Appearance
Vocab: Transport — A1 (2)
Transport vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Parkplatz — car park, parking space
The compound der Parkplatz combines parken, to park, and der Platz, place or space. In everyday speech, it can mean either a whole car park or one parking space.
Der Parkplatz ist heute voll.
The car park is full today.
voll means full, and heute means today. Der Parkplatz is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich finde keinen Parkplatz.
I cannot find a parking space.
finden means to find, and keinen means no or not any. Parkplatz is accusative because finden takes a direct object; the finite verb finde is in position two.
Wir warten auf dem Parkplatz.
We are waiting in the car park.
warten means to wait. auf dem Parkplatz is dative because auf describes a location here; there is no movement into the place.
Die Einfahrt des Parkplatzes ist gesperrt.
The entrance to the car park is closed.
die Einfahrt means the entrance, and gesperrt means closed or blocked. des Parkplatzes is genitive because it shows which entrance; the masculine noun takes -es.
In dieser Straße gibt es drei Parkplätze.
There are three parking spaces on this street.
diese Straße means this street, and drei means three. Parkplätze is plural after drei; gibt es is the fixed expression used to say that something exists or is available.
der Passagier — passenger
Passagier means a passenger, not the driver or pilot. Its plural is Passagiere, and the genitive singular is Passagiers.
Der Passagier wartet am Gate.
The passenger is waiting at the gate.
wartet means is waiting, and das Gate is the gate at an airport. Der Passagier is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb wartet stands in position two.
Ich sehe den Passagier.
I see the passenger.
sehen means to see. Den Passagier is accusative because sehen takes a direct object, and the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Ich helfe dem Passagier mit dem Koffer.
I am helping the passenger with the suitcase.
helfen means to help, mit means with, and der Koffer is the suitcase. Dem Passagier is dative because helfen requires dative; mit dem Koffer is also dative because mit always takes dative.
Das Gepäck des Passagiers ist verschwunden.
The passenger's luggage has disappeared.
das Gepäck means luggage, and verschwunden means disappeared. Des Passagiers is genitive because it shows whose luggage it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Passagiere steigen in den Zug ein.
The passengers get on the train.
einsteigen means to get on or into a vehicle, and der Zug is the train. Passagiere is the plural subject; the separable verb appears as steigen ... ein, with ein at the end of the main clause.
die Passagierin — female passenger
Passagierin is the feminine form of Passagier. Its plural is Passagierinnen, formed with -innen.
Die Passagierin liest ein Buch.
The female passenger is reading a book.
liest means is reading, and ein Buch means a book. Die Passagierin is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liest stands in position two.
Der Kontrolleur fragt die Passagierin.
The inspector asks the female passenger.
der Kontrolleur is the inspector, and fragen means to ask. Die Passagierin is accusative because fragen takes the person asked as a direct object; the finite verb fragt stands in position two.
Der Schaffner gibt der Passagierin eine Auskunft.
The conductor gives the female passenger some information.
der Schaffner is the train conductor, gibt means gives, and eine Auskunft means some information. Der Passagierin is dative because she receives something, while eine Auskunft is the accusative thing given.
Die Tasche der Passagierin liegt unter dem Sitz.
The female passenger's bag is under the seat.
die Tasche means the bag, liegt means is lying, and unter dem Sitz means under the seat. Der Passagierin is genitive because it shows whose bag it is; unter dem Sitz is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Die Passagierinnen warten auf den Bus.
The female passengers are waiting for the bus.
warten means to wait, and auf den Bus means for the bus. Passagierinnen is the plural nominative subject; the fixed expression warten auf takes the accusative, so den Bus is accusative.
der Pkw — passenger car
Pkw is an abbreviation of Personenkraftwagen and is common in traffic and official language. Its plural is unchanged: der Pkw, die Pkw.
Der Pkw steht vor dem Haus.
The passenger car is in front of the house.
vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Der Pkw is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich wasche den Pkw am Samstag.
I wash the passenger car on Saturday.
wasche means wash and am Samstag means on Saturday. Den Pkw is accusative because waschen takes a direct object; the finite verb wasche stands in position two.
Wir fahren mit dem Pkw zur Arbeit.
We go to work by passenger car.
zur Arbeit means to work. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Pkw is dative; fahren is in position two.
Die Farbe des Pkw ist sehr auffällig.
The colour of the passenger car is very striking.
die Farbe means the colour and auffällig means striking or conspicuous. Des Pkw is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the masculine article changes from der to des.
