Appearance
Vocab: Movement — B1 (1)
Movement vocabulary at B1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
ablegen — to put down; to take off; to take an exam; to make a formal vow
As a separable verb, ablegen becomes legt ... ab in a main clause but stays together as abgelegt or ablegen in compound tenses and with another verb.
Er legt ab und setzt sich.
He takes off his coat and sits down.
sich setzen means to sit down; the object being taken off is understood from the situation. Legt ab is separable, so legt is in position two and ab goes to the end.
Sie hat den Mantel abgelegt.
She took off her coat.
der Mantel means coat. Den Mantel is accusative because ablegen takes a direct object; the perfect uses hat plus abgelegt, which stands at the end.
Früher legte ab er seine Tasche im Flur.
In the past, he put his bag down in the hallway.
früher means in the past, die Tasche means bag, and der Flur means hallway. Seine Tasche is accusative, and the preterite form splits into legte in position two and ab at the end.
Leg ab und mach eine Pause.
Take it off and take a break.
mach eine Pause means take a break. Leg ab is the informal du imperative of separable ablegen; the prefix stays at the end.
Ich legte ab, wenn ich zu Hause wäre.
I would take it off if I were at home.
zu Hause means at home, and wäre means were. In the main clause legte is in position two and ab is final; the subordinate clause puts wäre at the end.
Ich werde die Schuhe im Flur ablegen.
I will put the shoes down in the hallway.
die Schuhe means shoes, and der Flur means hallway. Die Schuhe is accusative, and future werde ... ablegen places the infinitive at the end rather than splitting the prefix.
Nächste Woche legt sie ihre Prüfung ab.
Next week she will take her exam.
nächste Woche means next week, and die Prüfung means exam. Ihre Prüfung is accusative because ablegen takes a direct object; legt stands in position two and ab at the end.
Der Zeuge legte vor Gericht einen Eid ab.
The witness took an oath in court.
der Zeuge means witness, vor Gericht means in court, and der Eid means oath. Einen Eid is accusative; the preterite splits into legte in position two and ab at the end.
abschleppen — to tow away; to drag away, to haul away
This verb is most often used for towing a vehicle away. It can also mean dragging or hauling something away, and the thing moved is an accusative object.
Der Abschleppdienst schleppt ab mein Auto.
The towing service is towing my car away.
der Abschleppdienst means the towing service and mein Auto means my car. Mein Auto is accusative because it is the vehicle being towed; the finite verb schleppt is in position two and ab goes to the end.
Die Polizei hat den Wagen abgeschleppt.
The police had the car towed away.
die Polizei means the police and der Wagen means the car. The perfect uses hat plus abgeschleppt at the end; den Wagen is accusative as the object of the towing.
Ein Abschleppwagen schleppte ab den kaputten Bus.
A tow truck towed the broken-down bus away.
ein Abschleppwagen means a tow truck, kaputt means broken, and der Bus means the bus. Den kaputten Bus is accusative; schleppte is in position two and ab is at the end.
Schlepp ab das Auto nicht!
Do not tow the car away!
nicht means not and das Auto means the car. The informal imperative is schlepp, and the prefix ab stays at the end; das Auto is accusative.
Ich würde abschleppen den alten Wagen nicht, wenn er noch fährt.
I would not tow the old car away if it still runs.
alt means old, noch means still, and fährt means is running or drives. Würde marks a hypothetical action, so the full infinitive abschleppen follows würde; den alten Wagen is accusative.
Der Pannendienst wird abschleppen das Motorrad bald.
The breakdown service will tow the motorcycle away soon.
der Pannendienst means the breakdown service, das Motorrad means the motorcycle, and bald means soon. Future tense puts wird in position two and abschleppen at the end; das Motorrad is accusative.
Die Freunde schleppten ab ihn nach der Party.
The friends dragged him away after the party.
die Freunde means the friends, ihn means him, and nach der Party means after the party. Ihn is accusative because he is the person dragged away; schleppten is in position two and ab goes to the end.
Sie haben den schweren Koffer bis zum Zug abgeschleppt.
They hauled the heavy suitcase all the way to the train.
schwer means heavy, der Koffer means suitcase, bis zum Zug means as far as the train, and der Zug means train. Den schweren Koffer is accusative as the thing hauled; the perfect participle abgeschleppt stands at the end.
absetzen — to put down; to drop off; to dismiss; to remove from office; to deduct; to write off
In this sense, absetzen is separable and takes an accusative object. It can also mean to dismiss someone or to deduct an amount, depending on context.
Ich setze den schweren Koffer vorsichtig ab.
I carefully put down the heavy suitcase.
der schwere Koffer means the heavy suitcase, and vorsichtig means carefully. Den schweren Koffer is accusative because absetzen takes the thing being put down as an accusative object; the finite verb setze is in position two and the separable ab is at the end.
Sie hat das Baby auf dem Sofa abgesetzt.
She put the baby down on the sofa.
das Baby means the baby and das Sofa means the sofa. Auf dem Sofa is dative because it describes a fixed location, while das Baby is accusative; hat is in position two and abgesetzt goes to the end.
Der Fahrer setzte uns vor dem Bahnhof ab.
The driver dropped us off in front of the station.
der Fahrer is the driver, uns means us, and vor dem Bahnhof means in front of the station. Uns is accusative as the people being dropped off; the past-tense verb is split, with setzte in position two and ab at the end.
Setz die Kiste hier ab!
Put the box down here!
die Kiste means the box and hier means here. Die Kiste is accusative because it is the object; in the informal singular imperative, setz comes first and the separable ab stays at the end.
Ich würde den Karton neben die Tür absetzen.
I would put the cardboard box down next to the door.
der Karton means the cardboard box, and neben die Tür means next to the door. Den Karton is accusative because it is the object, and neben die Tür is accusative because the box is being moved to a place; after würde, the infinitive absetzen stays together at the end.
Der Roboter wird die Pakete an der Rampe absetzen.
The robot will put the packages down at the ramp.
der Roboter means the robot, die Pakete means the packages, and die Rampe means the loading ramp. Die Pakete is accusative because it is the object, while an der Rampe is dative for a fixed location; wird is in position two and absetzen goes to the end.
Der Vorstand setzte den Geschäftsführer ab.
The board dismissed the managing director.
der Vorstand means the board and der Geschäftsführer means the managing director. Den Geschäftsführer is accusative because the dismissed person is the object; the separable ab goes to the end of the past-tense clause.
Die Partei will ihren Vorsitzenden absetzen.
The party wants to remove its chairperson.
die Partei means the party, ihr Vorsitzender means its chairperson, and will means wants to. Ihren Vorsitzenden is accusative; after the modal verb will, the infinitive absetzen stays together at the end.
Wir können die Reparaturkosten von der Steuer absetzen.
We can deduct the repair costs from our taxes.
die Reparaturkosten means the repair costs and die Steuer means the tax. Die Reparaturkosten is accusative as the amount deducted, while von der Steuer is dative because von always takes the dative; after können, absetzen is at the end.
Sie setzt ihre Fahrtkosten in der Steuererklärung ab.
She deducts her travel costs on her tax return.
die Fahrtkosten means travel costs and die Steuererklärung means tax return. Ihre Fahrtkosten is accusative because it is the amount deducted; the separable verb has setzt in position two and ab at the end.
der Abstieg — descent, downhill section; relegation, decline
Der Abstieg is the noun from absteigen and can describe a physical descent or a downhill section of a route. Its plural is Abstiege, with an umlaut.
Der Abstieg vom Berg dauert zwei Stunden.
The descent from the mountain takes two hours.
der Berg means the mountain, and dauern means to take a length of time. Der Abstieg is nominative because it is the subject; vom Berg is dative because von always takes the dative, and dauert is in position two.
Wir beginnen den Abstieg nach dem Mittagessen.
We begin the descent after lunch.
beginnen means to begin, and das Mittagessen means lunch. den Abstieg is accusative because beginnen takes an accusative object; nach dem Mittagessen is dative because nach requires the dative.
Vor dem Abstieg machen wir eine kurze Pause.
Before the descent, we take a short break.
vor dem Abstieg means before the descent, kurz means short, and die Pause means the break. vor takes the dative here, so dem Abstieg is dative; the prepositional phrase comes first, and the finite verb machen is still in position two.
Die Dauer des Abstiegs hängt vom Wetter ab.
The duration of the descent depends on the weather.
die Dauer means the duration, das Wetter means the weather, and abhängen von means to depend on. des Abstiegs is genitive because it identifies the duration, vom Wetter is dative after von, and ab goes to the end.
Abstiege bei schlechtem Wetter sind gefährlich.
Descents in bad weather are dangerous.
schlechtes Wetter means bad weather, and gefährlich means dangerous. Abstiege is plural nominative because it is the subject; bei schlechtem Wetter is dative because bei takes the dative, and the adjective ending shows that case.
Der Verein kämpft gegen den Abstieg.
The club is fighting to avoid relegation.
der Verein means the club, and kämpfen gegen means to fight against. den Abstieg is accusative because gegen always takes the accusative; kämpft is in position two.
Nach dem Abstieg verlor die Mannschaft viele Spieler.
After relegation, the team lost many players.
nach dem Abstieg means after relegation, die Mannschaft means the team, and viele Spieler means many players. nach takes the dative, so dem Abstieg is dative; viele Spieler is accusative because verlor takes an accusative object.
abstürzen — to crash, to fall; to crash (of a computer or program)
For aircraft and people, abstürzen normally takes sein in the perfect: ist abgestürzt. It can also describe a computer or system suddenly stopping.
Das Flugzeug stürzt ab.
