Appearance
Vocab: Movement — B1 (2)
Movement vocabulary at B1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Rutschgefahr — slipping hazard, danger of slipping
This compound combines rutschen, to slip, with die Gefahr, danger. It is common in safety notices, especially for icy or wet floors.
Die Rutschgefahr ist heute besonders groß.
The risk of slipping is particularly high today.
heute means today, besonders means particularly, and groß means high or great. Die Rutschgefahr is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir sehen die Rutschgefahr sofort.
We notice the slipping hazard immediately.
sehen means see or notice, and sofort means immediately. Die Rutschgefahr is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehen is in position two.
Wegen der Rutschgefahr bleibt der Weg geschlossen.
Because of the slipping hazard, the path remains closed.
wegen means because of, der Weg means path, and geschlossen means closed. In everyday German, wegen is often used with the genitive, but this sentence uses the common spoken dative der Rutschgefahr; bleibt is in position two.
Die Warnung vor der Rutschgefahr steht am Eingang.
The warning about the slipping hazard is at the entrance.
die Warnung means warning, vor means about or against here, and der Eingang means entrance. Der Rutschgefahr is genitive because it specifies what the warning concerns; vor itself takes the dative in vor der Rutschgefahr.
Im Winter gibt es viele Rutschgefahren.
In winter there are many slipping hazards.
im Winter means in winter and viele means many. Rutschgefahren is the plural after viele; es gibt always takes an accusative object, although the plural form looks the same in the nominative and accusative here.
die Rückkehr — return, return home; return to an earlier state
Rückkehr describes returning, often after a long absence or an important journey. For the everyday action of going back, German also commonly uses the verb zurückkehren or zurückkommen.
Die Rückkehr ist für Montag geplant.
The return is planned for Monday.
für Montag means for Monday, and geplant means planned. Die Rückkehr is nominative because it is the subject; für Montag is accusative after für, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir erwarten die Rückkehr unserer Freunde.
We expect our friends' return.
erwarten means expect, and unsere Freunde means our friends. die Rückkehr is accusative because erwarten takes a direct object; unserer Freunde is genitive and says whose return is meant.
Nach der Rückkehr war er sehr müde.
After returning, he was very tired.
nach der Rückkehr means after returning, and müde means tired. der Rückkehr is dative because nach requires the dative; the finite verb war is in position two.
Die Gründe der Rückkehr bleiben unbekannt.
The reasons for the return remain unknown.
die Gründe means the reasons, and unbekannt means unknown. der Rückkehr is genitive because it specifies which reasons are meant; bleiben is in position two and unbekannt is a predicative adjective.
Die Rückkehren der Zugvögel beginnen im Frühling.
The returns of the migratory birds begin in spring.
die Zugvögel means migratory birds, and im Frühling means in spring. Rückkehren is plural nominative as the subject, while der Zugvögel is genitive plural; the plural noun is uncommon, so singular is normally preferred.
Seine Rückkehr in die Stadt hat alle überrascht.
His return to the city surprised everyone.
seine means his, die Stadt means the city, and überrascht means surprised. Seine Rückkehr is the nominative subject of the sentence, while alle is accusative after überraschen; hat ... überrascht is the perfect tense.
Viele hoffen auf eine Rückkehr zur Normalität.
Many people hope for a return to normality.
Viele means many people, hoffen auf means hope for, and die Normalität means normality. eine Rückkehr is accusative after auf because hoffen auf takes the accusative; zur Normalität means to normality.
Nach der Krise begann die Rückkehr zum Alltag.
After the crisis, the return to everyday life began.
die Krise means the crisis, begann means began, and der Alltag means everyday life. der Krise is dative after nach, and zum Alltag means to everyday life; the finite verb begann stands in position two.
schleifen — to drag, to pull along; to grind, to sharpen
This weak sense has schleifte – hat geschleift. Do not mix it up with the strong sense ‘to grind or sharpen’, whose past forms are schliff – hat geschliffen.
Er schleift den schweren Koffer zum Bahnhof.
He drags the heavy suitcase to the station.
der schwere Koffer is the heavy suitcase, and zum Bahnhof means to the station. Den Koffer is accusative because schleifen takes a direct object; the finite verb schleift is in position two.
Er hat den schweren Koffer zum Bahnhof geschleift.
He dragged the heavy suitcase to the station.
der schwere Koffer is the heavy suitcase, and zum Bahnhof means to the station. The perfect uses hat for this transitive sense, and geschleift goes to the end; den Koffer remains accusative.
Er schleifte den schweren Koffer zum Bahnhof.
He dragged the heavy suitcase to the station.
der schwere Koffer is the heavy suitcase, and zum Bahnhof means to the station. Schleifte is the regular weak past form, and the direct object den Koffer is accusative.
Schleif den Koffer nicht über den Boden!
Do not drag the suitcase across the floor!
nicht means not, and über den Boden means across the floor. This is the du imperative; den Koffer is accusative as the direct object, and über is accusative because it expresses movement across a surface.
Wenn ich stärker wäre, schleifte ich den Schrank allein.
If I were stronger, I would drag the cupboard by myself.
stärker means stronger, der Schrank is the cupboard, and allein means by myself or alone. The wenn clause sends wäre to the end; schleifte is the Konjunktiv II form here, and den Schrank is accusative.
Wir werden die Kisten später schleifen.
We will drag the crates later.
die Kisten are the crates, and später means later. Future uses werden in position two and sends schleifen to the end; the direct object die Kisten is accusative.
Der Handwerker schleift das Messer.
The craftsman sharpens the knife.
der Handwerker is the craftsman, and das Messer is the knife. Das Messer is accusative because it is the direct object; in this sense the past forms are schliff and geschliffen, not schleifte and geschleift.
Das Metall wird vorsichtig geschliffen.
The metal is being ground carefully.
das Metall means the metal, and vorsichtig means carefully. This is a passive sentence with wird plus geschliffen; the strong Partizip II belongs to the sharpening sense and stands at the end.
schwingen — to swing; to wave
schwingen is a strong verb: schwingen – schwang – hat geschwungen. It can be intransitive when something swings, or transitive when someone swings or waves an object.
Das Pendel schwingt langsam hin und her.
The pendulum swings slowly from side to side.
das Pendel is the pendulum, langsam means slowly, and hin und her means from side to side. Das Pendel is nominative as the subject, and schwingt is in position two.