Auf der Straße stehen viele Pkw.
Many passenger cars are standing on the street.
auf der Straße means on the street and viele means many. Pkw has the same form in the singular and plural; viele and stehen show that it is plural.
das Päckchen — small parcel, packet
Päckchen is a diminutive of das Paket or another small package, formed with -chen. Diminutives are always neuter and usually have no plural ending: das Päckchen, die Päckchen.
Das Päckchen ist schon da.
The small parcel is already here.
ist schon da means is already here, and schon means already. Das Päckchen is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich öffne das Päckchen sofort.
I am opening the small parcel immediately.
öffne means open, and sofort means immediately. Das Päckchen is accusative because öffnen takes a direct object; the finite verb öffne stands in position two.
Der Postbote bringt mir dem Päckchen einen Aufkleber an.
The postman puts a sticker on the small parcel for me.
Der Postbote is the postman, bringt ... an means puts on, and einen Aufkleber is a sticker. Dem Päckchen is dative because anbringen uses a dative object for the thing receiving the sticker; the accusative object is einen Aufkleber.
Die Adresse des Päckchens ist unleserlich.
The address on the small parcel is illegible.
die Adresse means the address, and unleserlich means illegible. Des Päckchens is genitive and means of the small parcel; the neuter noun takes -s in this case.
Die Päckchen liegen im Schrank.
The small parcels are in the cupboard.
liegen means are lying, im Schrank means in the cupboard, and der Schrank is the cupboard. Päckchen has the same form in singular and plural; im contains dative dem after in for a location.
das Rad — bicycle; wheel; wheel
In everyday speech, das Rad often means a bicycle; for a wheel, the context usually makes the meaning clear. The plural die Räder covers both meanings.
Mein Rad ist neu.
My bicycle is new.
neu means new. Mein Rad is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich repariere mein Rad.
I am repairing my bicycle.
reparieren means to repair. Mein Rad is accusative because reparieren takes a direct object, and repariere is in position two.
Ich fahre mit dem Rad zur Arbeit.
I ride my bicycle to work.
fahren means to travel or ride, and zur Arbeit means to work. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Rad is dative; fahre is in position two.
Das Licht des Rads ist kaputt.
The bicycle's light is broken.
das Licht means the light, and kaputt means broken. Des Rads is genitive because it shows whose light it is; the noun has -s and the article is des.
Die Räder stehen vor dem Haus.
The bicycles are standing in front of the house.
stehen means are standing, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Räder is the plural of Rad; vor takes the dative here because the bicycles are in a fixed location.
Das Rad dreht sich schnell.
The wheel is turning quickly.
sich drehen means to turn, and schnell means quickly. Das Rad is nominative as the subject, and the finite verb dreht stands in position two.
Am Fahrrad ist ein Rad kaputt.
One wheel on the bicycle is broken.
am Fahrrad means on the bicycle, and kaputt means broken. Am is an dem, so Fahrrad is dative; ein Rad is nominative because it is the subject of ist.
der Rettungswagen — ambulance
This compound means a vehicle for rescue: Rettung means rescue and Wagen means vehicle or car. In everyday speech, people often say der Krankenwagen for an ambulance, while Rettungswagen is the official term.
Der Rettungswagen kommt sofort.
The ambulance is coming immediately.
kommt means is coming, and sofort means immediately. Der Rettungswagen is the subject in the nominative case, and the finite verb kommt stands in position two.
Die Polizei ruft den Rettungswagen.
The police call the ambulance.
die Polizei means the police, and ruft means calls. Den Rettungswagen is accusative because rufen takes a direct object; the finite verb ruft is in position two.
Der Arzt spricht mit dem Rettungswagen.
The doctor speaks with the ambulance crew.
der Arzt means the doctor, and spricht means speaks. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Rettungswagen is dative; in natural use, the phrase can refer to the ambulance team as well as the vehicle.
Die Sirene des Rettungswagens ist laut.
The ambulance's siren is loud.
die Sirene means the siren, and laut means loud. Des Rettungswagens is genitive to show whose siren it is; the adjective laut comes after ist as a predicate adjective.
Rettungswagen stehen vor dem Krankenhaus.
