nominative plural.

der Brandmelder — fire detector, smoke alarm

A Brandmelder detects a possible fire, usually through smoke, and warns people with an alarm. Do not confuse it with der Rauchmelder, which specifically means a smoke alarm; in many homes, the two words refer to the same type of device.

Der Brandmelder hängt im Flur.

The fire detector is mounted in the hallway.

hängen means to hang or be mounted, and der Flur is the hallway. Der Brandmelder is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb hängt is in position two, and im means in dem.

Wir testen den Brandmelder jeden Monat.

We test the fire detector every month.

testen means to test, and jeden Monat means every month. Den Brandmelder is accusative because testen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.

Die Technikerin gibt dem Brandmelder eine neue Batterie.

The technician puts a new battery in the fire detector.

die Technikerin means the female technician, and eine neue Batterie is a new battery. Dem Brandmelder is dative because geben marks the recipient or target in the dative; the direct object eine neue Batterie is accusative.

Die Anzeige des Brandmelders blinkt rot.

The indicator on the fire detector flashes red.

die Anzeige means the indicator, blinken means to flash, and rot means red. Des Brandmelders is genitive because it identifies which indicator is meant; the masculine noun adds -s in the genitive.

In unserem Büro hängen drei Brandmelder.

There are three fire detectors mounted in our office.

unser Büro means our office, and drei means three. Brandmelder has the same form in the singular and plural; drei Brandmelder is the plural subject, so the verb is plural: hängen.

das Bügeleisen — iron

The compound combines bügeln, to iron, with das Eisen, iron. It names the appliance, while bügeln names the action.

Das Bügeleisen ist noch heiß.

The iron is still hot.

noch heiß means still hot. Das Bügeleisen is nominative because it is the subject, and the verb ist stands in position two.

Ich brauche das Bügeleisen.

I need the iron.

brauche means need. Das Bügeleisen is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, the nominative and accusative article are both das.

Ich gebe meiner Schwester das Bügeleisen.

I give my sister the iron.

meiner Schwester means my sister, and gebe means give. Meiner Schwester is dative because she receives the item, while das Bügeleisen is accusative as the thing given.

Das Kabel des Bügeleisens ist zu kurz.

The iron's cable is too short.

das Kabel means the cable, and zu kurz means too short. Des Bügeleisens is genitive because it shows which iron the cable belongs to; the neuter noun takes des and -s.

Die Bügeleisen stehen im Geschäft.

The irons are in the shop.

stehen means are standing or are displayed, and das Geschäft means the shop. Bügeleisen is plural after die; im Geschäft is dative because in describes a fixed location.

bügeln — to iron

Bügeln is a regular weak verb: bügeln - bügelte - hat gebügelt. It normally takes an accusative object for the clothes or fabric being ironed.

Ich bügle jeden Sonntag meine Hemden.

I iron my shirts every Sunday.

jeden Sonntag means every Sunday, and meine Hemden means my shirts. The finite verb bügle stands in position two, and meine Hemden is accusative because bügeln takes the clothes being ironed as its direct object.

Ich habe gestern meine Hose gebügelt.

I ironed my trousers yesterday.

gestern means yesterday, and meine Hose means my trousers. The perfect uses habe plus gebügelt, with the Partizip II at the end; meine Hose is accusative as the object.

Sie bügelte die Bluse am Morgen.

She ironed the blouse in the morning.

die Bluse means the blouse, and am Morgen means in the morning. Bügelte is the regular simple-past form and stands in position two; die Bluse is accusative after bügeln.

Bügle bitte dieses Hemd!

Please iron this shirt!

bitte means please, and dieses Hemd means this shirt. Bügle is the du imperative without a subject pronoun, and dieses Hemd is accusative because it is the object.

Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, bügelte ich die ganze Wäsche.

If I had more time, I would iron all the laundry.

wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and die ganze Wäsche means all the laundry. In the wenn clause the finite verb hätte goes to the end; bügelte expresses the hypothetical result and die ganze Wäsche is accusative.

Morgen werde ich die Vorhänge bügeln.

Tomorrow I will iron the curtains.

morgen means tomorrow, and die Vorhänge means the curtains. Future tense uses werde in position two and the infinitive bügeln at the end; die Vorhänge is accusative as the object.

defekt — defective, broken

defekt is commonly used for machines and devices that do not work. It can be compared grammatically, but defekter and especially am defektesten are less natural than clearer phrases such as stärker beschädigt in many contexts.

Der Drucker ist defekt.

The printer is broken.

der Drucker means printer, and ist means is. Defekt is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.

Wir brauchen einen defekten Drucker nicht.

We do not need a broken printer.

brauchen means need, and nicht means not. Einen defekten Drucker is an accusative object, so the adjective takes -en after the indefinite article einen.

Dieser Drucker ist defekter als der alte.

This printer is more defective than the old one.

dieser means this, als means than, and alt means old. The comparative defekter is followed by als for comparison; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no case ending.

Von allen Geräten ist dieses am defektesten.

Of all the devices, this one is the most defective.

von allen Geräten means of all the devices, and dieses means this one. The superlative am defektesten is predicative after ist and uses the fixed pattern am plus the superlative ending.

der Dreck — dirt, mess; filth; rubbish, worthless stuff; disgusting thing

Dreck usually means dirt or a dirty mess and is normally used as a mass noun, so it has no plural in this sense. It can sound stronger or ruder than Schmutz, especially when describing a person or situation.

Der Dreck liegt überall auf dem Boden.

The dirt is all over the floor.

überall means everywhere, auf dem Boden means on the floor, and liegen means to lie or be lying. Der Dreck is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.

Ich wische den Dreck vom Tisch.