Der Wind hat die Fahne geschwungen.
The wind swung the flag.
der Wind is the wind and die Fahne is the flag. die Fahne is accusative as the direct object, while geschwungen goes to the end.
Der Reiter schwang das Schwert.
The rider swung the sword.
der Reiter is the rider and das Schwert is the sword. das Schwert is accusative as the object of schwang; the strong past form changes i to a.
Schwing die Fahne über deinen Kopf!
Wave the flag over your head!
die Fahne is the flag and über deinen Kopf means over your head. die Fahne is accusative as the direct object, and Schwing is the informal command for du.
Ich würde gern eine Fahne schwingen.
I would like to wave a flag.
gern means gladly or would like to, and eine Fahne is a flag. eine Fahne is accusative as the object, and the infinitive schwingen stands at the end.
Bei der Feier werde ich eine große Fahne schwingen.
At the celebration, I will wave a large flag.
bei der Feier means at the celebration, and groß means large. eine große Fahne is accusative as the direct object; schwingen goes to the end after werde.
senken — to lower, to reduce; to lower, to drop
Senken is transitive: the thing that becomes lower is its accusative object, as in die Preise senken. Do not confuse it with sinken, which is intransitive and means to go down by itself.
Die Firma senkt die Preise.
The company is lowering the prices.
die Firma is the company, and die Preise means the prices. die Preise is accusative because senken is transitive and takes a direct object; the finite verb senkt stands in position two.
Die Firma hat die Preise gesenkt.
The company has lowered the prices.
hat means has, and die Preise means the prices. die Preise is accusative because senken takes a direct object; the auxiliary hat is in position two and gesenkt goes to the end.
Die Firma senkte die Preise im Januar.
The company lowered the prices in January.
im Januar means in January. die Preise is accusative because it is the object of senken; senkte is the regular weak-verb simple past and stands in position two.
Senk bitte die Lautstärke.
Please lower the volume.
bitte means please, and die Lautstärke is the volume. Senk is the short du imperative; the object is accusative because senken takes a direct object.
Wenn ich die Kosten senkte, wäre das Projekt sicherer.
If I lowered the costs, the project would be safer.
die Kosten means the costs, das Projekt is the project, and sicherer means safer. die Kosten is accusative because senken takes a direct object; senkte is the Konjunktiv II form and the verb goes to the end of the wenn clause.
Wir werden die Heizung nachts senken.
We will lower the heating at night.
die Heizung is the heating, and nachts means at night. die Heizung is accusative because it is the object of senken; werden is in position two and the infinitive senken goes to the end.
Er senkt den Kopf.
He lowers his head.
er means he, and den Kopf is the head. den Kopf is accusative because senken takes a direct object; the finite verb senkt is in position two.
Sie senkte die Augen vor Scham.
She lowered her eyes out of shame.
die Augen means the eyes, vor Scham means out of shame, and senkte means lowered. die Augen is accusative because it is the object of senken; senkte is the weak-verb simple past in position two.
der Sprung — jump, leap; crack, split
The plural Sprünge has an umlaut and -e. In expressions such as ein Sprung in der Temperatur, the word can also mean a sudden rise.
Der Sprung ins Wasser war ziemlich hoch.
The jump into the water was quite high.
ins Wasser means into the water, and ziemlich hoch means quite high. Der Sprung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Ich habe den Sprung geschafft.
I managed the jump.
geschafft means managed or completed. Den Sprung is accusative because schaffen takes a direct object, and habe ... geschafft forms the perfect with the participle at the end.
Nach dem Sprung tat mir das Knie weh.
My knee hurt after the jump.
nach means after, and das Knie is the knee; weh tun means to hurt. Nach always takes the dative, so dem Sprung is dative; the finite verb tat is in position two.
Die Höhe des Sprungs hat mich überrascht.
The height of the jump surprised me.
die Höhe means the height, and überrascht means surprised. Des Sprungs is genitive because it specifies whose height; the finite verb hat stands in position two.
Die Kinder üben Sprünge auf dem Trampolin.
The children practise jumps on the trampoline.
die Kinder are the children, üben means practise, and das Trampolin is the trampoline. Sprünge is plural and accusative because it is the object of üben; the plural has an umlaut and -e.
Das Glas hat einen Sprung.
The glass has a crack.
das Glas means the glass, and haben means to have. Einen Sprung is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the finite verb hat is in position two.
Wegen des Sprungs kann ich die Schüssel nicht benutzen.
Because of the crack, I cannot use the bowl.
wegen means because of, die Schüssel is the bowl, and benutzen means use. Wegen commonly takes the genitive, so des Sprungs is genitive; kann ... benutzen forms a modal-verb bracket.
die Spur — track, trace, clue; trace, hint, small amount
Die Spur is used for a physical track or trace and also for a clue in an investigation. In the fixed expression auf der Spur sein, auf takes the dative because it describes a location or state.
Die Spur im Schnee führt zum Wald.
The track in the snow leads to the forest.
im Schnee means in the snow, führt means leads, and der Wald is the forest. Die Spur is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb führt stands in position two.
Wir haben die Spur im Sand gesehen.
We saw the track in the sand.
der Sand is sand, and gesehen means seen. Die Spur is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; haben ... gesehen forms the perfect.
Die Polizei folgt der Spur.
The police follow the trail.
die Polizei means the police, and folgen means follow. Folgen takes the dative, so der Spur is dative; the finite verb folgt is in position two.
Die Richtung der Spur ist nicht klar.
The direction of the trail is not clear.
die Richtung means the direction, and nicht klar means not clear. Der Spur is genitive because it identifies which direction; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Hunde suchen Spuren im Wald.
The dogs look for tracks in the forest.
die Hunde are the dogs, suchen means look for, and der Wald is the forest. Spuren is plural and accusative because it is the object of suchen; the plural ends in -en.
Im Essen ist keine Spur von Knoblauch.
There is no trace of garlic in the food.
das Essen means the food, keine means no, and der Knoblauch is garlic. Von takes the dative here, but Knoblauch has no visible article because it is an uncountable substance; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Sie zeigte eine Spur von Nervosität.
She showed a trace of nervousness.
zeigte means showed, and die Nervosität is nervousness. Eine Spur is accusative because zeigen takes a direct object; the finite verb zeigte stands in position two.
stehend — standing; upright; established; stagnant
Stehend is the present participle of stehen used as an adjective. It usually describes a position or a continuing state and is not normally compared.