Ambulances are standing outside the hospital.
stehen means are standing, and vor dem Krankenhaus means outside the hospital. The plural form Rettungswagen looks like the singular, so the plural verb stehen and the missing singular article show that it means ambulances.
die S-Bahn — suburban train, city rapid train
S-Bahn is short for Stadtschnellbahn, literally a fast city railway. It is feminine, so use die S-Bahn; the plural is S-Bahnen.
Die S-Bahn kommt gleich.
The suburban train is coming soon.
kommt means is coming and gleich means soon. Die S-Bahn is the subject in the nominative case, and the finite verb kommt stands in position two.
Ich nehme die S-Bahn zur Arbeit.
I take the suburban train to work.
nehme means take, zur Arbeit means to work, and Arbeit is work. die S-Bahn is accusative because nehmen takes an accusative object; zur is short for zu der, and zu takes the dative.
Wir fahren mit der S-Bahn zum Bahnhof.
We are travelling by suburban train to the station.
fahren means travel or go by vehicle, mit means by or with, and zum Bahnhof means to the station. der S-Bahn is dative because mit always takes the dative; zum is short for zu dem.
Die Türen der S-Bahn schließen automatisch.
The doors of the suburban train close automatically.
die Türen are the doors and schließen means close; automatisch means automatically. der S-Bahn is genitive and shows whose doors they are, while the finite verb schließen stands in position two.
Die S-Bahnen fahren heute pünktlich.
The suburban trains are running on time today.
fahren means travel or run, heute means today, and pünktlich means on time. Die S-Bahnen is the plural subject in the nominative, and the plural verb fahren stands in position two.
das Schiff — ship, vessel
The ordinary word for a vessel on water is das Schiff; a small one may also be called das Boot. Its plural is die Schiffe, with an umlaut.
Das Schiff fährt heute nach Hamburg.
The ship is travelling to Hamburg today.
heute means today, and nach Hamburg means to Hamburg. Das Schiff is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb fährt stands in position two.
Wir sehen das Schiff vom Strand aus.
We can see the ship from the beach.
sehen means to see, vom Strand means from the beach, and aus means from or out of. Das Schiff is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; aus is separated from the verb phrase and does not change that case.
Die Kinder winken dem Schiff zu.
The children wave to the ship.
die Kinder means the children and zuwinken means to wave to someone. Dem Schiff is dative because zuwinken takes a dative recipient; the separable verb appears as winken ... zu.
Die Farbe des Schiffes ist blau.
The colour of the ship is blue.
die Farbe means the colour and blau means blue. Des Schiffes is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the ending -es is common with a neuter noun after des.
Im Hafen liegen viele Schiffe.
Many ships are lying in the harbour.
im Hafen means in the harbour, and viele means many. Schiffe is the plural subject, so it has no singular article and the verb liegen is plural.
der Sitzplatz — seat; seating place
Der Sitzplatz is more specific than der Sitz: it usually means an allocated or available seat, for example on a train or at an event. The compound ends in Platz, so it is masculine.
Der Sitzplatz ist frei.
The seat is free.
frei means free or unoccupied. Der Sitzplatz is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Ich suche einen Sitzplatz.
I am looking for a seat.
suchen means to look for. Einen Sitzplatz is accusative because it is the direct object of suchen, and suche is in position two.
Wir fahren mit dem Zug ohne Sitzplatz.
We are travelling by train without a seat.
mit dem Zug means by train and ohne means without. Mit dem Zug is dative because mit always takes dative; ohne Sitzplatz is an additional phrase with no article.
Die Nummer des Sitzplatzes steht auf dem Ticket.
The seat number is written on the ticket.
die Nummer means number, stehen means to be written or stand, and das Ticket means ticket. Des Sitzplatzes is genitive because it specifies the number, and auf dem Ticket is dative for location.
Im Zug sind noch viele Sitzplätze frei.
There are still many seats free on the train.
noch means still and viele means many. Viele Sitzplätze is the plural subject, while im Zug is dative because it describes location.
die Straßenbahn — tram
Straßenbahn is the usual word for a tram in a city. It is feminine, and travel by tram is commonly expressed with mit der Straßenbahn.
Die Straßenbahn kommt gleich.
The tram is coming soon.
gleich means soon or in a moment. Die Straßenbahn is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb kommt stands in position two.
Ich nehme die Straßenbahn zur Arbeit.
I take the tram to work.
nehmen means to take, and zur Arbeit means to work. Die Straßenbahn is accusative because it is the direct object of nehme; the finite verb is in position two.
Wir fahren mit der Straßenbahn ins Zentrum.