The plane is crashing.
das Flugzeug means the plane. The finite verb stürzt is in position two and the prefix ab goes to the end; the subject is nominative.
Das Flugzeug ist abgestürzt.
The plane crashed.
das Flugzeug means the plane. abgestürzt combines with sein, not haben, because the verb describes movement or a change of state, and the participle goes to the end.
Der Hubschrauber stürzte ab.
The helicopter crashed.
der Hubschrauber means the helicopter. The finite form stürzte stands in position two, while ab is separated and placed at the end.
Stürz nicht ab!
Don’t crash!
nicht means not. This is the informal singular imperative: stürz comes first and the separable prefix ab follows the negation.
Wenn das Flugzeug höher flöge, würde es nicht abstürzen.
If the plane flew higher, it would not crash.
höher means higher, and flöge means flew in an unreal situation. In the subordinate clause introduced by wenn, the verb comes at the end; after würde, the infinitive abstürzen also stays together at the end.
Der kleine Ballon wird bald abstürzen.
The small balloon will soon crash.
klein means small, der Ballon means the balloon, and bald means soon. wird is the finite auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive abstürzen remains together at the end.
Mein Computer stürzt ständig ab, weil er zu alt ist.
My computer keeps crashing because it is too old.
mein Computer means my computer, ständig means constantly, and zu alt means too old. In the main clause stürzt is in position two and ab is at the end; in the weil clause, ist goes to the end.
Die App ist beim Start abgestürzt.
The app crashed while starting.
die App means the app, beim Start means during start-up, and Start is a noun made from the verb starten. The perfect uses ist plus abgestürzt, which stands at the end of the clause.
abziehen — to take off, pull away; to deduct; to deduct, subtract
The separable verb abziehen has several related uses: physically removing something, and deducting an amount. In the perfect it uses haben, not sein, and its strong forms are zog ab and abgezogen.
Ich habe meine nassen Schuhe abgezogen.
I took off my wet shoes.
nass means wet, and Schuhe are shoes. meine nassen Schuhe is accusative because abziehen takes a direct object; abgezogen goes to the end and pairs with habe.
Ich habe meine nassen Schuhe abgezogen.
I took off my wet shoes.
nass means wet, and Schuhe are shoes. meine nassen Schuhe is accusative, while abgezogen goes to the end and pairs with habe because this use of abziehen takes haben.
Er ging nach draußen, weil er seine Jacke abzog.
He went outside because he took off his jacket.
nach draußen means outside, and seine Jacke means his jacket. seine Jacke is accusative because it is the object; after weil, the finite verb abzog goes to the end, and the strong past form is abzog.
Zieh deine Schuhe ab!
Take off your shoes!
deine Schuhe means your shoes. The informal command uses zieh without a subject pronoun, and ab remains at the end because abziehen is separable; deine Schuhe is accusative.
Ich würde die alte Tapete abziehen, bevor ich streiche.
I would remove the old wallpaper before painting.
die alte Tapete is the old wallpaper, bevor means before, and streiche means paint. die alte Tapete is accusative; in the würde form, the infinitive abziehen stays together at the end.
Der Mechaniker wird den Betrag später abziehen.
The mechanic will deduct the amount later.
der Mechaniker is the mechanic, der Betrag is the amount, and später means later. den Betrag is accusative because it is the object; wird is in position two and the infinitive abziehen goes to the end.
Die Firma zieht die Steuer direkt vom Lohn abzieht.
The company deducts the tax directly from the wage.
die Firma is the company, die Steuer is the tax, and der Lohn is the wage. die Steuer is accusative because it is the object; in this subordinate clause, abzieht stands at the end, with the prefix attached.
Bitte ziehen Sie zehn Euro vom Preis ab.
Please deduct ten euros from the price.
zehn Euro means ten euros, der Preis is the price, and bitte makes the request polite. zehn Euro is the accusative object; in the formal command, ziehen comes first and ab goes to the end.
anfahren — to move off, to start driving; to hit, run over
For the movement sense, the perfect takes sein because the vehicle changes position; the prefix an is separable in main clauses.
Der Bus fährt an, sobald alle eingestiegen sind.
The bus moves off as soon as everyone has got on.
der Bus is the bus, sobald means as soon as, and eingestiegen means got on. fährt is in position two, while the separable prefix an goes to the end of the main clause; eingestiegen sind forms the subordinate clause with the finite verb at the end.
Der Zug ist pünktlich angefahren.
The train moved off on time.
der Zug is the train and pünktlich means on time. This movement sense uses sein in the perfect, and angefahren stands at the end of the clause; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Der Fahrer fuhr langsam an.
The driver moved off slowly.
der Fahrer is the driver and langsam means slowly. In the simple past, fuhr is in position two and the separable prefix an goes to the end; learners often incorrectly use anfährt for this past form.
Fahr an bitte vorsichtig!
Please move off carefully!
bitte means please and vorsichtig means carefully. This is the informal singular imperative; fahr an has no subject pronoun and the separable prefix an follows the verb.
Wenn ich den Parkplatz sehe, würde ich sofort anfahren.
If I saw the parking space, I would drive up immediately.
wenn means if, der Parkplatz is the parking space, sehe means see, and sofort means immediately. In the wenn clause the finite verb sehe goes to the end; in the würde construction, the infinitive anfahren stays at the end of the main clause.
Der Fahrer wird an der nächsten Haltestelle anfahren.
The driver will move off at the next stop.
der Fahrer is the driver, die nächste Haltestelle is the next stop, and wird means will here. an der Haltestelle is dative because an describes a location, and the infinitive anfahren goes to the end after wird.
Der Autofahrer hat fast einen Radfahrer angefahren.
The car driver almost hit a cyclist.
der Autofahrer is the car driver, fast means almost, and der Radfahrer is the cyclist. einen Radfahrer is accusative because this sense takes a direct object, and the perfect uses haben; angefahren goes to the end.
Der Bus fuhr einen Hund an.
The bus hit a dog.
der Bus is the bus and der Hund is the dog. einen Hund is accusative as the object of the action; in the simple past, fuhr is in position two and an goes to the end.
anheben — to lift, to raise
Anheben means lifting something a little or raising it from a lower position, and it takes an accusative object. It is separable in a main clause but stays together as an infinitive.
Sie hebt die schwere Kiste an.
She lifts the heavy box.
schwer means heavy and die Kiste is the box. Die schwere Kiste is accusative because it is the object being lifted; hebt is in position two and an is at the end.
Er hat den Deckel vorsichtig angehoben.
He carefully lifted the lid.
der Deckel is the lid and vorsichtig means carefully. Den Deckel is accusative because anheben takes an accusative object; hat angehoben forms the perfect.
Der Mechaniker hob das Auto mit einem Wagenheber an.
The mechanic lifted the car with a jack.
der Mechaniker is the mechanic, das Auto is the car, and der Wagenheber is the jack. Das Auto is accusative, while mit einem Wagenheber is dative because mit always takes the dative; an is at the end.
Heb die Tasche vorsichtig an!
Lift the bag carefully!
die Tasche is the bag and vorsichtig means carefully. The informal imperative omits du, and the prefix an comes after the verb; die Tasche is accusative.
Wenn du den Karton anheben könntest, höbest du ihn leichter an.
If you could lift the cardboard box, you would lift it more easily.
der Karton is the cardboard box, könntest means could, and leichter means more easily. The wenn clause puts könntest at the end; in the main clause höbest du ihn leichter an has the prefix at the end.
Der Kran wird die schwere Last anheben.
The crane will lift the heavy load.
der Kran is the crane and die schwere Last is the heavy load. Die schwere Last is accusative; wird is in position two and the infinitive anheben is at the end.
aufhalten — to delay, to hold up; to stop; to stay, to spend time
For the meaning “to stay,” the verb is normally reflexive: sich aufhalten means to stay or spend time somewhere. The non-reflexive use takes an accusative object, as in jemanden aufhalten.
Der Unfall hält den Verkehr auf.
The accident is holding up the traffic.
der Unfall is an accident, and der Verkehr means traffic. Den Verkehr is accusative because aufhalten takes the thing being delayed as an accusative object; the finite verb hält is in position two and auf is separated to the end.
Der Unfall hat den Verkehr aufgehalten.
The accident held up the traffic.
der Unfall is an accident, and der Verkehr means traffic. Den Verkehr is accusative because it is the object of aufhalten; the auxiliary hat comes in position two and aufgehalten goes to the end.
Der Unfall hielt den Verkehr auf.
The accident held up the traffic.
der Unfall means accident, and der Verkehr means traffic. Den Verkehr is accusative because aufhalten takes an accusative object; hielt is the strong past form and auf stands at the end.
Halt den Bus auf!
Stop the bus!
der Bus means bus. Den Bus is accusative because it is the thing to be stopped, and the du imperative uses halt with the prefix auf at the end.
Wenn du mich aufhieltest, käme ich zu spät.
If you held me up, I would be late.
zu spät means late. Mich is accusative because aufhalten takes the person being delayed as an accusative object; aufhieltest is the Konjunktiv II form in the subordinate clause, where the finite verb goes to the end.
Der Stau wird uns lange aufhalten.
The traffic jam will delay us for a long time.
der Stau is a traffic jam, and lange means for a long time. Uns is accusative here because it is the people being delayed; wird is in position two and the infinitive aufhalten goes to the end.
Wir halten uns gern in Berlin auf.
We like staying in Berlin.
gern means gladly or like to, and in Berlin means in Berlin. Uns is the reflexive accusative pronoun referring to wir; the finite verb halten is in position two and auf is separated to the end.
Wie lange hast du dich dort aufgehalten?