Der Mann bleibt stehend.
The man remains standing.
der Mann means the man, and bleibt means remains. Stehend is predicative after bleibt; the finite verb is in position two, and the adjective does not take a noun ending here.
Die stehende Frau wartet auf den Bus.
The woman who is standing is waiting for the bus.
die Frau is the woman, wartet means is waiting, and der Bus is the bus. Stehende stands before the feminine noun and takes -e after die; auf den Bus is accusative because warten auf uses auf with the accusative.
Bitte bleiben Sie stehend, bis die Tür geöffnet ist.
Please remain standing until the door is opened.
bleiben means remain, bis means until, and geöffnet means opened. Stehend is a predicative adjective after bleiben; the finite verb ist goes to the end of the subordinate clause introduced by bis.
Das ist eine stehende Redewendung.
That is a set phrase.
eine Redewendung means a phrase or expression, and ist means is. Stehende has the ending -e after eine and means established here, not physically standing; the verb ist is in position two.
In dem Teich lebt kaum etwas, weil das Wasser stehend ist.
Hardly anything lives in the pond because the water is stagnant.
der Teich is the pond, kaum etwas means hardly anything, and lebt means lives. In dem Teich is dative because it describes a fixed location, while weil sends ist to the end; stehend means stagnant in this context.
stoßen — to bump, to hit; to push; to come across, to encounter
For a collision, common patterns are gegen etwas stoßen and an etwas stoßen, with the preposition taking the accusative. The perfect may use haben for pushing and sein for movement into a collision, as in ist gegen den Tisch gestoßen.
Er stößt gegen die Tür.
He bumps into the door.
gegen die Tür means against the door. Gegen takes the accusative, and stößt stands in position two; the vowel changes from o to ö in this present form.
Sie ist gegen den Tisch gestoßen.
She bumped into the table.
der Tisch means the table. With an accidental movement or collision, the perfect commonly uses ist; gegen takes the accusative, and gestoßen goes at the end.
Das Kind stieß den Ball weg.
The child pushed the ball away.
das Kind means the child, den Ball means the ball, and weg means away. Den Ball is accusative because it is the direct object, and stieß is the strong preterite form.
Stoß die Tür nicht!
Don’t push the door!
die Tür means the door and nicht means not. Stoß is the singular imperative, and the direct object die Tür is accusative.
Wenn er mich stieße, würde ich fallen.
If he pushed me, I would fall.
fallen means to fall. Mich is accusative as the person being pushed, and stieße is the hypothetical Konjunktiv II form in the subordinate clause.
Der Wind wird die Tür stoßen.
The wind will push the door.
der Wind means the wind and die Tür means the door. Wird forms the future, while the infinitive stoßen goes to the end and die Tür is accusative.
Wir sind auf ein großes Problem gestoßen.
We came across a big problem.
ein großes Problem means a big problem. In this fixed expression auf takes the accusative, and the perfect uses sind because the expression describes coming upon something.
Bei der Suche stößt sie auf viele Fragen.
During the search, she comes across many questions.
bei der Suche means during the search, and viele Fragen means many questions. Auf takes the accusative in auf Fragen stoßen, while stößt is in position two.
stürmen — to storm, to rush; to be stormy
For movement into or onto a place, the perfect normally uses sein, as in ist in das Gebäude gestürmt. When the verb has a direct object, as in ein Gebäude stürmen, haben is also possible: Die Soldaten haben das Gebäude gestürmt.
Die Fans stürmen auf das Spielfeld.
The fans rush onto the pitch.
die Fans are the fans, and das Spielfeld is the pitch or playing field. auf das Spielfeld takes accusative because it shows movement onto a place, and the finite verb stürmen stands in position two.
Die Soldaten sind in das Gebäude gestürmt.
The soldiers stormed into the building.
die Soldaten are the soldiers, and das Gebäude is the building. The perfect uses sind because this is movement, and in das Gebäude is accusative because it shows movement into the building.
Die Demonstranten stürmten den Saal.
The demonstrators stormed the hall.
die Demonstranten are the demonstrators, and der Saal is the hall. The regular past form stürmten is in position two; den Saal is accusative as the place being stormed.
Stürm nicht sofort hinaus!
Don't rush out immediately!
nicht sofort means not immediately, and hinaus means out. The imperative is stürm with the direction word hinaus after it; the negative word nicht comes before that direction word.
Wenn sie mutiger wäre, stürmte sie den Raum.
If she were braver, she would storm the room.
mutiger means braver, and der Raum is the room. The Konjunktiv II stürmte has the same form as the simple past; den Raum is accusative as the place entered forcefully.
Die Menge wird nach dem Konzert auf die Bühne stürmen.
The crowd will rush onto the stage after the concert.
die Menge means the crowd, nach dem Konzert means after the concert, and die Bühne is the stage. wird is in position two and stürmen goes to the end; auf die Bühne is accusative because it expresses movement onto the stage.
Draußen stürmt es.
It is stormy outside.
draußen means outside, and es is a formal subject used in this weather expression. stürmt stands in position two, while es comes after it; there is no person or object in a case.
Gestern hat es den ganzen Tag gestürmt.
It was stormy all day yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and den ganzen Tag means all day. The perfect uses hat with this impersonal weather meaning; gestürmt goes to the end, and den ganzen Tag is an accusative time expression.
stürzen — to fall, to plunge; to overthrow, to plunge into
For the intransitive falling sense, stürzen normally takes sein in the perfect: ist gestürzt. The reflexive form sich stürzen can mean to throw oneself into something, while transitive jemanden stürzen means to cause someone to fall or to overthrow someone.
Der Junge stürzt vom Fahrrad.
The boy falls off his bicycle.
der Junge is the boy and das Fahrrad is the bicycle. vom means “from the” and combines von with the dative article dem; the finite verb stürzt is in position two.
Sie ist auf der Treppe gestürzt.
She fell on the stairs.
die Treppe is the staircase, and auf der Treppe means on the stairs. auf takes the dative here because this describes a location, and the falling sense uses sein; ist is in position two and gestürzt goes to the end.
Der Mann stürzte plötzlich zu Boden.
The man suddenly fell to the ground.
der Mann is the man, plötzlich means suddenly, and zu Boden means to the ground. The weak past form stürzte stands in position two; zu Boden is a fixed expression for a fall.