We are travelling by tram to the city centre.
fahren means to travel or go by vehicle, and ins Zentrum means to the city centre. Mit always takes the dative, so der Straßenbahn is dative.
Die Haltestelle der Straßenbahn ist dort.
The tram stop is over there.
die Haltestelle is the stop, and dort means over there. Der Straßenbahn is genitive because it identifies whose stop it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
Die Straßenbahnen fahren heute pünktlich.
The trams are running on time today.
heute means today and pünktlich means on time. Die Straßenbahnen is a plural subject, so the verb is fahren, not singular fährt.
die Tankstelle — petrol station, gas station
Die Tankstelle ist heute geschlossen.
The petrol station is closed today.
geschlossen means closed and heute means today. Die Tankstelle is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich suche eine Tankstelle.
I am looking for a petrol station.
ich suche means I am looking for. Eine Tankstelle is accusative because suchen takes a direct object, and the finite verb suche is in position two.
Wir treffen uns an der Tankstelle.
We are meeting at the petrol station.
wir treffen uns means we are meeting, and an means at here. Der Tankstelle is dative because the fixed location preposition an takes dative when there is no movement; the reflexive pronoun uns means each other or ourselves.
Das Dach der Tankstelle ist neu.
The petrol station's roof is new.
das Dach means the roof and neu means new. Der Tankstelle is genitive because it shows whose roof it is; the finite verb ist remains in position two.
In dieser Straße gibt es zwei Tankstellen.
There are two petrol stations on this street.
in dieser Straße means on this street, and zwei means two. Tankstellen is the plural after zwei; in es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative, although the plural form looks the same as nominative.
das Taxi — taxi, cab
Taxi is a neuter loanword: das Taxi. Its plural is regular die Taxis, not Taxien.
Das Taxi wartet vor dem Hotel.
The taxi is waiting in front of the hotel.
wartet means “is waiting”, vor means “in front of”, and dem Hotel means “the hotel”. das Taxi is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb wartet stands in position two, and vor dem Hotel is a dative location phrase.
Ich rufe das Taxi.
I am calling the taxi.
ich means “I”, rufe means “call”, and rufen means “to call”. das Taxi is accusative because rufen takes a direct object, but the neuter article das looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Wir fahren mit dem Taxi zum Bahnhof.
We are going to the station by taxi.
wir fahren means “we are travelling”, mit means “by/with”, zum Bahnhof means “to the station”, and Bahnhof means “station”. mit forces the dative dem Taxi, while zum is zu dem and also forces the dative; the finite verb fahren stands in position two.
Die Tür des Taxis ist offen.
The taxi door is open.
die Tür means “the door”, ist means “is”, and offen means “open”. des Taxis is genitive because it shows whose door it is; the genitive article des is followed by the noun form Taxis.
Am Flughafen stehen viele Taxis.
Many taxis are standing at the airport.
am Flughafen means “at the airport”, stehen means “are standing”, and viele means “many”. Taxis is the regular plural with -s and takes the plural article die when an article is used; here there is no article after viele.
der Taxistand — taxi rank, taxi stand
The compound Taxistand combines Taxi, taxi, and Stand, stand or place. It is usually a designated place where taxis wait, not simply any place where a taxi stops.
Der Taxistand ist vor dem Bahnhof.
The taxi rank is in front of the railway station.
vor dem Bahnhof means in front of the railway station. Der Taxistand is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich sehe den Taxistand dort.
I can see the taxi rank there.
dort means there. Den Taxistand is accusative because sehen takes a direct object, while the finite verb sehe stays in position two.
Wir warten an dem Taxistand.
We are waiting at the taxi rank.
warten means to wait. An takes the dative here because the sentence describes a fixed location, so dem Taxistand is dative; the finite verb warten is in position two.
Die Tür des Taxistands ist geschlossen.
The taxi rank's door is closed.
die Tür means the door, and geschlossen means closed. Des Taxistands is genitive because it shows whose door it is, and the masculine noun adds -s.
In Berlin gibt es viele Taxistände.
There are many taxi ranks in Berlin.
in Berlin gives the place, and viele means many. Taxistände is the plural of der Taxistand, with a changing to ä and -e added; gibt es means there are.
die U-Bahn — underground, metro
U-Bahn is short for Untergrundbahn, an underground railway or metro. To say that you travel by it, use mit der U-Bahn; mit requires the dative.