I wipe the dirt off the table.

wischen means to wipe, vom Tisch means off the table, and der Tisch is the table. Den Dreck is accusative because wischen takes the thing being wiped as its direct object; wische is in position two.

Mit dem Dreck will niemand arbeiten.

No one wants to work with the dirt.

mit means with, niemand means nobody, and arbeiten means to work. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Dreck is dative; will is in position two and arbeiten goes to the end after the modal verb.

Die Farbe des Drecks ist dunkelbraun.

The colour of the dirt is dark brown.

die Farbe means the colour, and dunkelbraun means dark brown. Des Drecks is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the noun Dreck adds -s after the masculine article des.

Nach dem Regen gibt es viel Dreck.

After the rain, there is a lot of dirt.

nach dem Regen means after the rain, viel means a lot of, and geben in es gibt means there is or there are. Dreck is normally a mass noun with no plural when it means dirt, so viel Dreck is used instead of a plural form.

Er redet nur Dreck.

He is talking complete rubbish.

er means he, nur means only, and reden means to talk. Dreck is used here figuratively for rubbish; it is an uncountable accusative object after reden, and the finite verb redet stands in position two.

So ein Dreck funktioniert nie.

Rubbish like this never works.

so ein means such a, funktionieren means to work, and nie means never. Dreck is the nominative subject, while funktioniert is in position two; so ein Dreck is a strong negative expression and can sound insulting.

durcheinander — mixed up, in a mess, in all directions

As an adverb, durcheinander does not change its form. It describes an action or arrangement; the related noun is das Durcheinander, meaning a mess or state of confusion.

Die Kinder laufen durcheinander.

The children run around in all directions.

die Kinder means the children and laufen means run. Durcheinander is an adverb describing how they run; the finite verb laufen stands in position two.

Die Papiere liegen durcheinander auf dem Tisch.

The papers are lying all mixed up on the table.

die Papiere means the papers, liegen means are lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Durcheinander describes the arrangement, while auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a fixed location rather than movement.

das Elektrogerät — electrical device, appliance

Elektrogerät is a general word for a device that uses electricity, including a household appliance. Do not confuse it with Elektrogerät and Elektronik: the first is a countable device, while the second is usually a field or mass noun.

Das Elektrogerät ist kaputt.

The electrical device is broken.

kaputt means broken or not working. Das Elektrogerät is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two after the subject.

Ich kaufe das Elektrogerät im Fachgeschäft.

I am buying the electrical device at the specialist shop.

ich kaufe means I am buying, and das Fachgeschäft is a specialist shop. das Elektrogerät is accusative because kaufen takes an accusative object; im means in dem, and the location is dative.

Mit dem Elektrogerät kann ich Kaffee kochen.

I can make coffee with the electrical appliance.

Kaffee kochen means to make coffee, and kann ich means I can. mit always takes the dative, so dem Elektrogerät is dative; kann is in position two and kochen goes to the end.

Die Garantie des Elektrogeräts ist abgelaufen.

The electrical device's warranty has expired.

die Garantie is the warranty, and abgelaufen means expired. des Elektrogeräts is genitive because it identifies the device covered by the warranty; ist abgelaufen is a perfect-like state expression with the participle at the end.

Elektrogeräte verbrauchen oft viel Strom.

Electrical devices often use a lot of electricity.

verbrauchen means consume or use up, oft means often, and viel Strom means a lot of electricity. Elektrogeräte is plural nominative as the subject, while viel Strom is accusative because it is what the devices consume.

die Energiesparlampe — energy-saving lamp

The word is a compound of Energie (energy) and Sparlampe (energy-saving lamp). It is feminine, so use die in the singular and die with the plural Energiesparlampen.

Die Energiesparlampe im Flur ist kaputt.

The energy-saving lamp in the hall is broken.

der Flur means the hall or corridor, and kaputt means broken. Die Energiesparlampe is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.

Ich kaufe die Energiesparlampe für die Küche.

I am buying the energy-saving lamp for the kitchen.

kaufen means to buy, and die Küche means the kitchen. Die Energiesparlampe is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object, while the finite verb kaufe is in position two.

Ich lese bei der Energiesparlampe.

I read by the energy-saving lamp.

lesen means to read, and bei means by or near. Der Energiesparlampe is dative because the preposition bei always takes the dative; the feminine article changes from die to der.

Die Lebensdauer der Energiesparlampe ist lang.

The energy-saving lamp has a long service life.

die Lebensdauer means service life, and lang means long. Der Energiesparlampe is genitive because it identifies whose service life is meant; the finite verb ist remains in position two.

In unserem Büro hängen viele Energiesparlampen.

Many energy-saving lamps hang in our office.

unser Büro means our office, and viele means many. Energiesparlampen is plural after viele; the ending -n is part of the plural, and the finite verb hängen agrees with the plural subject.

entsorgen — to dispose of; to get rid of

entsorgen means to dispose of something in the correct way, especially rubbish, batteries, or electronic waste. The prefix ent- is inseparable, so never split the verb in a main clause.

Wir entsorgen den Müll getrennt.

We dispose of the rubbish separately.

der Müll means rubbish, and getrennt means separately. den Müll is accusative because it is the direct object of entsorgen; the finite verb entsorgen stands in position two.

Die Stadt hat den alten Kühlschrank entsorgt.

The city disposed of the old refrigerator.

die Stadt means the city, and der alte Kühlschrank means the old refrigerator. den alten Kühlschrank is accusative as the object, and the perfect uses hat plus entsorgt at the end.

Früher entsorgte man den Abfall im Fluss.

In the past, people disposed of the waste in the river.

früher means in the past, man means people or one, and der Abfall means waste. den Abfall is accusative as the object; im Fluss means in the river and is dative because it describes a fixed location.

Entsorg die Batterien richtig!