Stürz nicht von der Mauer!
Don’t fall from the wall!
nicht means not and die Mauer is the wall. The imperative puts stürz first, and von der Mauer uses the dative after von; the negative word comes after the verb.
Wenn er nicht aufpasst, würde er stürzen.
If he did not pay attention, he would fall.
wenn means if, aufpassen means to pay attention, and nicht means not. The finite verb aufpasst goes to the end of the wenn clause, while würde stürzen expresses an unreal result in the main clause.
Der Skifahrer wird gleich stürzen.
The skier is about to fall.
der Skifahrer is the skier and gleich means soon or in a moment. wird is in position two and the infinitive stürzen goes to the end; this future form can also express an obvious immediate prediction.
Die Revolution stürzte die Regierung.
The revolution overthrew the government.
die Revolution is the revolution and die Regierung is the government. die Regierung is accusative because transitive stürzen takes a direct object; the finite verb stürzte stands in position two.
Der Unfall hat ihn ins Unglück gestürzt.
The accident plunged him into disaster.
der Unfall is the accident, ihn means him, and das Unglück is disaster or misfortune. The person is accusative after transitive stürzen, ins means “into the” with in das, and this sense uses haben; gestürzt goes to the end.
treiben — to do, pursue; to drive, propel; to float, drift
In Sport treiben, the verb means to do or practise an activity. In other uses, it can mean to drive something or make it move; it is a strong verb with trieb and getrieben and normally takes haben in the perfect for this sense.
Ich treibe jeden Samstag Sport.
I do sport every Saturday.
jeden Samstag means every Saturday, and Sport means sport. Sport is an accusative object in the fixed expression Sport treiben, and the finite verb treibe stands in position two.
Sie hat früher viel Sport getrieben.
She used to do a lot of sport.
früher means in the past, and viel means a lot of. The perfect is hat ... getrieben with haben; the Partizip II getrieben goes to the end.
Der Wind trieb die Wolken über das Meer.
The wind drove the clouds across the sea.
der Wind means the wind, die Wolken means the clouds, and über das Meer means across the sea. Die Wolken is accusative because the wind drives them; trieb is the strong-verb preterite in position two.
Treib keinen Unfug!
Don’t cause any mischief!
keinen Unfug means no mischief. Treib is the informal singular imperative, and keinen Unfug is accusative because the fixed expression Unfug treiben takes a direct object.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, triebe ich mehr Sport.
If I had more time, I would do more sport.
mehr Zeit means more time, and hätte means had. Triebe is the Konjunktiv II of treiben; it expresses an unreal situation, while the finite verb hätte goes to the end of the wenn-clause.
Morgen werde ich wieder Sport treiben.
Tomorrow I will do sport again.
morgen means tomorrow, and wieder means again. Futur I uses werde ... treiben; the finite verb werde is in position two and the infinitive treiben goes to the end.
Das Holz treibt auf dem Wasser.
The wood is floating on the water.
das Holz means the wood, and auf dem Wasser means on the water. Auf dem Wasser is dative because it describes a fixed location, and the finite verb treibt is in position two.
Das Boot ist langsam ans Ufer getrieben.
The boat drifted slowly to the bank.
das Boot means the boat, langsam means slowly, and ans Ufer means to the bank. The perfect uses ist ... getrieben here because the boat changes location; getrieben stands at the end.
umgeben — to surround, to be surrounded by
Umgeben normally takes an accusative object: jemanden/etwas umgeben. It is a strong verb with umgibt – umgab – hat umgeben; this um- prefix is inseparable, so the Partizip II has no extra ge-.
Hohe Bäume umgeben das Haus.
Tall trees surround the house.
hohe Bäume means tall trees, and das Haus means the house. Hohe Bäume is the nominative subject, while das Haus is accusative because umgeben takes a direct object; the finite verb is in position two.
Der Garten ist von einer Mauer umgeben.
The garden is surrounded by a wall.
der Garten means the garden, von einer Mauer means by a wall, and Mauer is a wall. Here umgeben is a participle used with ist to describe a state, not a normal perfect with haben; von introduces the surrounding thing in the passive-like construction.
Früher umgab ein Wald das Dorf.
In the past, a forest surrounded the village.
früher means in the past, ein Wald means a forest, and das Dorf means the village. Ein Wald is the nominative subject and das Dorf is accusative; umgab is the strong-verb preterite and stands in position two.
Umgib dich mit guten Menschen.
Surround yourself with good people.
dich means yourself, and guten Menschen means good people. The command uses the singular imperative umgib; dich is accusative as the reflexive object, while mit guten Menschen is dative after mit.
Ich umgäbe mich gern mit erfahrenen Kollegen.
I would like to surround myself with experienced colleagues.
gern means gladly or would like to, and erfahrenen Kollegen means experienced colleagues. Umgäbe is the Konjunktiv II of the strong verb; mich is accusative, and mit erfahrenen Kollegen is dative after mit.
Der Park wird bald das neue Gebäude umgeben.
The park will soon surround the new building.
der Park means the park, bald means soon, and das neue Gebäude means the new building. Wird carries the future tense, while the infinitive umgeben goes to the end; das neue Gebäude is accusative.
umkehren — to turn back, to go back
Umkehren is usually intransitive, so it normally has no direct object. It is a separable verb, and its perfect is formed with sein: ist umgekehrt.
Wir kehren wegen des Gewitters um.
We are turning back because of the thunderstorm.
wegen des Gewitters means “because of the thunderstorm”; Gewitter is a thunderstorm. The finite verb kehren is in position two, while the separable prefix um goes to the end; wegen is normally used with the genitive here.
Wir sind wegen des starken Regens umgekehrt.
We turned back because of the heavy rain.
starker Regen means heavy rain, and wegen means because of. Umgekehrt pairs with sein because it describes movement, and the participle stands at the end of the perfect clause.
Die Wanderer kehrten am Nachmittag um.
The hikers turned back in the afternoon.
die Wanderer are the hikers, and am Nachmittag means in the afternoon. The weak past form kehrten is in position two and um is separated and placed at the end.
Kehr bitte sofort um!
Please turn back immediately!
bitte means please and sofort means immediately. This is the informal singular imperative: the verb stem kehr comes first and the prefix um stays at the end.
Ich würde bei diesem Wetter nicht umkehren.