Die U-Bahn kommt gleich.
The underground is coming soon.
kommt means is coming and gleich means soon. Die U-Bahn is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb kommt stands in position two.
Ich nehme die U-Bahn zur Arbeit.
I take the underground to work.
nehmen means to take and zur Arbeit means to work. die U-Bahn is accusative because it is the direct object of nehme; zur is short for zu der.
Ich fahre mit der U-Bahn.
I travel by underground.
fahren means to travel or go, and mit means by or with. der U-Bahn is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb fahre is in position two.
Die Station der U-Bahn ist hier.
The underground station is here.
die Station means the station and hier means here. der U-Bahn is genitive because it identifies which station; the feminine genitive article is der.
Die U-Bahnen fahren bis Mitternacht.
The underground trains run until midnight.
fahren means travel or run, and bis Mitternacht means until midnight. U-Bahnen is plural and therefore takes die; the finite verb fahren stands in position two.
umsteigen — to change trains, buses, or other vehicles; to change to another means or route of public transport
Umsteigen is used for changing from one vehicle to another, not for simply getting on or off. It is separable: steigt um in a main clause, but umzusteigen after zu.
Ich steige in Köln um.
I change trains in Cologne.
in Köln means in Cologne, and umsteigen means change trains or vehicles. With a location, in takes the dative, although the city name has no visible article; the finite verb steige is in position two and um goes to the end.
Wir sind in Hamburg umgestiegen.
We changed trains in Hamburg.
Hamburg is a city, and umgestiegen means changed trains or vehicles. The perfect uses sein because the journey involves a change of location; sind is in position two and the Partizip II umgestiegen closes the clause.
Er stieg in Frankfurt um.
He changed trains in Frankfurt.
Frankfurt is a city. The strong past form stieg changes from steigen, while the prefix um separates and goes to the end of the main clause.
Steig am nächsten Bahnhof um.
Change trains at the next station.
am nächsten Bahnhof means at the next station. The command omits du; an in am takes the dative for a location, and the prefix um goes to the end.
Ich würde in München umsteigen, wenn der Zug dort hält.
I would change trains in Munich if the train stopped there.
wenn means if, der Zug means the train, dort means there, and hält means stops. In the würde construction, umsteigen stays together at the end of the main clause; hält goes to the end because it is in a subordinate clause.
Wir werden in Leipzig umsteigen, bevor der Zug weiterfährt.
We will change trains in Leipzig before the train continues.
bevor means before, weiterfahren means continue travelling, and weiterfährt means continues. Werden is in position two and the infinitive umsteigen goes to the end; in the subordinate clause, weiterfährt is at the end.
Am Alexanderplatz steige ich in die U-Bahn um.
At Alexanderplatz I change to the underground.
Am Alexanderplatz means at Alexanderplatz, and die U-Bahn means the underground train. The destination in die U-Bahn takes the accusative because it expresses movement into or onto transport; the fronted place phrase causes steige to come before ich, and um goes to the end.
Auf dieser Strecke muss man zweimal umsteigen.
On this route you have to change trains twice.
auf dieser Strecke means on this route, muss man means one has to, and zweimal means twice. After the modal muss, the infinitive umsteigen stays together at the end; auf takes the dative here because the phrase describes a location or route.
das Verkehrsmittel — means of transport, vehicle
Das Verkehrsmittel is a general word for a way to travel, such as a bus, train, bicycle, or car. Its plural is unusual because die Verkehrsmittel has exactly the same spelling as the singular.
Das Verkehrsmittel ist schnell.
The means of transport is fast.
ist means is, and schnell means fast. The noun is nominative because it is the subject; ist stands in position two.
Ich benutze das Verkehrsmittel.
I use the means of transport.
benutze means use, and ich means I. The noun is accusative because benutzen takes a direct object; the neuter article remains das.
Wir fahren mit dem Verkehrsmittel zur Arbeit.
We go to work by means of transport.
fahren means travel, mit means by, and zur Arbeit means to work. dem Verkehrsmittel is dative because mit always governs the dative.
Die Farbe des Verkehrsmittels ist blau.
The colour of the means of transport is blue.
die Farbe is the colour, and blau means blue. des Verkehrsmittels is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is; the neuter noun adds -s.
Diese Verkehrsmittel sind sehr praktisch.