How long did you stay there?
wie lange means how long, and dort means there. Dich is the reflexive accusative pronoun referring to du; the auxiliary hast is in position two and aufgehalten goes to the end.
aufmachen — to open
aufmachen is common and conversational; the more neutral formal verb is öffnen. It can also be used reflexively in sich aufmachen, meaning to set off or get going.
Ich mache das Fenster jeden Morgen auf.
I open the window every morning.
das Fenster means the window, and jeden Morgen means every morning. das Fenster is accusative because aufmachen takes an accusative object; the finite verb mache is in position two and auf goes to the end.
Sie hat die Tür vorsichtig aufgemacht.
She opened the door carefully.
die Tür is the door and vorsichtig means carefully. The perfect uses haben, with aufgemacht at the end; die Tür is accusative as the object of aufmachen.
Der Hausmeister machte die Garage früh auf.
The caretaker opened the garage early.
der Hausmeister is the caretaker, die Garage is the garage, and früh means early. machte ... auf is the simple past of the weak separable verb; die Garage is accusative, and the prefix is separated.
Mach bitte das Fenster auf!
Please open the window!
bitte means please and das Fenster means the window. This is the du imperative, so du is omitted; the accusative object comes after the verb and auf stands at the end.
Wenn ich das Paket vorsichtig aufmachte, fände ich vielleicht den Schlüssel.
If I carefully opened the parcel, I might find the key.
das Paket is the parcel, vorsichtig means carefully, and der Schlüssel is the key. In this hypothetical wenn clause, the separable verb stays together at the end as aufmachte; das Paket is accusative.
Morgen werde ich das Geschenk aufmachen.
Tomorrow I will open the present.
morgen means tomorrow and das Geschenk is the present. werden forms the future, while the infinitive aufmachen goes to the end; das Geschenk is accusative because it is the object.
der Aufstieg — ascent, climb; rise, promotion; promotion, advancement
Der Aufstieg can be physical, such as climbing a mountain, or figurative, such as moving up in sport or work. Its opposite is der Abstieg.
Der Aufstieg zum Gipfel dauert drei Stunden.
The ascent to the summit takes three hours.
der Gipfel is the summit and dauert drei Stunden means takes three hours. Der Aufstieg is nominative because it is the subject; zum Gipfel is dative after zu, and the finite verb dauert is in position two.
Wir beginnen den Aufstieg am frühen Morgen.
We begin the ascent early in the morning.
wir beginnen means we begin, and am frühen Morgen means early in the morning. Den Aufstieg is accusative because beginnen takes a direct object; the finite verb beginnen stands in position two.
Nach einer Pause setzen wir dem Aufstieg fort.
After a break, we continue the ascent.
nach einer Pause means after a break, and fortsetzen means to continue. This sentence uses dem Aufstieg as a dative object with the verb sich etwas fortsetzen? More naturally, wir setzen den Aufstieg fort uses accusative; therefore the correct sentence is Nach einer Pause setzen wir den Aufstieg fort. The object is accusative, and the separable verb setzen ... fort frames the clause.
Die Länge des Aufstiegs überrascht viele Wanderer.
The length of the ascent surprises many hikers.
die Länge is the length, überrascht means surprises, and viele Wanderer are many hikers. Des Aufstiegs is genitive because it specifies whose length; the finite verb überrascht is in position two.
Im Sommer sind die Aufstiege auf diesen Berg sehr beliebt.
In summer, ascents of this mountain are very popular.
im Sommer means in summer, dieser Berg is this mountain, and beliebt means popular. Die Aufstiege is plural nominative because it is the subject; auf diesen Berg uses accusative after the two-way preposition auf because it describes direction.
Der Verein feiert den Aufstieg in die Bundesliga.
The club is celebrating promotion to the Bundesliga.
der Verein is the club, feiert means celebrates, and die Bundesliga is Germany's top football league. Den Aufstieg is accusative because it is the object of feiern; in die Bundesliga is accusative after in because it expresses movement to a higher league.
Für sie war der Aufstieg im Beruf sehr wichtig.
For her, advancement in her career was very important.
für sie means for her, im Beruf means in her career or professional life, and wichtig means important. Der Aufstieg is nominative because it is the subject; für takes accusative, while im is dative from in dem.
auseinander — apart, separately; into parts
auseinander describes things that are apart or separated. It also appears as a separable prefix in verbs such as auseinandernehmen; do not confuse it with zusammen, which means together.
Die beiden Kinder sitzen weit auseinander.
The two children are sitting far apart.
die beiden Kinder means the two children, sitzen means are sitting, and weit means far. auseinander is an adverb and does not take an ending; it describes the separated position of the children.
Wir müssen das Problem Schritt für Schritt auseinandernehmen.
We have to analyse the problem step by step.
das Problem is the problem and Schritt für Schritt means step by step. In auseinandernehmen, auseinander- is a separable prefix meaning apart; after the modal müssen, the complete infinitive goes to the end.
ausfallen — to be cancelled, to fail to happen; to fail, to stop working
For classes, flights and events, ausfallen means that something planned does not happen. The perfect uses sein: ist ausgefallen; learners often incorrectly use hat ausgefallen.
Der Unterricht fällt heute aus.
Class is cancelled today.
der Unterricht means class or lessons and heute means today. Fällt is in position two and aus goes to the end because ausfallen is separable; there is no accusative object.
Der Zug ist gestern ausgefallen.
The train was cancelled yesterday.
der Zug means train and gestern means yesterday. Ausgefallen uses sein, not haben, because this verb describes an event failing to happen; the participle closes the clause.
Der Flug fiel wegen des Wetters aus.
The flight was cancelled because of the weather.
der Flug means flight, wegen means because of, and das Wetter means weather. Wegen des Wetters is a genitive phrase in careful standard German, while the strong past form fiel is separated from aus.
Fall heute bitte nicht aus!
Please do not drop out today!
heute means today and bitte means please. This imperative uses the singular du form fall; the prefix aus is separated, although this command is uncommon compared with the usual event-related sense.
Wenn der Bus ausfiele, würde ich ein Taxi nehmen.
If the bus were cancelled, I would take a taxi.
wenn means if, der Bus means bus, würde means would, and das Taxi means taxi. In the wenn clause the hypothetical form ausfiele is written as one word because the verb stands at the end; the main clause uses würde plus an infinitive.
Der Kurs wird nächste Woche ausfallen.
The course will be cancelled next week.
der Kurs means course and nächste Woche means next week. Wird is the future auxiliary in position two, while the complete infinitive ausfallen goes to the end; it is not split in this position.
Plötzlich fällt die Heizung aus.
Suddenly the heating stops working.
plötzlich means suddenly and die Heizung means heating system. Die Heizung is the nominative subject, and the finite verb fällt is in position two while aus is separated to the end.
Mein Handy ist gestern ausgefallen.
My mobile phone stopped working yesterday.
mein Handy means my mobile phone and gestern means yesterday. The perfect form ist ausgefallen uses sein, and ausgefallen goes to the end; the phone is the nominative subject, not an object.
der Ausgangspunkt — starting point, point of departure
Der Ausgangspunkt can be a real place where something starts or a basis for an argument or plan. The preposition von takes the dative in von diesem Ausgangspunkt aus.
Der Ausgangspunkt der Wanderung ist der Bahnhof.
The starting point of the hike is the railway station.
die Wanderung means the hike and der Bahnhof means the railway station. Der Ausgangspunkt is nominative as the subject, while der Wanderung is genitive to show what it is the starting point of.
Wir wählen einen neuen Ausgangspunkt.
We are choosing a new starting point.
wählen means to choose and neu means new. Einen neuen Ausgangspunkt is accusative because wählen takes a direct object; the adjective ending -en follows the masculine article einen.
Von diesem Ausgangspunkt aus gehen wir weiter.
We continue from this starting point.
von ... aus means from, and weitergehen means to continue. Diesem Ausgangspunkt is dative because von requires the dative; the separable verb gehen ... weiter has its finite part in position two.
Die Bedeutung des Ausgangspunkts ist klar.
The importance of the starting point is clear.
die Bedeutung means the importance and klar means clear. Des Ausgangspunkts is genitive because it specifies whose importance is meant, and the compound adds -s in the masculine genitive.
Mehrere Ausgangspunkte sind möglich.
Several starting points are possible.
mehrere means several and möglich means possible. Ausgangspunkte is the nominative plural subject, formed with -e; the finite verb sind agrees with the plural.
austragen — to deliver (newspapers); to carry out; to fight out, to conduct
For delivery, austragen is used with items such as die Zeitung or die Post and takes an accusative object. It also has the figurative meaning ‘to fight out or conduct’ a dispute, as in einen Streit austragen.
Er trägt jeden Morgen die Zeitung aus.
He delivers the newspaper every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning, and die Zeitung means the newspaper. Die Zeitung is accusative because it is what he delivers; the finite verb trägt is in position two and aus goes to the end.
Sie hat die Briefe ausgetragen.
She delivered the letters.
die Briefe means the letters, and hat is the auxiliary haben. Die Briefe is accusative as the delivered object; the participle ausgetragen stays together at the end because the prefix is not separated in the perfect.
Früher trug mein Bruder die Zeitungen aus.
In the past, my brother delivered the newspapers.
früher means in the past, mein Bruder means my brother, and die Zeitungen means the newspapers. The strong past form is trug, not tragte; the object is accusative, and aus is separated to the end.
Trag die Post heute aus.
Deliver the mail today.
die Post means the mail and heute means today. This informal singular command omits du; trag comes first, aus comes last, and die Post is accusative.
Er würde die Zeitungen selbst austragen.
He would deliver the newspapers himself.
selbst means himself, and die Zeitungen means the newspapers. The würde construction expresses a hypothetical action and keeps the infinitive austragen together at the end; the delivered items are accusative.