I would not turn back in this weather.
bei diesem Wetter means in this weather; bei takes the dative, shown by diesem. The Konjunktiv II is formed with würde plus the infinitive umkehren, which stays whole at the end.
Wenn der Weg gesperrt ist, werden wir umkehren.
If the path is closed, we will turn back.
der Weg is the path and gesperrt means closed or blocked. In the wenn clause the finite verb ist goes to the end, while future werden is in position two in the main clause and umkehren goes to its end.
untergehen — to set; to sink; to perish, to fail
For the sun, untergehen means “to set”; for a person or object, it can mean “to sink”. It is a strong separable verb with sein in the perfect: untergehen – ging unter – ist untergegangen.
Die Sonne geht um acht Uhr unter.
The sun sets at eight o’clock.
die Sonne means “the sun”, and um acht Uhr means “at eight o’clock”. In a main clause, the separable verb geht unter splits: geht is in position two and unter goes to the end.
Die Sonne ist hinter den Bergen untergegangen.
The sun has set behind the mountains.
hinter den Bergen means “behind the mountains”. The perfect uses ist because the sun changes position; the whole Partizip II untergegangen goes to the end and is not split.
Die Sonne ging sehr früh unter.
The sun set very early.
sehr früh means “very early”. The strong past form ging stands in position two, while the separable prefix unter goes to the end of the main clause.
Geh nicht im tiefen Wasser unter.
Don’t sink in the deep water.
nicht means “not”, tief means “deep”, and das Wasser means “water”. The imperative geh unter separates, with geh first and unter at the end; im means in dem, and the location phrase is dative.
Wenn die Sonne unterginge, würde es schnell dunkel werden.
If the sun were to set, it would quickly become dark.
wenn means “if”, schnell means “quickly”, and dunkel werden means “become dark”. In the wenn clause, the separable verb is joined as unterginge and goes to the end; würde introduces the infinitive phrase in the main clause.
Die Sonne wird heute Abend spät untergehen.
The sun will set late this evening.
heute Abend means “this evening”, and spät means “late”. Wird is in position two and the complete infinitive untergehen goes to the end, so the prefix does not separate there.
Ohne Hilfe würde das kleine Unternehmen untergehen.
Without help, the small company would fail completely.
ohne Hilfe means “without help”, klein means “small”, and das Unternehmen means “the company”. The conditional uses würde plus the complete infinitive untergehen at the end; ohne takes the accusative, although no article ending is visible here.
Das alte Schiff ging im Sturm unter.
The old ship sank in the storm.
das alte Schiff means “the old ship”, and im Sturm means “in the storm”. The past form ging is in position two and unter goes to the end; im means in dem, with dative for the location.
verlangsamen — to slow down, to make slower; to slow down, to become slower
The verb can also be used reflexively for something becoming slower: sich verlangsamen. As a transitive verb, it takes an accusative object.
Die Baustelle verlangsamt den Verkehr.
The roadworks slow down the traffic.
die Baustelle means roadworks and der Verkehr means traffic. Den Verkehr is accusative because verlangsamen takes the thing being slowed as a direct object; the finite verb verlangsamt stands in position two.
Die Baustelle hat den Verkehr verlangsamt.
The roadworks have slowed down the traffic.
die Baustelle means roadworks and der Verkehr means traffic. Den Verkehr is accusative because it is the direct object, while hat is the finite auxiliary in position two and verlangsamt closes the clause.
Die Baustelle verlangsamte den Verkehr.
The roadworks slowed down the traffic.
die Baustelle means roadworks and der Verkehr means traffic. Den Verkehr is accusative after verlangsamen, and the weak Präteritum form verlangsamte is the finite verb in position two.
Verlangsamt den Verkehr!
Slow down the traffic!
den Verkehr means the traffic. This is an imperative addressed to ihr, so verlangsamt stands first; the direct object remains accusative.
Wenn die Baustelle den Verkehr verlangsamen würde, kämen wir später an.
If the roadworks slowed down the traffic, we would arrive later.
die Baustelle means roadworks, der Verkehr means traffic, and später means later. In the wenn clause, würde sends the infinitive verlangsamen to the end; den Verkehr is accusative.
Die Baustelle wird den Verkehr verlangsamen.
The roadworks will slow down the traffic.
die Baustelle means roadworks and der Verkehr means traffic. Wird is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive verlangsamen goes to the end and takes den Verkehr as its accusative object.
Der Zug verlangsamt sich vor dem Bahnhof.
The train slows down before the station.
der Zug means train, vor dem Bahnhof means before the station, and der Bahnhof is station. Sich is an accusative reflexive pronoun because the train itself is becoming slower; the finite verb verlangsamt is in position two.
Der Wind hat sich am Abend verlangsamt.
The wind died down in the evening.
der Wind means wind and am Abend means in the evening. The reflexive pronoun sich is accusative, while hat forms the perfect and verlangsamt stands at the end.
verlaufen — to proceed, to go, to develop; to get lost
For an event or process, the perfect normally uses sein: ist verlaufen. Do not confuse this with sich verlaufen, which means to get lost and normally uses haben.
Das Gespräch verläuft ruhig.
The conversation is proceeding calmly.
das Gespräch means the conversation and ruhig means calmly or calmly conducted. Das Gespräch is the nominative subject, and verläuft is the finite verb in position two; this intransitive sense has no accusative object.
Das Gespräch ist ruhig verlaufen.
The conversation proceeded calmly.
das Gespräch means the conversation and ruhig means calmly. This sense uses sein in the perfect because it describes how an event proceeded; ist stands in position two and verlaufen goes to the end.
Das Gespräch verlief ruhig.
The conversation proceeded calmly.
das Gespräch means the conversation and ruhig means calmly. Das Gespräch is the subject, and the strong Präteritum form verlief occupies position two.
Verlauf ruhig und sachlich!
Proceed calmly and objectively!
ruhig means calmly and sachlich means objectively or factually. The imperative verlauf comes first; this command sounds unusual in everyday speech, where a different verb is often chosen.
Wenn das Gespräch ruhig verlaufen würde, könnten wir eine Lösung finden.
If the conversation proceeded calmly, we could find a solution.
ruhig means calmly, könnten means could, and eine Lösung finden means find a solution. In the wenn clause, würde sends verlaufen to the end; the main clause uses könnten for a hypothetical result.
Das Gespräch wird ruhig verlaufen.