Dispose of the batteries properly!

die Batterien means the batteries, and richtig means correctly or properly. This is the du imperative, with the subject omitted; die Batterien is accusative as the object.

Wenn wir den Müll nicht entsorgen würden, wäre die Straße schmutzig.

If we did not dispose of the rubbish, the street would be dirty.

wenn means if, nicht means not, and schmutzig means dirty. In the conditional clause, würden sends the infinitive entsorgen to the end; den Müll remains accusative.

Die Gemeinde wird den Abfall morgen entsorgen.

The local council will dispose of the waste tomorrow.

die Gemeinde means the local council, der Abfall means waste, and morgen means tomorrow. The future uses wird in position two and the infinitive entsorgen at the end; den Abfall is accusative.

das Ersatzteil — spare part, replacement part; spare parts for repairs

Ersatzteil is a compound of Ersatz, replacement, and Teil, part. It is a neuter noun with plural Ersatzteile; the plural is common when talking about several components.

Das Ersatzteil ist angekommen.

The spare part has arrived.

angekommen means arrived. Das Ersatzteil is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two; the Partizip II angekommen goes to the end.

Ich bestelle das Ersatzteil heute.

I am ordering the spare part today.

bestellen means order and heute means today. Das Ersatzteil is accusative because bestellen takes a direct object; the finite verb bestelle is in position two.

Der Mechaniker hilft mir mit dem Ersatzteil.

The mechanic helps me with the spare part.

der Mechaniker is the mechanic and helfen means help. Mit dem Ersatzteil is dative because mit forces the dative; mir is also dative because helfen takes a person in the dative.

Die Farbe des Ersatzteils passt nicht.

The colour of the spare part does not match.

die Farbe means colour and passen means match or fit. Des Ersatzteils is genitive after die Farbe to show what the colour belongs to; the genitive singular adds -s.

Die Ersatzteile liegen in der Garage.

The spare parts are lying in the garage.

liegen means are lying, in der Garage means in the garage, and die Garage is garage. Die Ersatzteile is a plural nominative subject; in der Garage is dative because it describes a fixed location, not movement.

Die Werkstatt verkauft Ersatzteile für Fahrräder.

The repair shop sells spare parts for bicycles.

die Werkstatt is the repair shop, verkaufen means sell, and das Fahrrad is bicycle. Ersatzteile is accusative plural after verkauft, while für Fahrräder is also accusative because für always takes the accusative.

Wir haben viele Ersatzteile auf Lager.

We have many spare parts in stock.

viele means many and auf Lager means in stock. Ersatzteile is accusative plural after haben; auf Lager is a fixed expression and does not describe physical movement here.

der Faden — thread, strand; thread, connecting idea

Besides a sewing thread, der Faden can mean a strand or the thread of an argument, as in den Faden verlieren. The plural is die Fäden with an umlaut.

Der Faden ist zu dünn zum Nähen.

The thread is too thin for sewing.

dünn means thin, and Nähen means sewing. Der Faden is nominative because it is the subject; zum Nähen means for sewing, with zu dem contracted to zum.

Ich brauche einen roten Faden für den Knopf.

I need a red thread for the button.

brauche means need, rot means red, and der Knopf is the button. Einen roten Faden is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the adjective ending is -en after einen.

Sie gibt dem Faden eine neue Farbe.

She gives the thread a new colour.

gibt means gives, eine neue Farbe means a new colour, and neu means new. Dem Faden is dative because geben takes the recipient in dative, while eine neue Farbe is the accusative thing being given.

Das Ende des Fadens steckt in der Nadel.

The end of the thread is in the needle.

das Ende means the end, steckt means is stuck, and die Nadel is the needle. Des Fadens is genitive because it tells whose end it is; in der Nadel is dative because it describes a location.

Die bunten Fäden liegen auf dem Tisch.

The colourful threads are lying on the table.

bunt means colourful, liegen means are lying, and der Tisch is the table. Fäden is the plural with an umlaut and -en; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes where the threads are.

In seinem Vortrag fehlt der rote Faden.

His presentation lacks a clear thread.

sein Vortrag means his presentation, and fehlt means is missing. Der rote Faden is nominative because it is what is missing; in seinem Vortrag is dative because in describes a location or context.

Wenn du den roten Faden verlierst, wird die Erklärung unklar.

If you lose the thread, the explanation becomes unclear.

wenn means if, verlierst means lose, and unklar means unclear. Den roten Faden is accusative because verlieren takes a direct object; in the wenn clause, the finite verb verlierst goes to the end.

fegen — to sweep

fegen is a regular weak verb and normally takes haben in the perfect: hat gefegt. It usually has a direct accusative object, such as a floor, street, or room.

Meine Schwester fegt jeden Morgen den Flur.

My sister sweeps the hall every morning.

meine Schwester is my sister, jeden Morgen means every morning, and der Flur is the hall. Den Flur is accusative because fegen takes a direct object; the finite verb fegt is in position two.

Wir haben gestern die Küche gefegt.

We swept the kitchen yesterday.

gestern means yesterday, and die Küche is the kitchen. The perfect uses haben plus gefegt, with the Partizip II at the end; die Küche is accusative as the object.

Früher fegte mein Großvater den Hof.

My grandfather used to sweep the courtyard.

früher means formerly or in the past, mein Großvater is my grandfather, and der Hof is the courtyard. Fegte is the regular simple past form and stands in position two; den Hof is accusative.

Feg bitte den Balkon!

Please sweep the balcony!

bitte means please, and der Balkon is the balcony. The subject du is left out in this command, and den Balkon is accusative because it is the object of feg.

Wenn ich Zeit hätte, fegen wir auch den Keller.