Nächste Woche wird sie die Post austragen.
Next week she will deliver the mail.
nächste Woche means next week, and die Post means the mail. In the future, wird stands in position two and the infinitive austragen goes to the end; die Post is accusative.
Die beiden tragen ihren Streit vor Gericht aus.
The two of them fight out their dispute in court.
die beiden means the two of them, ihren Streit means their dispute, and vor Gericht means in court. Ihren Streit is accusative as the object; the verb is split in the main clause, with tragen in position two and aus at the end.
Sie haben den Konflikt lange ausgetragen.
They fought out the conflict for a long time.
den Konflikt means the conflict and lange means for a long time. The perfect uses haben, and ausgetragen is one word at the end; den Konflikt is accusative because it is the conflict being fought out.
der Ausweg — way out, solution
der Ausweg can mean a literal way out or, more often, a solution to a difficult problem. The common expression is einen Ausweg finden, with the noun in the accusative after finden.
Der Ausweg ist einfach.
The solution is simple.
einfach means simple. Der Ausweg is nominative because it is the subject of ist, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir suchen einen Ausweg.
We are looking for a way out.
suchen means to look for or search for. einen Ausweg is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to einen, and the finite verb suchen is in position two.
Sie hilft dem Ausweg nicht weiter.
She does not get any further with the solution.
weiterhelfen means to help further or be of further help, and nicht means not. dem Ausweg is dative because helfen requires dative; the separable verb has hilft in position two and weiter at the end.
Die Suche des Auswegs dauerte lange.
The search for a solution took a long time.
die Suche means the search and dauerte lange means took a long time. des Auswegs is genitive because it means for or of the way out; dauerte is the past tense of dauern and stands in position two.
Wir haben mehrere Auswege gefunden.
We found several ways out.
mehrere means several and gefunden means found. Auswege is plural after mehrere; mehrere Auswege is accusative because finden takes an accusative object, while the perfect participle gefunden goes to the end.
behindern — to hinder, to obstruct
behindern is a weak verb with haben in the perfect: hinderte – hat behindert. It takes an accusative object for the person or thing that is obstructed.
Der Unfall behindert den Verkehr.
The accident is obstructing the traffic.
der Unfall means the accident and der Verkehr means traffic. den Verkehr is accusative because behindern takes the thing hindered as an accusative object, and the finite verb behindert stands in position two.
Der Unfall hat den Verkehr behindert.
The accident has obstructed the traffic.
der Unfall is the accident and der Verkehr is traffic. The perfect uses hat plus behindert, with the Partizip II at the end; den Verkehr is accusative because it is the object of behindern.
Der Unfall behinderte den Verkehr den ganzen Morgen.
The accident obstructed the traffic all morning.
der Unfall means the accident, der Verkehr means traffic and den ganzen Morgen means all morning. The weak past form behinderte is the finite verb in position two, and den Verkehr is accusative.
Behindere bitte nicht den Rettungswagen!
Please do not obstruct the ambulance!
bitte means please, nicht means not and der Rettungswagen is the ambulance. The imperative omits du and puts behindere first; den Rettungswagen is accusative because it is what must not be hindered.
Wenn der Schnee schmilzt, würde er den Verkehr nicht behindern.
If the snow melted, it would not obstruct the traffic.
wenn means if, der Schnee is snow and schmilzt means melts. In the subordinate clause the finite verb comes last, while würde ... behindern expresses an unreal result and den Verkehr is accusative.
Der neue Radweg wird den Verkehr weniger behindern.
The new cycle path will obstruct the traffic less.
der neue Radweg means the new cycle path and weniger means less. Future uses wird in position two and the infinitive behindern at the end; den Verkehr is accusative.
biegen — to bend; to turn; to turn
Biegen is a strong verb with the principal parts biegen – bog – hat gebogen. When it means “bend something”, it takes an accusative object; when it means “turn”, it can be used without an object or with a direction such as nach links.
Ich biege den Draht vorsichtig.
I bend the wire carefully.
den Draht means “the wire”, and vorsichtig means “carefully”. Den Draht is accusative because biegen takes the thing being bent as a direct object, and the finite verb biege is in position two.
Ich habe den Draht gebogen.
I bent the wire.
habe means “have” here, and den Draht means “the wire”. Gebogen is the Partizip II and goes to the end of the clause; biegen forms the perfect with haben, not sein.
Sie bog den Ast zur Seite.
She bent the branch to the side.
Sie means “she”, den Ast means “the branch”, and zur Seite means “to the side”. Bog is the strong-verb past form of biegen, not biegte, and den Ast is accusative.
Bieg den Finger langsam!
Bend your finger slowly!
den Finger means “the finger”, and langsam means “slowly”. Bieg is the du imperative, with the subject omitted; den Finger is accusative because it is the thing being bent.
Ich würde den Draht nicht so stark biegen.
I would not bend the wire so strongly.
würde expresses “would”, nicht means “not”, and so stark means “so strongly”. In a würde construction, biegen stays as an infinitive at the end, while den Draht is accusative.
Morgen werde ich das Blech biegen.
Tomorrow I will bend the sheet metal.
Morgen means “tomorrow”, werde means “will”, and das Blech means “the sheet metal”. In the future, werde is the finite verb in position two and biegen goes to the end as an infinitive; das Blech is accusative.
An der nächsten Kreuzung biegen wir rechts ab.
We turn right at the next intersection.
An der nächsten Kreuzung means “at the next intersection”, and rechts means “right”. The separable verb abbiegen splits into biegen in position two and ab at the end; an der Kreuzung is dative because it names the location.
Bitte biegen Sie hier links ab.
Please turn left here.
Bitte means “please”, Sie is the formal “you”, and hier means “here”. In the formal command, biegen stays in position two and the separable prefix ab goes to the end; links means “left”.
die Distanz — distance, separation
Distanz can describe physical space or emotional separation. The more everyday word for a physical distance is often Entfernung.
Die Distanz zwischen den Häusern ist groß.
The distance between the houses is great.
zwischen den Häusern means between the houses, and groß means great or large. Die Distanz is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir messen die Distanz.
We measure the distance.
messen means to measure. Die Distanz is accusative because it is the direct object of messen, and the finite verb messen is in position two.
Mit der Distanz komme ich gut klar.
I cope well with the distance.
mit means with and gut klarkommen means to cope well. Der Distanz is dative because mit governs the dative; the separable verb klarkommen appears as komme ... klar in the main clause.
Die Länge der Distanz überrascht mich.
The length of the distance surprises me.
die Länge means length and überraschen means to surprise. Der Distanz is genitive because it specifies the length of what; überrascht is in position two.
Große Distanzen sind für sie kein Problem.
Long distances are no problem for her.
groß means great or long here, and kein Problem means no problem. Distanzen is plural and the plural subject takes sind; für sie is accusative because für always governs the accusative.
eilen — to hurry, to rush
Eilen is somewhat more formal or literary than sich beeilen, which is very common in everyday speech. Because it describes movement, its perfect normally uses sein: ist geeilt.
Der Mann eilt zur Haltestelle.
The man hurries to the stop.
der Mann means “the man,” die Haltestelle means “the stop,” and zur means “to the” from zu der. Eilt is in position two; zur Haltestelle is dative because zu always takes the dative, and the phrase shows movement towards a place.
Sie ist schnell zum Zug geeilt.
She hurried quickly to the train.
schnell means “quickly,” zum Zug means “to the train,” and ist ... geeilt means “hurried.” The perfect uses sein because eilen describes movement; ist is in position two and geeilt goes to the end.
Er eilte durch den Regen nach Hause.
He hurried home through the rain.
durch means “through,” den Regen means “the rain,” and nach Hause means “home.” Durch den Regen is accusative because durch always takes the accusative; the weak preterite eilte is the finite verb in position two.
Eile bitte zum Eingang!
Please hurry to the entrance!
bitte means “please,” and zum Eingang means “to the entrance.” Eile is the imperative without the subject du; zum Eingang is dative because zu requires the dative.
Wenn wir uns beeilen, würden wir nicht eilen müssen.
If we hurried up, we would not have to rush.
wenn means “if,” uns beeilen means “hurry up,” würden means “would,” and müssen means “have to.” In the subordinate clause, the finite verb beeilen goes to the end; in the main clause, würden is in position two and the infinitives eilen and müssen form an end cluster.
Wir werden zum Bahnhof eilen, wenn der Zug bald abfährt.
We will hurry to the station if the train leaves soon.
der Bahnhof means “the station,” bald means “soon,” and abfährt means “leaves.” Future werden ... eilen puts werden in position two and eilen at the end; zum Bahnhof is dative after zu, while abfährt goes to the end of the wenn clause.
einholen — to catch up with, overtake; to obtain, collect (information or permission)
In the physical sense, einholen takes an accusative object: jemanden einholen means to catch up with or overtake someone. It is separable, so the prefix ein moves to the end of a main clause.
Der Radfahrer holt den Bus ein.
The cyclist catches up with the bus.
der Radfahrer is the cyclist, and der Bus is the bus. den Bus is accusative because einholen takes an accusative object; the finite part holt is in position two and the prefix ein goes to the end.
Die Läuferin hat ihre Freundin eingeholt.
The female runner has caught up with her friend.
die Läuferin means the female runner, and ihre Freundin means her female friend. ihre Freundin is accusative because it is the object of einholen; the perfect uses hat plus eingeholt, which stands at the end.
Nach zehn Minuten holte er die Gruppe ein.
After ten minutes, he caught up with the group.
nach zehn Minuten means after ten minutes, and die Gruppe means the group. nach takes the dative, while die Gruppe is accusative as the object; in the preterite, holte is in position two and ein is at the end.