The conversation will proceed calmly.
das Gespräch means the conversation and ruhig means calmly. Wird forms the future in position two, while the infinitive verlaufen goes to the end; this sense does not take a direct object.
Ich verlaufe mich oft in großen Städten.
I often get lost in large cities.
oft means often, großen Städten means large cities, and in means in. Mich is the accusative reflexive pronoun required by sich verlaufen; in großen Städten is dative because it describes location, not movement into a place.
Wir haben uns im Wald verlaufen.
We got lost in the forest.
der Wald means the forest and im means in the. Uns is the accusative reflexive pronoun, while im Wald is dative for a fixed location; the perfect uses haben, not sein.
das Wandern — hiking; walking for pleasure
Das Wandern is a nominalized infinitive, so it is always capitalized and neuter. It describes the activity in general; the lowercase verb wandern means to hike.
Wandern macht mir Spaß.
I enjoy hiking.
Spaß machen means to be enjoyable, and mir means to me. Wandern is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb macht is in position two, while mir is dative after the fixed expression Spaß machen.
Ich liebe das Wandern in den Bergen.
I love hiking in the mountains.
lieben means to love, in den Bergen means in the mountains, and Bergen means mountains. das Wandern is accusative because lieben takes an accusative object; the finite verb liebe stands in position two.
Beim Wandern brauche ich gute Schuhe.
I need good shoes when hiking.
beim means while doing the activity, brauchen means to need, and gute Schuhe means good shoes. beim is bei dem, so Wandern is dative; the finite verb brauche is in position two, and gute Schuhe is the accusative object.
Die Freude des Wanderns ist groß.
The joy of hiking is great.
die Freude means the joy, and groß means great or strong. des Wanderns is genitive because it identifies whose joy it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wandern und Radfahren sind beliebte Hobbys.
Hiking and cycling are popular hobbies.
Radfahren means cycling, beliebte means popular, and Hobbys means hobbies. Wandern is a mass noun and has no plural here; together with Radfahren, it forms a plural subject, so the verb is sind.
Morgen gehen wir wandern.
Tomorrow we are going hiking.
Morgen means tomorrow and gehen means to go. Here wandern is the lowercase infinitive verb, not the noun das Wandern; it follows gehen at the end of the clause.
wenden — to turn, to turn over; to turn to, to contact
For the physical action, wenden normally takes an accusative object, such as das Blatt or das Fleisch. Its mixed past forms are wandte and gewendet; the perfect uses haben.
Er wendet das Blatt.
He turns the page.
er means he, and das Blatt is the page or sheet. Das Blatt is accusative because wenden takes a direct object, and the finite verb wendet stands in position two.
Sie hat das Fleisch gewendet.
She turned the meat over.
sie means she, and das Fleisch is the meat. Das Fleisch is accusative because it is the thing being turned; hat is the auxiliary in position two and gewendet goes to the end.
Er wandte das Auto vorsichtig.
He carefully turned the car around.
das Auto is the car, and vorsichtig means carefully. The past form wandte stands in position two, while das Auto is accusative as the direct object.
Wende das Steak!
Turn the steak over!
das Steak is the steak. Wende is the du imperative, and the accusative object das Steak follows it; the subject du is normally left out.
Ich wendete den Wagen, wenn die Straße gesperrt wäre.
I would turn the car around if the road were closed.
der Wagen means the car, and gesperrt means closed or blocked; die Straße is the road. Den Wagen is accusative because it is the object, and wendete is the Konjunktiv II form; in the wenn-clause, wäre goes to the end.
Der Fahrer wird den Bus an der Kreuzung wenden.
The driver will turn the bus around at the junction.
der Fahrer is the driver, der Bus is the bus, and die Kreuzung is the junction. Den Bus is accusative, while wird stands in position two and the infinitive wenden goes to the end.
Bitte wenden Sie sich an den Kundendienst.
Please contact customer service.
bitte means please, and der Kundendienst is customer service. The fixed expression sich an jemanden wenden uses an with the accusative for the person contacted; the polite imperative has wenden in position two and Sie as the subject.
Er hat sich mit seiner Frage an die Polizei gewandt.
He turned to the police with his question.
die Frage means the question, and die Polizei means the police. In this sense, sich an die Polizei wenden takes an plus accusative, while mit plus dative marks what he has; gewandt is an alternative Partizip II used especially in this expression.
zugehen — to close, to go shut; to approach
For a door or window, zugehen means to close by itself or to go shut. The perfect uses sein: ist zugegangen.
Die Tür geht langsam zu.
The door is slowly closing.
die Tür means the door and langsam means slowly. Die Tür is nominative because it is the subject; geht is in position two and the prefix zu goes to the end.
Die Tür ist zugegangen.
The door has closed.
die Tür means the door and sein forms the perfect because the door changes from open to closed. The participle zugegangen stays together and goes to the end; it is not split in the perfect.
Das Fenster ging plötzlich zu.
The window suddenly closed.
das Fenster means the window and plötzlich means suddenly. Ging is the simple past in position two, while zu separates and goes to the end.
Geh endlich zu!
Close at last!
endlich means at last or finally. This is a command to one person, so it uses geh without a pronoun; the prefix zu remains at the end.
Die Tür würde bei starkem Wind zugehen.
The door would close in strong wind.
starker Wind means strong wind and bei means in the event of or during. Bei starkem Wind is dative after bei; würde is followed by the complete infinitive zugehen, which is not split.
Das Fenster wird später zugehen.
The window will close later.
später means later and das Fenster means the window. Wird is in position two and the complete infinitive zugehen goes to the end; it is not written as two words in this construction.
Er geht auf die neue Kollegin zu.
He approaches the new colleague.
er means he, neu means new, and die Kollegin means female colleague. Auf die neue Kollegin is accusative because auf expresses movement toward someone here; geht comes in position two and zu goes to the end.
Wir sind freundlich auf den Fremden zugegangen.
We approached the stranger in a friendly way.
freundlich means in a friendly way, wir means we, and der Fremde means stranger. Auf den Fremden is accusative after auf because it expresses movement toward him; the participle zugegangen stays together at the end with sein.
zurückkehren — to return, to come back
zurückkehren is more formal and less conversational than zurückkommen. It can describe returning to a place or returning to a previous situation.
Nach vielen Jahren kehrt sie in ihre Heimat zurück.