If I had time, we would sweep the cellar too.

wenn means if, Zeit haben means to have time, auch means also, and der Keller is the cellar. The wenn-clause sends hätte to the end, while the main clause uses würden plus the infinitive fegen; den Keller is accusative.

Morgen wird der Hausmeister den Eingang fegen.

Tomorrow the caretaker will sweep the entrance.

morgen means tomorrow, der Hausmeister is the caretaker, and der Eingang is the entrance. Future tense uses wird plus the infinitive fegen at the end; den Eingang is accusative.

der Feuerlöscher — fire extinguisher

The noun is a compound of das Feuer, fire, and löschen, to extinguish. Its plural is unchanged: der Feuerlöscher, die Feuerlöscher.

Der Feuerlöscher hängt neben der Tür.

The fire extinguisher is hanging next to the door.

neben der Tür means next to the door. The noun phrase der Feuerlöscher is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb hängt is in position two.

Bitte nimm den Feuerlöscher.

Please take the fire extinguisher.

Bitte means please, and nimm means take. den Feuerlöscher is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object; the imperative nimm comes first.

Sie läuft mit dem Feuerlöscher zum Auto.

She runs to the car with the fire extinguisher.

läuft means runs, and zum Auto means to the car. mit always takes the dative, so dem Feuerlöscher is dative.

Der Griff des Feuerlöschers ist rot.

The handle of the fire extinguisher is red.

der Griff is the handle, and rot means red. des Feuerlöschers is genitive because it shows whose handle it is; the masculine noun adds -s.

In dem Gebäude hängen drei Feuerlöscher.

There are three fire extinguishers hanging in the building.

das Gebäude means the building, and drei means three. in dem Gebäude is dative because it describes a location, while drei Feuerlöscher is the plural subject after the verb.

der Fleck — spot, stain; spot, place

der Fleck usually means a stain on something. It can also mean a small area or place.

Der Fleck ist auf meinem Hemd.

The stain is on my shirt.

das Hemd means shirt and mein means my. Der Fleck is nominative as the subject; meinem Hemd is dative because auf describes a location.

Ich sehe einen Fleck.

I can see a stain.

sehen means to see. einen Fleck is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes to einen.

Sie gibt dem Fleck etwas Wasser.

She gives the stain some water.

geben means to give and etwas Wasser means some water. dem Fleck is dative as the target, while etwas Wasser is accusative.

Die Farbe des Flecks ist dunkel.

The colour of the stain is dark.

die Farbe means colour and dunkel means dark. des Flecks is genitive because it shows which colour; the noun takes -s.

Die Flecken gehen nicht aus der Hose.

The stains do not come out of the trousers.

ausgehen means to come out and die Hose means trousers. Flecken is plural; der Hose is dative because aus always takes the dative.

Wir kennen einen schönen Fleck am See.

We know a beautiful spot by the lake.

schön means beautiful and der See means lake. einen schönen Fleck is accusative because it is the object of kennen; am See is dative for location.

Das ist mein Lieblingsfleck in der Stadt.

This is my favourite spot in the city.

Lieblings- means favourite and die Stadt means city. Lieblingsfleck is a compound meaning favourite spot; der Stadt is dative because in describes location.

der Föhn — hairdryer; föhn wind

Der Föhn has two common meanings: a hairdryer and a warm, dry Alpine wind. The plural Föhne normally refers to hairdryers; the wind meaning is usually used as an uncountable singular weather term.

Der Föhn steht im Badezimmer.

The hairdryer is in the bathroom.

steht means is standing or is located, and im Badezimmer means in the bathroom. Der Föhn is the nominative subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.

Ich nehme den Föhn mit.

I’m taking the hairdryer with me.

nehme ... mit means take along, and mit means with. Den Föhn is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object; the separable verb mitnehmen splits, with nehme in position two and mit at the end.

Mit dem Föhn trockne ich meine Haare.

I dry my hair with the hairdryer.

mit means with, trocknen means dry, and meine Haare means my hair. Mit takes the dative, so der Föhn becomes dem Föhn; the phrase comes first, but trockne still occupies position two.

Die Leistung des Föhns ist gut.

The hairdryer’s power is good.

die Leistung means the power or performance, and gut means good. Des Föhns is genitive and shows possession; the masculine article is des and the noun has -s.

Im Laden stehen viele Föhne.

There are many hairdryers in the shop.

im Laden means in the shop, stehen means are standing or are located, and viele means many. Föhne is the plural after viele; the plural subject makes the verb stehen, not singular steht.

Ein starker Föhn bringt warme Luft.

A strong föhn wind brings warm air.

ein starker Föhn means a strong föhn wind, and warme Luft means warm air. Here Föhn has the weather meaning, so it is normally singular; ein starker has the masculine nominative ending -er.

das Gas — gas; accelerator; acceleration

In everyday contexts, Gas often means fuel for cooking or heating; in science it means the state of matter.

Das Gas ist unsichtbar.

The gas is invisible.

unsichtbar means invisible. Das Gas is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.

Der Techniker prüft das Gas.

The technician checks the gas.

der Techniker is the technician and prüft means checks. Das Gas is accusative because prüfen takes a direct object, although the neuter article das looks the same in nominative and accusative.

Wir kochen mit dem Gas.

We cook with gas.

kochen means cook. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Gas is dative; the finite verb kochen is in position two.

Der Geruch des Gases ist stark.

The smell of the gas is strong.

der Geruch means the smell and stark means strong. Des Gases is genitive because it identifies whose smell it is; the neuter noun takes -es in this form.

In der Luft sind verschiedene Gase.

There are different gases in the air.

die Luft means the air and verschiedene means different. Gase is the plural of Gas, with an umlaut and -e; it follows sind because the sentence says what exists in the air.