Hol mich bitte ein!
Please catch up with me!
mich means me, and bitte means please. mich is accusative because it is the object; the singular imperative omits du, and the prefix ein remains separate at the end.
Wenn du schneller laufen würdest, könntest du mich einholen.
If you ran faster, you could catch up with me.
schneller laufen means to run faster, and mich means me. The conditional form würdest sends the infinitive laufen to the end of its clause, while einholen stays whole at the end after könntest; mich is accusative.
Sie wird den letzten Läufer bald einholen.
She will soon catch up with the last runner.
der letzte Läufer means the last runner, and bald means soon. den letzten Läufer is accusative because it is the object; in the future, wird is in position two and the whole infinitive einholen goes to the end.
Vor der Reise holen wir Informationen ein.
Before the trip, we obtain information.
vor der Reise means before the trip, and Informationen means information. vor takes the dative here because it refers to time, while Informationen is accusative as the object; holen is in position two and ein goes to the end.
Die Firma hat eine Genehmigung eingeholt.
The company obtained a permit.
die Firma means the company, and eine Genehmigung means a permit or official approval. eine Genehmigung is accusative because einholen takes an accusative object; the perfect is formed with hat and eingeholt at the end.
einrasten — to click into place, to lock
Einrasten describes a part moving into a fixed position with a click. It is normally intransitive and takes sein in the perfect when it describes the resulting change of state.
Der Deckel rastet hörbar ein.
The lid clicks audibly into place.
der Deckel means the lid, and hörbar means audibly. Der Deckel is the nominative subject; rastet is in position two and the prefix ein goes to the end because the verb is separable.
Der Deckel ist richtig eingerastet.
The lid has locked into place correctly.
richtig means correctly, and der Deckel means the lid. Eingerastet is used with ist, not hat, because the verb describes a change into a locked state; the Partizip II stands at the end.
Der Verschluss rastete nicht ein.
The fastening did not lock into place.
der Verschluss means the fastening, and nicht means not. The subject is nominative, while rastete is in position two and ein goes to the end; nicht negates the verb phrase.
Rast vollständig ein!
Lock fully into place!
vollständig means fully. This is the informal singular imperative, with ein separated and placed at the end; the subject du is left out.
Der Knopf würde einrasten, wenn man ihn drückt.
The button would click into place if you pressed it.
der Knopf means the button, wenn means if, and drückt means presses. In the main clause, würde is in position two and the infinitive einrasten stays whole at the end; ihn is accusative because it is the thing being pressed.
Der Sicherheitsgurt wird beim Bremsen einrasten.
The seat belt will lock when braking.
der Sicherheitsgurt means the seat belt, and beim Bremsen means when braking. Wird is in position two and einrasten goes to the end; the phrase beim Bremsen uses bei with the dative.
eintreten — to enter, to come in; to occur, to come into effect; to stand up for, to advocate
For physical movement, eintreten normally takes sein in the perfect: ist eingetreten. Do not confuse the separable present form tritt ein with the noun der Eintritt.
Er tritt leise ins Zimmer ein.
He enters the room quietly.
leise means quietly and das Zimmer means room. Ins Zimmer is short for in das Zimmer and takes the accusative because it expresses movement into a place; the finite verb is split, with tritt in position two and ein at the end.
Sie ist durch die Hintertür eingetreten.
She entered through the back door.
durch means through and die Hintertür is the back door. Durch always takes the accusative, and movement with eintreten forms the perfect with sein; ist comes second and eingetreten goes to the end.
Der Mann trat ohne anzuklopfen ein.
The man entered without knocking.
der Mann means the man, ohne means without, and anklopfen means knock. Ohne anzuklopfen is a phrase with an infinitive, and the simple-past verb trat is in position two while ein is separated to the end.
Tritt bitte ein.
Please come in.
bitte means please, and this short phrase is what you say when inviting someone into a room. The imperative tritt comes first and the separable prefix ein stands at the end.
Wenn er früher einträte, wäre noch Platz.
If he entered earlier, there would still be room.
früher means earlier and noch Platz means still room or space. The conditional form einträte stays together at the end of the subordinate clause; wäre introduces the result with the meaning would be.
Der Zug wird um acht Uhr eintreten.
The train will enter at eight o’clock.
der Zug means train and um acht Uhr means at eight o’clock. Wird is in position two and the infinitive eintreten stays whole at the end after the future auxiliary, rather than splitting.
Nach kurzer Zeit trat eine Besserung ein.
After a short time, an improvement occurred.
nach kurzer Zeit means after a short time and die Besserung means improvement. Eine Besserung is the subject, not an object; the verb is split in the simple past, with trat in position two and ein at the end.
Die neue Regel ist gestern eingetreten.
The new rule came into force yesterday.
die neue Regel is the new rule and gestern means yesterday; here eintreten means come into force. The perfect uses sein for this change of state, with ist in position two and eingetreten at the end.
Sie tritt für ihre Kollegin ein.
She stands up for her colleague.
die Kollegin means female colleague, and für jemanden eintreten means stand up for someone. Für always takes the accusative, and the separable prefix ein goes to the end of the main clause.
Er ist immer für faire Arbeitsbedingungen eingetreten.
He has always stood up for fair working conditions.
immer means always and faire Arbeitsbedingungen means fair working conditions. Für takes the accusative, while this figurative sense also forms the perfect with sein; ist comes second and eingetreten goes to the end.
entgegen — towards, to meet
As an adverb, entgegen usually appears with a dative pronoun or noun: mir entgegen means towards me. Do not confuse this adverb with the preposition entgegen, which can stand before or after a dative noun.
Der Hund läuft mir entgegen.
The dog runs towards me.
der Hund means the dog, and läuft means runs. mir is dative because the direction is towards me; the finite verb läuft stands in position two.
Sie kam uns entgegen.
She came towards us.
sie means she, kam means came, and uns means us. uns is dative because entgegen describes movement towards someone, and the finite verb kam is in position two.
entgegenkommen — to come towards, to meet; to accommodate, to meet someone halfway
The person met or approached is in the dative: jemandem entgegenkommen. The verb is separable in a main clause, but the infinitive and Partizip II stay together; entgegenkommen can also mean to accommodate someone in a figurative sense.
Der Busfahrer kommt den Kindern entgegen.
The bus driver comes towards the children.
der Busfahrer means the bus driver, and den Kindern means the children. den Kindern is dative because entgegenkommen takes the person approached in the dative; the finite part kommt is in position two and entgegen goes to the end.
Der Busfahrer ist den Kindern entgegengekommen.
The bus driver came towards the children.
ist means is here as the perfect auxiliary, and den Kindern means the children. Movement takes sein, while the Partizip II entgegengekommen goes to the end; den Kindern remains dative.
Der Busfahrer kam den Kindern entgegen.
The bus driver came towards the children.
der Busfahrer means the bus driver, kam means came, and den Kindern means the children. In the simple past, kam is the finite part in position two and the separable part entgegen goes to the end; the approached people are dative.
Komm den Kindern entgegen!
Come towards the children!
den Kindern means the children, and the command tells someone to come towards them. The subject du is omitted, and the separable part entgegen stays at the end.
Ich würde den Kindern entgegenkommen.
I would come towards the children.
ich means I, würde means would, and den Kindern means the children. The conditional uses würde plus the infinitive entgegenkommen at the end, and the people approached are dative.
Der Bus wird den Kindern entgegenkommen.
The bus will come towards the children.
der Bus means the bus, wird means will, and den Kindern means the children. In the future, wird is in position two and the complete infinitive entgegenkommen goes to the end; the dative marks the people approached.
Der Verkäufer kommt uns beim Preis entgegen.
The seller meets us halfway on the price.
der Verkäufer means the seller, uns means us, and beim Preis means regarding the price. uns is dative because the person receiving the concession is dative, while bei takes the dative; the verb splits around entgegen.
Die Firma ist uns bei der Rückgabe entgegengekommen.
The company accommodated us regarding the return.
die Firma means the company, Rückgabe means return, and ist ... entgegengekommen means accommodated or made a concession. uns is dative, bei der Rückgabe is also dative after bei, and the Partizip II goes to the end with sein.
entkommen — to escape, to get away; to evade, to escape
The person or danger escaped from is dative: der Polizei entkommen means escape the police. Entkommen is strong and uses sein in the perfect; its Partizip II is identical to the infinitive and has no ge-.
Der Dieb entkommt der Polizei.
The thief escapes the police.
der Dieb means the thief, and der Polizei means the police. der Polizei is dative because entkommen takes the person or danger escaped from in the dative; the finite verb entkommt is in position two.
Der Dieb ist der Polizei entkommen.
The thief escaped the police.
der Dieb means the thief, and der Polizei means the police. The verb uses sein in the perfect because it describes getting away, and entkommen goes to the end; the police remain dative.
Der Dieb entkam der Polizei.
The thief escaped the police.
der Dieb means the thief, entkam means escaped, and der Polizei means the police. der Polizei is dative after entkommen, and entkam is an irregular past form in position two.
Entkomm der Polizei!
Escape from the police!
der Polizei means the police. The command omits du, and the police are dative because they are the people being escaped from; entkomm is written as one word.
Der Dieb würde der Polizei entkommen.
The thief would escape the police.
der Dieb means the thief, würde means would, and der Polizei means the police. The conditional places the infinitive entkommen at the end, while der Polizei stays dative.
Der Dieb wird der Polizei entkommen.
The thief will escape the police.
der Dieb means the thief, wird means will, and der Polizei means the police. wird is in position two and entkommen goes to the end as the infinitive; the escaped-from person is dative.