These means of transport are very practical.
diese means these, sind means are, and praktisch means practical. The plural has the same spelling as the singular, so diese and sind show that it is plural.
das Verkehrszeichen — traffic sign, road sign
Das Verkehrszeichen is a sign giving information or rules on a road. The plural is die Verkehrszeichen, with no spelling change; do not confuse it with das Zeichen, which can also mean a sign or symbol.
Das Verkehrszeichen ist wichtig.
The traffic sign is important.
ist means is, and wichtig means important. The noun is nominative because it is the subject; the verb ist stands in position two.
Ich beachte das Verkehrszeichen.
I obey the traffic sign.
beachte means obey or pay attention to, and ich means I. The noun is accusative because beachten takes a direct object; the neuter article remains das.
Wir folgen dem Verkehrszeichen.
We follow the traffic sign.
folgen means follow, and wir means we. The noun is dative because folgen always takes a dative object, not an accusative object.
Die Farbe des Verkehrszeichens ist weiß.
The colour of the traffic sign is white.
die Farbe is the colour, and weiß means white. des Verkehrszeichens is genitive because it tells us whose colour it is; the neuter noun adds -s.
Auf der Straße stehen viele Verkehrszeichen.
There are many traffic signs on the road.
auf der Straße means on the road, stehen means stand or are located, and viele means many. The plural spelling is unchanged; der Straße is dative because auf describes a fixed location.
der Wagen — car; vehicle; wagon; cart; wagon
For a private car, der Wagen is a common everyday alternative to das Auto. In compounds, it can refer to many kinds of vehicles, such as der Einkaufswagen, a shopping trolley.
Der Wagen steht vor dem Haus.
The car is in front of the house.
vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Der Wagen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich kaufe den Wagen morgen.
I am buying the car tomorrow.
kaufe means am buying and morgen means tomorrow. Den Wagen is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Wir fahren mit dem Wagen zum Bahnhof.
We are going to the station by car.
fahren means go or drive, and zum Bahnhof means to the railway station. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Wagen is dative; mit dem Wagen describes the means of transport.
Die Farbe des Wagens gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the car.
die Farbe is the colour and gefällt mir means is pleasing to me, or I like it. Des Wagens is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is, and the masculine noun adds -s.
Auf dem Parkplatz stehen viele Wagen.
There are many cars in the car park.
auf dem Parkplatz means in the car park and viele means many. Wagen is plural after viele; auf dem Parkplatz is dative here because it describes a fixed location.
Der Wagen ist voller Kisten.
The wagon is full of boxes.
voller Kisten means full of boxes. Der Wagen is the nominative subject, and the linking verb ist comes in position two.
Die Arbeiter laden Säcke auf den Wagen.
The workers are loading sacks onto the cart.
die Arbeiter are the workers, laden means load, and Säcke are sacks. Auf den Wagen is accusative because auf expresses movement onto the cart, not a fixed location.
der Zug — train; pull; draught; move in a game
Der Zug usually means train. With mit, use the dative in mit dem Zug; Zug can also have other meanings such as a pull or a move in a game.
Der Zug kommt um acht Uhr an.
The train arrives at eight o’clock.
um acht Uhr means at eight o’clock and ankommen means to arrive. Der Zug is nominative because it is the subject; the separable verb kommt ... an puts kommt in position two and an at the end.
Ich nehme den Zug nach Berlin.
I am taking the train to Berlin.
nehmen means to take and nach Berlin means to Berlin. Den Zug is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object; the finite verb nehme stands in position two.
Wir fahren mit dem Zug.
We are travelling by train.
fahren means to travel or go by vehicle. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Zug is dative; the finite verb fahren is in position two.
Die Türen des Zuges sind geschlossen.
The train’s doors are closed.
die Türen means the doors and geschlossen means closed. Des Zuges is genitive because it shows that the doors belong to the train; the finite verb sind is in position two and geschlossen is the predicative adjective.
Am Bahnhof warten viele Züge.
Many trains are waiting at the station.
der Bahnhof means the station and viele means many. Züge is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural changes u to ü and adds -e, and warten follows in position two.
Du bist Zug – mach deinen Zug.
It’s your turn—make your move.
Du bist Zug is a fixed expression meaning it is your turn, and deinen Zug means your move. The second Zug is accusative because machen takes a direct object; mach is the imperative and the finite verb comes first.
Der Zug an der Tür war sehr stark.
The draught at the door was very strong.
die Tür means the door and stark means strong. Here Zug means draught or current of air; an der Tür uses the dative for location, while war is in position two.