Gib Gas, sonst kommen wir zu spät!

Step on it, or we’ll be late!

sonst means otherwise and zu spät means too late. Gas geben is a fixed colloquial expression meaning accelerate; gib is the imperative of geben, not a literal instruction to release gas.

Er gab auf der Autobahn Gas.

He accelerated on the motorway.

die Autobahn means the motorway and gab means gave. Gas geben means accelerate here; in the past-tense main clause, the finite verb gab is in position two and Gas stays in the expression.

gießen — to pour, to water

Gießen takes an accusative object for the thing being poured or watered, as in die Blumen gießen. Its perfect uses haben, not sein: hat gegossen.

Ich gieße jeden Morgen die Blumen.

I water the flowers every morning.

jeden Morgen means every morning, and die Blumen means the flowers. Die Blumen is accusative because gießen takes the thing being watered as a direct object; the finite verb gieße is in position two.

Wir haben die Pflanzen gegossen.

We watered the plants.

wir means we, and die Pflanzen means the plants. The perfect uses haben plus gegossen, with the Partizip II at the end; die Pflanzen is accusative because it is the direct object.

Er goss den Tee vorsichtig in die Tasse.

He carefully poured the tea into the cup.

vorsichtig means carefully, der Tee is the tea, and die Tasse is the cup. Den Tee is accusative as the liquid being poured, and in die Tasse is accusative because it expresses movement into the cup.

Gieß bitte etwas Wasser auf die Erde.

Please pour some water onto the soil.

bitte means please, etwas Wasser means some water, and die Erde means the soil or earth. Gieß is the du imperative; auf die Erde is accusative because the water is moved onto the soil.

Ich würde die Blumen gießen, wenn ich zu Hause wäre.

I would water the flowers if I were at home.

würde means would, wenn means if, and zu Hause means at home. The infinitive gießen follows würde at the end of the main clause, while wäre goes to the end of the wenn-clause; die Blumen is accusative.

Morgen wird sie die Pflanzen gießen.

Tomorrow she will water the plants.

morgen means tomorrow, and die Pflanzen means the plants. Future uses wird plus the infinitive gießen at the end; die Pflanzen is accusative as the direct object.

der Glascontainer — glass container, bottle bank

This compound is made from Glas and Container. In everyday German it means a public container for recyclable glass, not a container made of glass.

Der Glascontainer steht neben dem Supermarkt.

The glass container is next to the supermarket.

steht means stands, neben means next to, and der Supermarkt is the supermarket. Der Glascontainer is nominative because it is the subject, while neben dem Supermarkt is dative because it describes location.

Wir bringen das Glas zum Glascontainer.

We take the glass to the glass container.

bringen means take or bring, das Glas means the glass, and zum means to the. Das Glas is accusative as the object, while zum Glascontainer is dative because zu always governs the dative.

Ich gehe mit meinem Vater zum Glascontainer.

I go to the glass container with my father.

gehe means go, mit meinem Vater means with my father, and zum means to the. Both mit meinem Vater and zum Glascontainer are dative because mit and zu govern the dative.

Die Tür des Glascontainers ist offen.

The door of the glass container is open.

Die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Glascontainers is genitive because it shows which container the door belongs to; Container takes -s here.

In unserer Stadt gibt es viele Glascontainer.

There are many glass containers in our city.

In unserer Stadt means in our city, gibt es means there are, and viele means many. Glascontainer is plural after viele; in unserer Stadt is dative because it describes location.

Bitte wirf die Flaschen in den Glascontainer.

Please throw the bottles into the glass container.

Bitte means please, wirf means throw, and die Flaschen means the bottles. In den Glascontainer is accusative because it expresses movement into the container, and wirf is a du imperative.

die Glühbirne — light bulb

The compound die Glühbirne combines glühen, to glow, with die Birne, pear or bulb. In everyday speech, people also often say die Lampe when they mean a light bulb or lamp more generally.

Die Glühbirne ist kaputt.

The light bulb is broken.

ist means is and kaputt means broken. Die Glühbirne is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.

Ich kaufe eine neue Glühbirne.

I am buying a new light bulb.

kaufe means buy, eine means a, and neue means new. Eine neue Glühbirne is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the feminine article stays eine, so the adjective has the ending -e.

Mit der Glühbirne ist das Zimmer heller.

With the light bulb, the room is brighter.

mit means with, das Zimmer means the room, and heller means brighter. Der Glühbirne is dative because mit always governs the dative; heller is a comparative adjective describing the room.

Das Licht der Glühbirne ist warm.

The light of the bulb is warm.

das Licht means the light, warm means warm, and ist means is. Der Glühbirne is genitive because it tells which light is meant; with a feminine noun, only the article changes to der.

Die alten Glühbirnen kommen in den Müll.

The old light bulbs go in the rubbish.

alten means old, kommen means go or come, and der Müll means the rubbish. Glühbirnen is plural, and in den Müll is accusative because it expresses movement into the rubbish rather than a fixed location.

der Haken — hook; catch; snag

The plural of der Haken is also Haken, with no plural ending. Der Haken can also mean a snag or hidden problem in an idea or agreement.

Der Haken hängt an der Wand.

The hook is hanging on the wall.

hängen means to hang, and die Wand means the wall. Der Haken is nominative because it is the subject; an der Wand is dative because an describes a fixed location.

Ich brauche einen Haken.

I need a hook.

brauchen means to need. einen Haken is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object, and the masculine article changes from ein to einen.

Ich hänge die Jacke an den Haken.

I hang the jacket on the hook.

die Jacke means the jacket, and hängen means to hang. an den Haken is accusative because the jacket is moved onto the hook; with a fixed location, an would take the dative.

Die Spitze des Hakens ist sehr scharf.