Er kann dieser Verantwortung nicht entkommen.
He cannot escape this responsibility.
er means he, kann means can, Verantwortung means responsibility, and nicht means not. dieser Verantwortung is dative because entkommen takes a dative object; after the modal kann, the infinitive entkommen goes to the end.
Niemand entkommt den Folgen seines Handelns.
Nobody escapes the consequences of their actions.
niemand means nobody, Folgen means consequences, and Handeln means actions or conduct. den Folgen is dative because of entkommen, while seines Handelns is genitive to show whose actions; the finite verb entkommt is in position two.
entlang — along, onwards
As an adverb, entlang does not introduce a noun or assign a case; it can stand alone or follow a noun phrase. This use is easy to confuse with the preposition entlang, which appears before a noun in some patterns.
Der schmale Weg führt am See entlang.
The narrow path runs along the lake.
der schmale Weg means the narrow path, führt means leads or runs, and der See means the lake. Here entlang is an adverb at the end of the clause; am See is a shortened form of an dem See.
Gehen Sie einfach entlang!
Just keep going along!
einfach means simply or just, and gehen Sie is the polite imperative of gehen, to go. As an adverb, entlang stands alone at the end; the polite command uses Sie with the verb in first position.
fest — firmly, tightly; soundly
As an adverb, fest does not change its form. Do not add an ending: fest schlafen means “sleep soundly,” while the adjective before a noun may be fester or festen.
Halt dich fest!
Hold on tight!
Halt dich means “hold on,” and dich means “yourself.” Fest modifies the verb and means “tightly”; dich is accusative because sich festhalten uses an accusative reflexive pronoun, and the imperative verb comes first.
Das Baby schläft fest.
The baby is sleeping soundly.
das Baby means “the baby,” and schläft means “is sleeping.” Here fest means “soundly,” not “firm”; the finite verb schläft is in position two, and the adverb comes after it.
festhalten — to hold on; to hold back; to stick to
Festhalten is separable: in a main clause, hält ... fest splits, but after a modal or in a subordinate clause festhalten stays together. The use meaning “stick to” commonly takes an plus the dative, while a person or thing being held back is an accusative object.
Ich halte mich am Geländer fest.
I hold on to the railing.
sich am Geländer festhalten means “to hold on to the railing,” and Geländer means “railing.” Am Geländer is dative because an describes contact or location here; the verb splits in the main clause, with halte in position two and fest at the end.
Sie hat sich an meinem Arm festgehalten.
She held on to my arm.
mein Arm means “my arm,” and sich an etwas festhalten means “to hold on to something.” An meinem Arm is dative because an describes contact; the auxiliary hat is in position two and festgehalten goes to the end.
Er hielt den Hund fest.
He held the dog back.
der Hund means “the dog,” and here festhalten means “hold back.” Den Hund is accusative because it is the direct object; in the simple past, hielt is in position two and the prefix fest goes to the end.
Halt dich gut fest!
Hold on tight!
gut means “well” or “tightly,” and dich means “yourself.” The imperative is halt ... fest; dich is accusative because this use is reflexive, and the subject du is omitted.
Ich würde mich an diesen Plan festhalten.
I would stick to this plan.
dieser Plan means “this plan,” and sich an etwas festhalten can mean “stick to something.” An diesen Plan is accusative because it expresses directing oneself toward a plan, and würde ... festhalten places the infinitive at the end.
Wir werden an unserer Entscheidung festhalten.
We will stick to our decision.
unsere Entscheidung means “our decision,” and an etwas festhalten means “stick to something.” An unserer Entscheidung is dative because an refers to an existing point of attachment; werden is in position two and the infinitive festhalten goes to the end.
Bitte halten Sie die Tür fest.
Please hold the door firmly.
die Tür means “the door,” and bitte means “please.” Die Tür is accusative because it is the direct object; the polite command uses the infinitive form halten in position two and sends fest to the end.
fliehen — to flee, to escape
The usual pattern is vor jemandem/etwas fliehen, with vor governing the dative. The perfect is always formed with sein: ist geflohen.
Viele Menschen fliehen vor dem Krieg.
Many people are fleeing from the war.
viele Menschen means many people, and vor dem Krieg means from the war. vor takes the dative when it means fleeing from something, so dem Krieg is dative; the finite verb fliehen is in position two.
Die Familie ist aus dem Land geflohen.
The family fled the country.
die Familie means the family, and aus dem Land means out of the country. geflohen pairs with sein because the family changed location, and the participle stands at the end of the perfect clause.
Der Gefangene floh in der Nacht.
The prisoner escaped during the night.
der Gefangene means the prisoner, and in der Nacht means during the night. floh is the strong Präteritum form and stands in position two; der Gefangene is the nominative subject.
Flieh vor dem Hund!
Run away from the dog!
vor dem Hund means from the dog. Flieh is the informal singular imperative with omitted du, and dem Hund is dative because vor takes the dative here.
Wenn es gefährlich wird, würde ich sofort fliehen.
If it became dangerous, I would flee immediately.
gefährlich means dangerous, and sofort means immediately. The conditional is formed with würde plus the infinitive fliehen; the infinitive goes at the end of the main clause.
Bei einem Angriff wird die Bevölkerung fliehen.
In the event of an attack, the population will flee.
bei einem Angriff means in the event of an attack, and die Bevölkerung means the population. Future tense uses wird plus fliehen, with the infinitive at the end; bei governs the dative, seen in einem Angriff.
die Flucht — escape, flight; being on the run; avoidance, escape
Die Flucht is often used in the fixed expression auf der Flucht sein, to be on the run. Do not confuse it with die Flucht in architecture, which can also mean a straight line or alignment of buildings.
Die Flucht war sehr gefährlich.
The escape was very dangerous.
gefährlich means dangerous, and sehr means very. Die Flucht is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb war is in position two.
Die Polizei beendet die Flucht.
The police end the escape.
die Polizei means the police, and beendet means ends. Die Flucht is accusative because beenden takes a direct object; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Auf der Flucht versteckt er sich in einem Keller.
While on the run, he hides in a cellar.
auf der Flucht means on the run, versteckt means hides, and der Keller means the cellar. Auf takes dative here because Flucht describes a location or situation, not movement; sich is the reflexive object of verstecken.
Die Gründe der Flucht sind noch unklar.
The reasons for the escape are still unclear.
die Gründe means the reasons, noch means still, and unklar means unclear. Der Flucht is genitive and links the reasons to the escape; sind is in position two because die Gründe is the subject.
Viele Fluchten enden an der Grenze.
Many escapes end at the border.
viele means many, enden means end, and die Grenze means the border. Fluchten is the plural subject, so the verb is plural enden; an der Grenze is a dative location.
Er ergreift die Flucht vor der Verantwortung.
He flees from responsibility.
er ergreift means he takes or makes, and die Verantwortung means responsibility. Die Flucht ergreifen is a fixed expression meaning to flee; vor der Verantwortung uses dative after vor for the thing one is fleeing from.
Ihre Flucht in die Arbeit löst das Problem nicht.
Her escape into work does not solve the problem.
ihre means her, die Arbeit means work, and löst das Problem nicht means does not solve the problem. Ihre Flucht is the subject, while das Problem is accusative after lösen; the finite verb löst is in position two.
fortlaufen — to run away, to move off; to continue, to carry on
In the movement sense, fortlaufen takes sein in the perfect. It is separable: läuft fort, but fortlaufen and fortgelaufen stay together.
Der Hund läuft plötzlich fort.
The dog suddenly runs off.
Der Hund means the dog, and plötzlich means suddenly. läuft is in position two while the separable prefix fort goes to the end; der Hund is the nominative subject.
Der Hund ist fortgelaufen.
The dog has run away.
Der Hund means the dog, and fortgelaufen means run away. Movement uses sein, so the perfect is ist fortgelaufen; the Partizip II stands at the end.
Das Pferd lief erschrocken fort.
The horse ran away frightened.
Das Pferd means the horse, and erschrocken means frightened or startled. lief is the strong preterite of laufen, while fort moves to the end of the main clause.
Lauf sofort fort!
Run away immediately!
sofort means immediately. The du subject is omitted in an imperative, and the prefix fort is separated and placed after the verb.
Ich liefe sofort fort, wenn ich Angst hätte.
I would run away immediately if I were afraid.
sofort means immediately, and Angst means fear. liefe is the Konjunktiv II of laufen; in the main clause the prefix fort is separated, while the verb in the wenn-clause goes to the end.
Er wird morgen fortlaufen.
He will run away tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow. The future uses wird in position two and the infinitive fortlaufen at the end; the prefix is not separated in this infinitive.
Die Straße läuft hinter dem Dorf fort.
The road continues behind the village.
hinter dem Dorf means behind the village, and Straße means road. läuft stands in position two and fort at the end because the verb is separable; dem Dorf is dative after the location preposition hinter.
Der Weg ist noch ein Stück fortgelaufen.
The path continued for a little farther.
Der Weg means the path, noch ein Stück means a little farther, and ist ... fortgelaufen means continued. The perfect uses sein for this movement or continuation, and the Partizip II is placed at the end.
das Gedränge — crowd, crush
This noun describes a tightly packed crowd or the pressure of many people close together. It is normally a mass noun, so learners should not form a plural; use expressions such as viel Gedränge or dichtes Gedränge.
Das Gedränge vor dem Eingang war groß.
The crush in front of the entrance was intense.
der Eingang means the entrance, and groß means intense or great. Das Gedränge is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb war stands in position two.
Ich hasse das Gedränge in der U-Bahn.