After many years, she returns to her homeland.
nach vielen Jahren means after many years, and die Heimat means homeland. in ihre Heimat is accusative because it expresses movement into a place; kehrt is in position two and the prefix zurück closes the main clause.
Er ist nach Deutschland zurückgekehrt.
He returned to Germany.
Deutschland is Germany. nach Deutschland expresses direction, and zurückgekehrt takes sein in the perfect because the verb describes a return; the Partizip II stands at the end.
Der Wissenschaftler kehrte später in die Stadt zurück.
The scientist returned to the city later.
der Wissenschaftler is the scientist, später means later, and die Stadt is the city. in die Stadt is accusative because it expresses movement; the finite past form kehrte is in position two and zurück is at the end.
Kehr bald zurück!
Come back soon!
bald means soon. This is a singular command with omitted du; the imperative kehr comes first and the separable prefix zurück goes to the end.
Ich würde gern in meine Heimat zurückkehren.
I would like to return to my homeland.
gern means gladly or would like to, and die Heimat means homeland. in meine Heimat is accusative because it expresses movement; würde marks the conditional and the complete infinitive zurückkehren stands at the end.
Nach dem Krieg werden viele Familien in ihre Dörfer zurückkehren.
After the war, many families will return to their villages.
der Krieg is the war, viele Familien means many families, and das Dorf is a village. in ihre Dörfer is accusative because it expresses movement into the villages; werden is in position two and zurückkehren is the final infinitive.
zurücktreten — to step back; to resign, to step down
For physical movement, zurücktreten forms the perfect with sein: ist zurückgetreten. It is a strong verb with tritt in the present and trat in the simple past.
Der Mann tritt einen Schritt zurück.
The man takes a step back.
der Mann means the man and einen Schritt means one step. Einen Schritt is an accusative measure expression, and tritt is in position two while zurück is separated to the end.
Das Pferd ist plötzlich zurückgetreten.
The horse suddenly stepped back.
das Pferd means the horse and plötzlich means suddenly. The perfect uses sein because the horse changes position, and zurückgetreten goes to the end.
Er trat vor der Tür zurück.
He stepped back in front of the door.
vor der Tür means in front of the door. Vor takes the dative here because this describes a location, not movement towards it; trat is in position two and zurück is at the end.
Tritt bitte einen Schritt zurück!
Please take a step back!
bitte means please and einen Schritt means one step. This is the du imperative with the strong-verb vowel i; the measure expression is accusative and zurück stands at the end.
Ich würde sofort zurücktreten, wenn es gefährlich wäre.
I would step back immediately if it were dangerous.
sofort means immediately and gefährlich means dangerous. The complete infinitive zurücktreten stays together at the end after würde; the conditional describes a hypothetical situation.
Er wird einen Schritt zurücktreten.
He will take a step back.
einen Schritt means one step. Future tense uses wird in position two and the complete infinitive zurücktreten at the end; the measure expression is accusative.
Die Ministerin tritt heute zurück.
The minister is resigning today.
die Ministerin means the female minister and heute means today. The verb is split in the main clause, with tritt in position two and zurück at the end; the sense is resignation, not physical movement.
Der Präsident ist nach dem Skandal zurückgetreten.
The president resigned after the scandal.
der Präsident means the president, nach dem Skandal means after the scandal, and a Skandal is a scandal. The perfect uses sein and places zurückgetreten at the end; here the verb means resign.
zusammenbrechen — to collapse, to break down; to crash, to break down
For a person, zusammenbrechen usually means to collapse physically; for a structure, it means to collapse. It takes sein in the perfect: ist zusammengebrochen.
Der alte Mann bricht auf der Straße zusammen.
The old man collapses in the street.
der alte Mann means the old man, and auf der Straße means in the street. The finite verb bricht is in position two, and the separable prefix zusammen goes to the end; auf der Straße is dative after auf for a location.
Die Frau ist vor Schmerzen zusammengebrochen.
The woman collapsed from pain.
die Frau means the woman, and vor Schmerzen means from pain. The perfect uses ist plus zusammengebrochen because this verb describes a change of state; the Partizip II stands at the end.
Er brach während des Rennens zusammen.
He collapsed during the race.
während des Rennens means during the race. Während takes the genitive in careful standard German, and the strong preterite brach is in position two while zusammen goes to the end.
Brich nicht vor allen Leuten zusammen.
Do not collapse in front of everyone.
nicht means not, and vor allen Leuten means in front of everyone. The imperative omits du; brich comes first and zusammen goes to the end.
Wenn ich den Druck nicht aushalte, würde ich zusammenbrechen.
If I cannot stand the pressure, I would collapse.
wenn means if, den Druck aushalten means withstand the pressure, and würde means would. The verb aushalte goes to the end of the subordinate clause, while the complete infinitive zusammenbrechen follows würde at the end of the main clause.
Ohne Hilfe wird das alte Dach zusammenbrechen.
Without help, the old roof will collapse.
ohne Hilfe means without help, and das alte Dach means the old roof. Future one uses wird in position two and the complete infinitive zusammenbrechen at the end.
Mein Computer bricht ständig zusammen.
My computer keeps crashing.
mein Computer means my computer, and ständig means constantly or keeps. The verb is in position two and the prefix zusammen goes to the end; the computer is the subject, not an object.
Das Zahlungssystem ist gestern zusammengebrochen.
The payment system crashed yesterday.
das Zahlungssystem means the payment system, and gestern means yesterday. The perfect uses ist with zusammengebrochen because the system changes from working to not working.
zusammenstoßen — to collide, crash; to clash; to clash, come into conflict
For a physical collision, the thing you collide with is commonly introduced by mit, which takes the dative: mit einem Auto zusammenstoßen. The perfect uses sein, and the verb is separable in main clauses.
Das Fahrrad stößt mit einem Auto zusammen.
The bicycle collides with a car.
das Fahrrad means the bicycle, and mit einem Auto means with a car. The separable verb has stößt in position two and zusammen at the end; mit forces the dative, not the accusative.
Der Bus ist an der Kreuzung zusammengestoßen.
The bus collided at the intersection.
der Bus means the bus, and an der Kreuzung means at the intersection. The perfect uses ist rather than hat because this verb describes a movement or change of state, and zusammengestoßen goes to the end.
Zwei Autos stießen auf der Landstraße zusammen.