The tip of the hook is very sharp.

die Spitze means the tip, and scharf means sharp. des Hakens is genitive because it shows which object the tip belongs to; der Haken adds -s in the genitive.

An der Wand hängen viele Haken.

Many hooks are hanging on the wall.

viele means many, and die Wand means the wall. Haken is both the singular and plural spelling; an der Wand is dative because it describes a location.

Das Angebot klingt gut, aber es hat einen Haken.

The offer sounds good, but it has a catch.

das Angebot means the offer, klingen means to sound, and aber means but. einen Haken is accusative because haben takes a direct object; aber keeps the normal word order in the second clause.

Wo ist der Haken an diesem Vertrag?

What is the catch with this contract?

dieser Vertrag means this contract, and wo means where. der Haken is nominative in the question, while an diesem Vertrag means with this contract and uses the dative after an for a fixed connection.

die Hausfrau — housewife, homemaker

Hausfrau can sound old-fashioned or limiting when it describes a woman's only role; Hausfrau und Mutter is a common traditional phrase.

Die Hausfrau kocht jeden Tag.

The housewife cooks every day.

kocht means cooks, and jeden Tag means every day. Die Hausfrau is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb kocht is in position two.

Sie sucht eine Hausfrau.

She is looking for a housewife.

sie sucht means she is looking for. Eine Hausfrau is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the feminine article stays eine in both nominative and accusative.

Er hilft der Hausfrau im Garten.

He helps the housewife in the garden.

er hilft means he helps, im Garten means in the garden. Der Hausfrau is dative because helfen requires a dative person.

Das Auto der Hausfrau ist neu.

The housewife's car is new.

das Auto means the car and neu means new. Der Hausfrau is genitive because it shows possession, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.

Viele Hausfrauen arbeiten heute auch außerhalb des Hauses.

Many housewives also work outside the home today.

viele means many, außerhalb means outside, and des Hauses means of the house or home. Hausfrauen is plural after viele; außerhalb normally takes the genitive.

heizen — to heat; to give off heat, to be heated

heizen commonly takes an accusative place or object: die Wohnung heizen means to heat the flat. It can also be used without an object when the context makes the heated place clear, and its perfect auxiliary is haben.

Wir heizen die Wohnung im Winter.

We heat the flat in winter.

die Wohnung means the flat and im Winter means in winter. die Wohnung is accusative because heizen takes the place being heated as a direct object; the finite verb heizen stands in position two.

Wir haben das Haus den ganzen Tag geheizt.

We heated the house all day.

das Haus means the house and den ganzen Tag means all day. The perfect uses haben plus geheizt at the end, and das Haus is accusative as the object.

Früher heizte mein Großvater nur mit Holz.

In the past, my grandfather heated only with wood.

früher means in the past, mein Großvater means my grandfather, and Holz means wood. heizte is the weak-verb simple past; mit Holz is a dative phrase because mit always takes the dative.

Heiz das Zimmer bitte!

Please heat the room!

das Zimmer means the room and bitte means please. Heiz is the du imperative, and das Zimmer is accusative because it is the thing being heated.

Wenn es kälter wäre, heizte ich mehr.

If it were colder, I would heat more.

kälter means colder and mehr means more. Here heizte is the Konjunktiv II form in the wenn-clause and goes to the end; the subject ich is in the main clause.

Morgen werden wir das Wohnzimmer heizen.

Tomorrow we will heat the living room.

morgen means tomorrow and das Wohnzimmer means the living room. Futur I places werden in position two and the infinitive heizen at the end; the room is an accusative object.

Der Ofen heizt noch.

The stove is still heating.

der Ofen means the stove and noch means still. Here heizt is used without an object because the stove itself produces heat; the finite verb stands in position two.

Das Gebäude wird mit Fernwärme geheizt.

The building is heated with district heating.

das Gebäude means the building and Fernwärme means district heating. This is a passive sentence with wird and geheizt; mit Fernwärme is dative because mit takes the dative.

hämmern — to hammer, to pound; to pound, to thump

Hämmern describes repeated blows, usually with a hammer; the object is commonly accusative, as in einen Nagel hämmern. For hitting a surface, German often uses auf with the accusative, as in auf den Tisch hämmern; the perfect takes haben.

Er hämmert einen Nagel in die Wand.

He hammers a nail into the wall.

einen Nagel is a nail, in die Wand means into the wall, and Wand means wall. Einen Nagel is accusative because it is the object of hämmert; in die Wand is accusative because it expresses direction, and the finite verb is in position two.

Sie hat lange gehämmert.

She hammered for a long time.

lange means for a long time. Gehämmert is the Partizip II and goes to the end of the clause; hat is the auxiliary because hämmern forms the perfect with haben.

Der Nachbar hämmerte den ganzen Morgen.

The neighbour hammered all morning.

Der Nachbar means the neighbour, and den ganzen Morgen means all morning. Hämmerte is the weak-verb preterite in position two; den ganzen Morgen is an accusative time expression.

Hämmer nicht so laut!

Don't hammer so loudly!

nicht so laut means not so loudly. Hämmer is the du imperative, so the subject du is omitted; nicht comes before the phrase it negates.

Wenn du weiter hämmertest, würde ich gehen.

If you kept hammering, I would leave.

weiter means on or further, würde ich gehen means I would leave, and gehen means leave or go. Hämmertest is the second-person singular Konjunktiv II form in the subordinate clause, so it stands at the end; würde introduces the result clause.

Morgen wird er wieder hämmern.

Tomorrow he will hammer again.

Morgen means tomorrow, and wieder means again. In wird ... hämmern, wird is the finite future auxiliary in position two and the infinitive hämmern goes to the end.

Der Regen hämmert gegen das Fenster.

The rain beats against the window.