I hate the crowds on the underground.
hassen means to hate, die U-Bahn is the underground train, and in means in. Das Gedränge is accusative because hassen takes a direct object; the finite verb hasse is in position two.
Wir gehen dem Gedränge am Bahnhof aus dem Weg.
We avoid the crowds at the station.
aus dem Weg gehen means to avoid, der Bahnhof is the station, and am means at the. Dem Gedränge is dative because the expression jemandem oder etwas aus dem Weg gehen requires dative; gehen is separated from aus dem Weg at the end of the main clause.
Wegen des Gedränges kam sie zu spät.
Because of the crowds, she arrived late.
wegen means because of, zu spät means late, and kam means arrived or came. Des Gedränges is genitive because the preposition wegen commonly takes the genitive; the finite verb kam is in position two.
gleiten — to glide, to slide smoothly
Gleiten describes smooth movement, often over ice, water or another surface. It is a strong verb: gleiten - glitt - ist geglitten, and its perfect takes sein, not haben, because it expresses movement.
Der Schwan gleitet über den See.
The swan glides across the lake.
der Schwan is the swan, and der See is the lake. The finite verb gleitet stands in position two; über den See is accusative because it describes movement across the lake.
Der Schwan ist über den See geglitten.
The swan glided across the lake.
der Schwan is the swan and der See is the lake. The perfect uses ist with geglitten because gleiten expresses movement, and the Partizip II stands at the end of the clause.
Der Schwan glitt lautlos über das Wasser.
The swan glided silently across the water.
lautlos means silently, and das Wasser means the water. Glitt is the strong-verb simple past in position two; über das Wasser is accusative because the swan moves across it.
Gleite langsam über das Eis!
Glide slowly across the ice!
langsam means slowly, and das Eis means the ice. Gleite is the informal singular imperative, so the subject du is omitted; über das Eis is accusative because it expresses movement across the ice.
Wenn ich ein Vogel wäre, glitte ich über den See.
If I were a bird, I would glide across the lake.
wenn means if, der Vogel means bird, and wäre means were. Glitte expresses an unreal situation; the verb goes to the end of the wenn clause, while über den See is accusative for movement.
Der Ball wird über das Eis gleiten.
The ball will glide across the ice.
der Ball means the ball, and das Eis means the ice. Future uses finite wird in position two and the infinitive gleiten at the end; über das Eis is accusative because it shows the direction of movement.
der Halt — support, grip; stop; stop, stopping point
Halt can mean physical or emotional support, as in Halt geben, or a stopping point on a journey. In the plural, Halte usually means stops; the lowercase particle halt is a different word.
Der Halt an diesem Geländer ist sicher.
The support provided by this handrail is secure.
dieses Geländer means this handrail, and sicher means secure. Halt is the nominative subject, and ist stands in position two.
Ich brauche den Halt der Wand.
I need the support of the wall.
brauche means need, and die Wand means the wall. den Halt is accusative because brauchen takes an accusative object; der Wand is genitive and shows whose support it is.
Mit dem Halt kann ich sicher stehen.
With the support, I can stand safely.
mit means with, and sicher stehen means stand safely. mit always takes the dative, so dem Halt is dative; the modal verb kann sends stehen to the end.
Der Verlust des Halts war gefährlich.
The loss of support was dangerous.
der Verlust means the loss, and gefährlich means dangerous. des Halts is genitive after Verlust; war is the finite verb in position two.
Der Bus hält an drei Halten.
The bus stops at three stops.
der Bus means the bus, hält an means stops, and drei means three. The preposition an takes the dative here because this is a location, so plural Halte becomes Halten after drei.
Der nächste Halt ist in fünf Minuten.
The next stop is in five minutes.
der nächste means the next one, and in fünf Minuten means in five minutes. Halt is the nominative subject, and ist stands in position two.
Der Zug fährt ohne Halt bis Berlin.
The train goes to Berlin without stopping.
der Zug means the train, fährt means travels, and bis Berlin means as far as Berlin. ohne takes the accusative, but the masculine noun has the same form here without an article; the finite verb fährt is in position two.
hastig — hasty, hurried
hastig describes something done too quickly and without enough care. It can describe a person’s manner, as in hastig sprechen, or a decision, as in eine hastige Entscheidung.
Die Entscheidung war hastig.
The decision was hasty.
die Entscheidung means the decision. hastig is predicative after war, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Er traf eine hastige Entscheidung.
He made a hasty decision.
traf means made, eine Entscheidung means a decision, and er means he. hastige stands before the feminine accusative noun Entscheidung and takes the ending -e after eine; traf is in position two.
Sie arbeitet hastiger als ihr Kollege.
She works more hurriedly than her colleague.
arbeitet means works, als means than, and ihr Kollege means her colleague. hastiger compares two ways of working; after als, the comparison partner is in the nominative here because it is the subject of the implied comparison.
Von allen lief er am hastigsten.
Of everyone, he walked the most hurriedly.
von allen means of everyone, and lief means walked or ran. am hastigsten is the predicative superlative with am; the finite verb lief is in position two.
herab — down, downwards towards here
herab combines downward movement with direction towards the speaker or the relevant viewpoint. It is more specific than simply saying that something moves down.
Der Ball rollt langsam den Hang herab.
The ball rolls slowly down the slope towards us.
der Ball is the ball, rollt means rolls, langsam means slowly, and der Hang is the slope. den Hang is accusative because it describes the route of the movement, and herab stands at the end to show downward movement towards the viewpoint.
Die Äpfel fallen vom Baum herab.
The apples fall down from the tree.
die Äpfel are the apples, fallen means fall, and der Baum is the tree. vom Baum means from the tree; von always takes the dative, while herab adds the idea of movement downwards.
heran — up to here, towards, close to
heran is used when something approaches a person or object. It often appears with an plus the accusative for movement towards a target, as in an mich heran.
Komm vorsichtig an mich heran.
Come up to me carefully.
Komm means come, vorsichtig means carefully, and an mich means up to me. an takes the accusative here because the sentence describes movement towards a person; heran completes this idea of approaching.
Der Radfahrer fährt langsam an die Kreuzung heran.
The cyclist slowly approaches the crossroads.
der Radfahrer is the cyclist, fährt means rides or drives, langsam means slowly, and die Kreuzung is the crossroads. an die Kreuzung is accusative because it expresses movement towards it, and heran usually follows the place being approached.
herauf — up, upwards towards here
herauf combines upward movement with direction towards the speaker or a relevant viewpoint. Do not confuse it with hinauf, which normally describes movement upwards away from the speaker.
Komm die Treppe herauf!
Come up the stairs!
Komm means come and die Treppe is the stairs or staircase. die Treppe is accusative because it describes the route, and herauf shows movement upwards towards the speaker.
Der Hund läuft die Treppe herauf.
The dog runs up the stairs.
der Hund is the dog, läuft means runs, and die Treppe is the staircase. The accusative phrase die Treppe describes the path of movement; herauf goes at the end and means upwards towards the viewpoint.
hinaus — out, outside
hinaus describes movement away from the speaker or from an enclosed place. It often appears with a verb of movement, as in hinausgehen, and contrasts with hinein, movement inwards.
Geh hinaus und ruf deine Schwester!
Go outside and call your sister!
hinaus means outside or outwards, and ruf means call; deine Schwester means your sister. The imperative comes first, while hinaus gives the direction; learners should not confuse it with herein, which means in here.
Die Kinder liefen hinaus in den Garten.
The children ran out into the garden.
die Kinder means the children, liefen means ran, and der Garten means the garden. The finite verb is in position two, and hinaus shows movement away from the speaker; the destination can be added with in plus the accusative.
hindurch — through, all the way through
hindurch emphasises movement or passage through something, often after a phrase with durch or attached to a movement verb such as hindurchgehen. It is more emphatic than durch alone.
Wir gingen durch den Tunnel hindurch.
We walked through the tunnel.
wir gingen means we walked or went, and der Tunnel means the tunnel. durch den Tunnel is an accusative phrase because durch always takes the accusative; hindurch reinforces the idea of passing all the way through.
Der Wind weht durch das offene Fenster hindurch.
The wind blows through the open window.
der Wind means the wind, weht means blows, and das offene Fenster means the open window. durch das offene Fenster is accusative after durch, and hindurch stresses that the wind passes through the window.
hinüber — over there, across to the other side
Hinüber is directional: it describes movement away from the speaker, whereas herüber describes movement toward the speaker. It often combines with movement verbs such as gehen or fliegen.
Wir gehen jetzt hinüber.
We are going over there now.
jetzt means now, and gehen means go. The adverb hinüber shows movement away from the speaker toward the other side; the finite verb gehen stands in position two.
Der Ball flog über den Zaun hinüber.
The ball flew over the fence.
der Ball means the ball, flog means flew, and der Zaun means the fence. Hinüber adds the idea of movement to the far side; über den Zaun is accusative because it describes movement across or over something.
hocken — to squat, to sit hunched up; to sit around, to stay cooped up
Hocken means sitting or squatting in a cramped, hunched position. It is a regular weak verb, takes haben in the perfect, and can sound slightly negative when describing someone sitting around.
Er hockt auf dem Boden.
He is squatting on the floor.
der Boden means the floor. Auf dem Boden is dative because auf describes a fixed location here, and the finite verb hockt stands in position two.
Sie hat stundenlang auf dem Boden gehockt.
She sat hunched on the floor for hours.
stundenlang means for hours. Auf dem Boden is dative because it gives a fixed location, and hat ... gehockt forms the perfect with haben; the participle goes to the end.
Als Kind hockte ich oft unter dem Tisch.
As a child, I often squatted under the table.
als Kind means as a child, oft means often, and unter dem Tisch means under the table. Hockte is the regular simple-past form, and unter dem Tisch is dative because it describes a location.