Two cars collided on the country road.
zwei Autos means two cars, and die Landstraße is the country road. Stießen is the strong simple past, with the prefix zusammen separated to the end; auf der Landstraße is dative because it describes location.
Stoß nicht mit dem Tisch zusammen.
Don’t crash into the table.
nicht means not, and der Tisch means the table. The du imperative is stoß, while zusammen goes to the end; mit dem Tisch is dative because mit always takes the dative.
Das Auto würde bei Glatteis leicht zusammenstoßen.
The car would easily crash in icy conditions.
bei Glatteis means in icy conditions, and leicht means easily. Würde expresses a hypothetical result, and the complete infinitive zusammenstoßen stands at the end; bei takes the dative.
Die beiden Züge werden morgen zusammenstoßen.
The two trains will collide tomorrow.
die beiden Züge means the two trains, and morgen means tomorrow. Future werden is in position two and the complete infinitive zusammenstoßen goes to the end; the future auxiliary is not the perfect auxiliary sein.
Die beiden Politiker stießen über den Haushalt zusammen.
The two politicians clashed over the budget.
die beiden Politiker means the two politicians, and der Haushalt means the budget. The strong past form stießen is in position two and zusammen is separated to the end; über den Haushalt names the topic of the clash.
Wir sind bei diesem Thema oft zusammengestoßen.
We often clashed over this topic.
bei diesem Thema means over this topic, and oft means often. The perfect uses sind plus zusammengestoßen, with the Partizip II at the end; bei takes the dative.
zügig — quick; efficient; brisk
Zügig often means more than merely fast: it suggests steady, efficient progress without unnecessary delay. It is common with work, procedures, travel, and movement.
Der Zug ist heute sehr zügig.
The train is very fast today.
der Zug is the train, and heute means today. Zügig is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; ist stands in position two.
Wir brauchen eine zügige Antwort.
We need a quick response.
brauchen means to need, and die Antwort is the response. Eine zügige Antwort is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the adjective has -e after eine.
Mit dem neuen System geht die Arbeit zügiger.
With the new system, the work goes more quickly.
das neue System means the new system, and die Arbeit is the work. Mit dem neuen System is dative because mit always takes dative; zügiger compares the speed of the work, and the finite verb geht remains in position two.
So kommen wir am zügigsten ans Ziel.
This is how we reach the destination fastest.
so means this way, and ans Ziel means to the destination. Am zügigsten is the superlative adverbial form; ans combines an with accusative das, showing movement towards the destination.
überfahren — to run over, to drive over; to overwhelm, to override
For this meaning, überfahren normally describes a vehicle hitting and passing over a person or animal. Do not confuse the separable present form fährt über with the whole infinitive überfahren.
Der Bus fährt beinahe den Hund über.
The bus almost runs over the dog.
der Bus is the bus, beinahe means almost, and der Hund is the dog. The dog is accusative because überfahren takes an accusative object; the separable parts are placed around the middle of the clause.
Der Fahrer hat den Fußgänger überfahren.
The driver ran over the pedestrian.
der Fahrer is the driver, and der Fußgänger is the pedestrian. The perfect uses haben because the verb describes an action on an object, and the Partizip II stands at the end with the accusative object before it.
Das Auto fuhr die Katze über.
The car ran over the cat.
das Auto means the car, and die Katze is the cat. die Katze is accusative because it is the object of überfahren; in the simple past the strong form is fuhr, with über at the end.
Fahr das Hindernis nicht über.
Do not drive over the obstacle.
das Hindernis means the obstacle, and nicht means not. The object is accusative after überfahren; the imperative omits du, while the prefix über stays at the end.
Ich würde den kleinen Zaun nicht überfahren.
I would not drive over the small fence.
der kleine Zaun means the small fence, and nicht means not. The accusative object is den kleinen Zaun; after würde, the infinitive stays together at the end, so the prefix does not separate.
Der Lastwagen wird die Absperrung überfahren.
The lorry will drive over the barrier.
der Lastwagen is the lorry, and die Absperrung is the barrier. The future places wird in position two and the whole infinitive at the end; die Absperrung is accusative as the object.
Der Vorsitzende fuhr die anderen mit seiner Entscheidung über.
The chairperson overrode the others with his decision.
der Vorsitzende is the chairperson, die anderen means the others, and die Entscheidung is the decision. The people affected are accusative, and the separable prefix über goes to the end in the simple past.
Sie fühlte sich von der schnellen Diskussion überfahren.
She felt overwhelmed by the fast discussion.
sich fühlen means to feel, schnell means fast, and die Diskussion is the discussion. sich is an accusative reflexive pronoun, while von der Diskussion names the cause; the Partizip II follows fühlte sich at the end.
überschreiten — to cross, to exceed
überschreiten takes an accusative object, such as eine Grenze or ein Limit. It can describe physically crossing something or going beyond a rule, limit, or personal boundary.
Der Fahrer überschreitet die Höchstgeschwindigkeit.
The driver exceeds the maximum speed.
Fahrer means driver, and Höchstgeschwindigkeit means maximum speed. die Höchstgeschwindigkeit is accusative because it is the limit being exceeded; the finite verb überschreitet is in position two.
Der Fahrer hat die Höchstgeschwindigkeit überschritten.
The driver exceeded the maximum speed.
Fahrer means driver, and Höchstgeschwindigkeit means maximum speed. The speed is accusative because it is the object of überschreiten; hat is the auxiliary and the irregular participle überschritten ends the clause.
Sie überschritt eine wichtige Grenze.
She crossed an important boundary.
wichtige Grenze means important boundary. eine wichtige Grenze is accusative because it is what she crossed, and überschritt is the strong simple-past form with a vowel change.
Überschreite diese Linie nicht!
Don’t cross this line!
diese Linie means this line, and nicht means not. diese Linie is accusative because it is the boundary crossed; the negative imperative places nicht after the object.
Ich würde niemals meine persönlichen Grenzen überschreiten.
I would never cross my personal boundaries.
niemals means never, and persönliche Grenzen means personal boundaries. meine persönlichen Grenzen is accusative because the boundaries are crossed; würde ... überschreiten expresses a hypothetical action.
Das neue Gesetz wird die bisherigen Grenzen überschreiten.
The new law will exceed the previous boundaries.
neue Gesetz means new law, and bisherigen Grenzen means previous boundaries. The boundaries are accusative as the object; wird occupies position two and the infinitive überschreiten goes to the end.