Der Regen means the rain, gegen means against, and Fenster means window. Hämmert is in position two; gegen takes the accusative, shown by das Fenster.

Die Bässe hämmern aus dem Club.

The bass pounds from the club.

Die Bässe means the bass sounds, aus means from or out of, and Club means club. Hämmern is plural because die Bässe is the subject; aus dem Club takes the dative.

der Kasten — box, crate; cabinet; old machine, television or vehicle (colloquial)

In everyday German, Kasten can mean a box, crate or cabinet. In colloquial speech, der Kasten can also mean a television or a person's body, depending on context.

Der Kasten steht neben der Tür.

The box is next to the door.

neben der Tür means next to the door. Der Kasten is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.

Ich stelle den Kasten in den Keller.

I put the box in the cellar.

stelle means put or place, and der Keller is the cellar. Den Kasten is accusative because it is the object of stelle; in den Keller is also accusative because it expresses movement into a place.

Wir geben dem Kasten einen neuen Deckel.

We give the box a new lid.

geben means give, neu means new, and der Deckel is the lid. Dem Kasten is dative because it is the recipient, while einen neuen Deckel is the accusative thing being given.

Der Deckel des Kastens ist kaputt.

The box's lid is broken.

der Deckel means the lid, and kaputt means broken. Des Kastens is genitive because it shows whose lid it is; the noun takes -s in the genitive singular.

Die Kästen sind schwer.

The boxes are heavy.

schwer means heavy. Die Kästen is the plural subject, and the umlaut changes a to ä while the plural ending is -en.

Der alte Kasten fährt noch.

The old banger still runs.

alt means old, and fährt noch means still runs or drives. Der alte Kasten is the nominative subject, and this colloquial use often refers humorously to an old car or machine.

Schalt bitte den Kasten aus.

Please switch off the television.

ausschalten means switch off, and bitte means please. Den Kasten is accusative because it is the object of ausschalten; in this colloquial sentence, Kasten means television and the separable verb splits in the imperative.

kehren — to sweep; to return, to turn back

For the meaning ‘to sweep’, kehren normally takes an accusative object such as den Boden. The related verb umkehren means to turn back, but it is a different verb and is separable.

Sie kehrt den Hof.

She is sweeping the yard.

Sie means she, and der Hof means the yard. Den Hof is accusative because kehren takes a direct object; the finite verb kehrt stands in position two.

Wir haben den Boden gekehrt.

We swept the floor.

Wir means we, den Boden means the floor, and haben means have. Den Boden is accusative because it is the object of kehren; haben is in position two and gekehrt goes to the end.

Er kehrte die Küche.

He swept the kitchen.

Er means he, and die Küche means the kitchen. Die Küche is accusative as the direct object, and the weak-verb past form kehrte is the finite verb in position two.

Kehr bitte den Flur!

Please sweep the hallway!

bitte means please, and der Flur means the hallway. The imperative kehr addresses one person informally and has no subject pronoun; den Flur is accusative because it is the object.

Ich würde gern den Balkon kehren.

I would like to sweep the balcony.

Ich means I, gern means gladly or would like to, and der Balkon means the balcony. Den Balkon is accusative, while würde is the finite verb in position two and the infinitive kehren goes to the end.

Morgen werde ich das Zimmer kehren.

Tomorrow I will sweep the room.

Morgen means tomorrow, and das Zimmer means the room. Das Zimmer is accusative as the direct object; werde is in position two and the infinitive kehren stands at the end.

Nach dem Urlaub möchte sie nach Hause zurückkehren.

After the holiday, she would like to return home.

Nach dem Urlaub means after the holiday, möchte means would like to, and nach Hause means home. Zurückkehren stays together as an infinitive after möchte, so it goes to the end; the prefix zurück separates only when the verb is finite in a main clause.

Er möchte bald zurückkehren.

He would like to return soon.

möchte means would like to, and bald means soon. The compound zurückkehren stays attached as an infinitive after the modal verb möchte, so it goes to the end of the clause.

das Klebeband — adhesive tape, sticky tape

Klebeband is a compound of kleben, to stick, and Band, tape or strip. Its plural is Klebebänder, with an umlaut and -er, not Klebebands.

Das Klebeband liegt auf dem Tisch.

The adhesive tape is on the table.

liegt means is lying and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Das Klebeband is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location here.

Ich brauche das Klebeband.

I need the adhesive tape.

brauche means need. Das Klebeband is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object, and the finite verb brauche is in position two.

Mit dem Klebeband repariere ich die Schachtel.

I repair the box with adhesive tape.

mit means with, repariere means repair, and die Schachtel is the box. Mit dem Klebeband is dative because mit always takes the dative; the prepositional phrase comes first, so repariere is still in position two.

Die Farbe des Klebebands ist blau.

The colour of the adhesive tape is blue.

die Farbe means colour and blau means blue. Des Klebebands is genitive because it identifies which colour, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.

Im Schrank liegen viele Klebebänder.

There are many rolls of adhesive tape in the cupboard.

im Schrank means in the cupboard and viele means many. Klebebänder is the plural of das Klebeband; im is in dem, with dative because the tapes are in a fixed place.

der Klebstoff — adhesive, glue

Klebstoff is a compound of kleben, to stick, and Stoff, substance or material. It is a mass noun when referring to glue generally, but a plural Klebstoffe is possible when different adhesives are meant.

Der Klebstoff ist noch nicht trocken.

The adhesive is not dry yet.

noch nicht means not yet and trocken means dry. Der Klebstoff is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is the finite verb in position two.

Bitte benutze den Klebstoff vorsichtig.

Please use the adhesive carefully.

benutze means use and vorsichtig means carefully. Den Klebstoff is accusative because benutzen takes a direct object; the polite command uses the infinitive-like benutze form.