Hock dich hier neben mich!
Sit down here next to me!
dich means yourself, hier means here, and neben mich means next to me. Hock is the informal du imperative, and dich is accusative because this use means putting yourself into the sitting position.
Wenn ich länger dort hocken müsste, würde ich unruhig.
If I had to sit there for longer, I would become restless.
wenn means if, länger means longer, müsste means had to, and unruhig means restless. The finite verb müsste goes to the end of the wenn clause, while würde starts the main clause in position two.
Er wird morgen wieder vor dem Fernseher hocken.
He will be sitting in front of the television again tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, wieder means again, and vor dem Fernseher means in front of the television. Wird is the finite verb in position two, while the infinitive hocken goes to the end; the location phrase is dative.
Die Kinder hocken den ganzen Nachmittag vor dem Computer.
The children sit in front of the computer all afternoon.
die Kinder means the children, den ganzen Nachmittag means the whole afternoon, and der Computer means the computer. Vor dem Computer is dative because it describes a location, and hocken can suggest that the children are sitting there too long.
Ich will nicht den ganzen Abend zu Hause hocken.
I don’t want to sit around at home all evening.
ich will nicht means I do not want to, den ganzen Abend means the whole evening, and zu Hause means at home. After will, the infinitive hocken goes to the end; here the verb means sitting around, not simply taking a crouched position.
mobil — mobile; portable
Mobil can describe a person who can move around or a device that can be used in different places. It is often translated as “mobile” or “portable” depending on the context.
Nach der Operation ist sie wieder mobil.
After the operation, she is mobile again.
die Operation means the operation, and wieder means again. Mobil is predicative after ist and therefore has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir brauchen eine mobile Lampe für den Garten.
We need a portable lamp for the garden.
brauchen means need, die Lampe means lamp, and der Garten means garden. Eine mobile Lampe is accusative because brauchen takes an accusative object, and the adjective before the feminine noun has the ending -e.
Mit dem Fahrrad bin ich mobiler als mit dem Auto.
With a bicycle I am more mobile than with a car.
mit dem Fahrrad means with a bicycle, and als means than; das Auto is a car. Mobiler compares two possibilities and follows bin without an ending, while mit takes the dative.
Dieses Büro ist am mobilsten.
This office is the most mobile.
dieses Büro means this office. Am mobilsten is the predicative superlative after ist; the ending -sten is part of the superlative, and there is no adjective ending because it does not stand before a noun.
nieder — down, downward
As an adverb, nieder means downwards or down onto the ground and is mostly formal or literary. Do not confuse it with adjective nieder, meaning low or base; the adverb has no adjective ending.
Der Vogel flog nieder.
The bird flew down.
der Vogel means the bird, and flog means flew. nieder is an adverb of direction describing movement downward; the finite verb flog is in position two.
Der alte Mann kniete nieder.
The old man knelt down.
der alte Mann means the old man, and kniete means knelt. nieder tells us the direction of the movement; it is not an adjective modifying Mann and therefore has no ending.
nähern — to approach, to get closer
The common construction is sich jemandem/etwas nähern: the reflexive pronoun is accusative, but the person or thing approached is dative. The perfect uses haben, not sein, even when the verb describes movement.
Der Zug nähert sich dem Bahnhof.
The train is approaching the station.
der Zug means the train, sich means itself, and der Bahnhof is the station. Sich nähern is reflexive, while dem Bahnhof is dative because the target after sich nähern is dative; the finite verb nähert is in position two.
Der Zug hat sich dem Bahnhof genähert.
The train has approached the station.
der Zug means the train and der Bahnhof is the station. The perfect uses hat plus genähert because sich nähern takes haben; sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun and dem Bahnhof is dative.
Der Zug näherte sich langsam dem Bahnhof.
The train slowly approached the station.
langsam means slowly, and der Bahnhof is the station. Näherte is the regular preterite in position two; sich is reflexive accusative, while dem Bahnhof is the dative target.
Nähere dich bitte dem Ausgang!
Please approach the exit!
bitte means please, and der Ausgang is the exit. Nähere dich is the du imperative of the reflexive verb; dich is accusative reflexive and dem Ausgang is dative as the target.
Wenn ich mich dem Ziel schneller nähern könnte, wäre ich schon dort.
If I could approach the goal faster, I would already be there.
wenn means if, schneller means faster, das Ziel is the goal, and schon dort means already there. The modal form könnte sends the infinitive nähern to the end of the subordinate clause; mich is reflexive accusative and dem Ziel is dative.
Der Sommer wird sich langsam nähern.
Summer will slowly approach.
der Sommer means summer and langsam means slowly. Future tense uses wird plus the infinitive nähern, which goes to the end; sich is the required reflexive pronoun, even though there is no separate target here.
die Orientierung — orientation, sense of direction; guidance, direction
This sense is about knowing your position and direction, especially in an unfamiliar place. The expression die Orientierung verlieren means to lose one's bearings, literally to lose orientation.
Die Orientierung im Wald ist schwierig.
Finding one's way in the forest is difficult.
der Wald means forest, and schwierig means difficult. Die Orientierung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich verliere die Orientierung.
I lose my bearings.
verlieren means to lose. Die Orientierung is accusative because it is the direct object of verlieren; the finite verb verliere stands in position two.
Mit der Orientierung im Gelände habe ich Probleme.
I have problems with finding my way in the terrain.
mit means with, das Gelände means terrain, and Probleme haben means to have problems. Mit der Orientierung is dative because mit requires the dative; the verb phrase habe ... Probleme has the finite verb in position two.
Die Verbesserung der Orientierung braucht Zeit.
Improving one's ability to find one's way takes time.
die Verbesserung means the improvement, braucht means needs, and Zeit means time. Der Orientierung is genitive after die Verbesserung to show what is being improved; braucht stands in position two.
Moderne Karten bieten verschiedene Orientierungen.
Modern maps offer different forms of orientation.
moderne Karten means modern maps, bieten means offer, and verschiedene means different. Orientierungen is plural and accusative because it is the direct object of bieten.
Die Beratung gibt Jugendlichen berufliche Orientierung.
The counseling gives young people career guidance.
die Beratung means the counseling, Jugendliche means young people, and beruflich means career-related. Jugendlichen is dative because geben gives something to someone, while berufliche Orientierung is the accusative thing given.
Der Kurs hilft bei der Orientierung im Studium.
The course helps with finding one's way in university studies.
der Kurs means the course, hilft means helps, and das Studium means university studies. Bei requires the dative, so der Orientierung is dative; the phrase im Studium means in one's studies and hilft is in position two.
der Pfad — path, trail
Pfad usually means a narrow path or trail, especially outdoors. For an ordinary road or walkway, Weg is often more natural.
Der Pfad führt durch den Wald.
The path leads through the forest.
führen means to lead, and der Wald is the forest. Der Pfad is nominative because it is the subject; führt stands in position two and durch den Wald shows the route.
Wir nehmen den Pfad zum See.
We take the path to the lake.
wir nehmen means we take, and der See means the lake. Den Pfad is accusative because nehmen takes an accusative object; zum See means to the lake and is a shortened form of zu dem See.
Wir folgen dem Pfad bis zum Gipfel.
We follow the path as far as the summit.
folgen means to follow, bis means as far as, and der Gipfel is the summit. Dem Pfad is dative because folgen always takes a dative object; this is a common trap for learners who expect accusative after the English verb follow.
Die Richtung des Pfades ist schwer zu erkennen.
The direction of the path is difficult to recognise.
die Richtung means the direction, schwer means difficult, and erkennen means to recognise. Des Pfades is genitive because it means of the path; ist is in position two and the infinitive phrase comes at the end.
Im Park gibt es mehrere Pfade.
There are several paths in the park.
im Park means in the park, and mehrere means several. Pfade is plural after mehrere; in es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative, although the plural article is absent here.
Der Wanderer sucht einen neuen Pfad.
The hiker is looking for a new path.
der Wanderer is the hiker, suchen means to look for, and neu means new. Einen neuen Pfad is accusative because suchen takes an accusative object; the adjective gets -en after einen.
quer — across, diagonally
As an adverb, quer describes direction and does not take an adjective ending. Do not confuse it with the adjective quer, which can stand before a noun with an ending.
Der Wind kommt quer über das Feld.
The wind comes across the field.
Wind means wind, kommt means comes, and Feld means field. quer is an adverb describing the direction; über das Feld is accusative because it describes movement across the field.
Wir gehen quer durch den Park.
We walk across the park.
gehen means go or walk, durch means through, and Park means park. quer modifies the direction, while durch always takes the accusative, shown by den Park.
rasch — quick, rapid
Rasch means quick or rapid and is more formal or written than schnell in many contexts. Its regular comparison is rascher – am raschesten; do not use the irregular pattern besser – am besten here.
Die Antwort ist rasch.
The reply is quick.
die Antwort is the reply and sein means to be. Rasch is predicative, so it has no adjective ending; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Wir brauchen eine rasche Lösung.
We need a quick solution.
brauchen means to need and die Lösung is the solution. Eine rasche Lösung is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; rasche has an -e ending after eine in the feminine accusative.
Bitte gib mir eine raschere Antwort.
Please give me a quicker reply.
gib means give, mir means to me, and die Antwort is the reply. Raschere is the comparative and has an -e ending after eine; mir is dative because geben gives something to someone.
Das ist die rascheste Verbindung zum Flughafen.
That is the quickest connection to the airport.
die Verbindung is the connection and der Flughafen is the airport. Rascheste is the superlative before a noun and therefore needs the ending -e after die; zum Flughafen means “to the airport,” with zu plus dative.