Mit dem Klebstoff hält das Papier besser.

The paper holds better with the adhesive.

mit means with, das Papier means the paper, and besser means better. Mit dem Klebstoff is dative because mit always takes the dative; the phrase comes first, so hält remains in position two.

Der Geruch des Klebstoffs ist stark.

The smell of the adhesive is strong.

der Geruch means the smell and stark means strong. Des Klebstoffs is genitive because it shows what the smell belongs to, and ist stands in position two.

Diese Klebstoffe trocknen schnell.

These adhesives dry quickly.

diese means these, trocknen means dry, and schnell means quickly. Klebstoffe is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural verb trocknen stands in position two.

löschen — to delete, erase; to switch off; to extinguish

The object is usually accusative, as in eine Datei löschen. The meaning depends on the object: eine Datei löschen is to delete a file, while eine Kerze löschen is to extinguish a candle.

Ich lösche die alte Datei.

I am deleting the old file.

die alte Datei means the old file. Die alte Datei is accusative because it is what löschen removes, and the finite verb lösche is in position two.

Wir haben die Nachricht gelöscht.

We deleted the message.

die Nachricht is the message. Gelöscht is the Partizip II and combines with haben; haben is in position two and gelöscht goes to the end.

Er löschte das Licht vor dem Schlafengehen.

He switched off the light before going to bed.

das Licht is the light, and vor dem Schlafengehen means before going to bed. Das Licht is accusative because it is the object, and the simple-past form löschte is the finite verb in position two.

Lösch bitte die Datei!

Please delete the file!

bitte means please, and die Datei is the file. Lösch is the command form for du; the object is accusative, and the subject du is normally left out.

Ich würde den Eintrag löschen, wenn er falsch wäre.

I would delete the entry if it were wrong.

der Eintrag is the entry, and falsch means wrong. Würde ... löschen expresses a hypothetical action; löschen stays at the end of the subordinate clause after wenn.

Sie wird die Fotos später löschen.

She will delete the photos later.

die Fotos means the photos, and später means later. Wird is in position two and the infinitive löschen goes to the end; the object is accusative.

lüften — to air, to ventilate; to reveal, to uncover

For rooms, lüften means to air or ventilate them. It takes haben in the perfect and a direct accusative object, such as das Zimmer.

Ich lüfte jeden Morgen das Schlafzimmer.

I air the bedroom every morning.

jeden Morgen means every morning, and das Schlafzimmer means the bedroom. Das Schlafzimmer is accusative because lüften takes an accusative object, and the finite verb lüfte stands in position two.

Wir haben die Küche gelüftet.

We aired the kitchen.

die Küche means the kitchen. Gelüftet is the Partizip II and combines with haben; die Küche is accusative, and the participle goes to the end of the perfect clause.

Sie lüftete das Büro vor der Besprechung.

She aired the office before the meeting.

das Büro means the office, and vor der Besprechung means before the meeting. Das Büro is accusative after lüftete; the weak-verb preterite ends in -te, and the finite verb is in position two.

Lüfte bitte das Zimmer!

Please air the room!

bitte means please, and das Zimmer means the room. Lüfte is the du imperative, so the subject is omitted; the room is accusative because it is the object.

Ich lüftete das Zimmer, wenn die Luft zu warm wäre.

I would air the room if the air were too warm.

wenn means if, and zu warm means too warm. The form lüftete is identical to the preterite in this weak verb, but wäre marks the unreal condition; das Zimmer is accusative.

Morgen werde ich das ganze Haus lüften.

Tomorrow I will air the whole house.

morgen means tomorrow, and das ganze Haus means the whole house. Werde ... lüften forms the future sentence bracket, with the infinitive at the end; das ganze Haus is accusative.

Der Journalist lüftet das Geheimnis.

The journalist reveals the secret.

der Journalist means the journalist, and das Geheimnis means the secret. Das Geheimnis is accusative because it is the object of lüften; the finite verb lüftet stands in position two.

Endlich haben wir das Rätsel gelüftet.

At last we solved the mystery.

endlich means at last, and das Rätsel means the mystery or puzzle. Gelüftet combines with haben and goes to the end; das Rätsel is accusative because it is the object.

die Mehrfachsteckdose — multiple socket, power strip

The compound combines mehrfach, meaning multiple, and die Steckdose, meaning electrical socket. In everyday speech, Mehrfachsteckdose often means a power strip with a cable, while Steckdosenleiste is another common word for the same kind of device.

Die Mehrfachsteckdose liegt auf dem Boden.

The power strip is on the floor.

liegt means is lying, and auf dem Boden means on the floor. Die Mehrfachsteckdose is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Boden is dative because it describes a fixed location, not movement.

Ich kaufe die Mehrfachsteckdose für das Büro.

I am buying the power strip for the office.

kaufe means buy, and für das Büro means for the office. Die Mehrfachsteckdose is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; für always takes the accusative.

Ich gebe der Mehrfachsteckdose einen festen Platz.

I am giving the power strip a fixed place.

gebe means give, einen festen Platz means a fixed place, and fest means fixed. Der Mehrfachsteckdose is dative because geben gives the recipient dative, while einen festen Platz is the accusative thing being given.

Der Stecker der Mehrfachsteckdose ist kaputt.

The plug of the power strip is broken.

der Stecker means the plug, and kaputt means broken. Der Mehrfachsteckdose is genitive because it shows possession; the finite verb ist is in position two.

Die Mehrfachsteckdosen sind im Schrank.

The power strips are in the cupboard.

sind means are, and im Schrank means in the cupboard. Die Mehrfachsteckdosen is plural nominative as the subject; im is short for in dem, and the fixed location requires dative.