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Vocab: Transport — A2 (3)
Transport vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Verspätung — delay, lateness; lateness, being late
The noun die Verspätung is used for something or someone arriving later than planned. With transport, Verspätung haben means to be delayed; the opposite is die Pünktlichkeit.
Die Verspätung des Zuges beträgt zehn Minuten.
The train is ten minutes late.
der Zug is the train, and beträgt means amounts to. zehn Minuten means ten minutes. Die Verspätung is nominative because it is the subject; des Zuges is genitive and means of the train, while the finite verb beträgt is in position two.
Ich hasse diese Verspätung.
I hate this delay.
ich means I, hasse means hate, and diese means this. Diese Verspätung is accusative because hassen takes an accusative object; the finite verb hasse stands in position two.
Wegen der Verspätung warten wir noch am Bahnhof.
Because of the delay, we are still waiting at the station.
wegen means because of, warten means wait, noch means still, and der Bahnhof is the station. In everyday German, wegen is commonly used with the genitive, so der Verspätung is genitive here, not dative; the finite verb warten is in position two.
Die Ursache der Verspätung ist ein technisches Problem.
The cause of the delay is a technical problem.
die Ursache is the cause, technisch means technical, and das Problem is the problem. Der Verspätung is genitive because it specifies the cause; the verb ist stands in position two.
Wegen der Verspätungen kommen viele Gäste später.
Because of the delays, many guests are arriving later.
viele Gäste means many guests, and später means later. Wegen commonly takes the genitive, so der Verspätungen is the genitive plural; the finite verb kommen is in position two.
Entschuldigung für meine Verspätung!
Sorry for being late!
Entschuldigung means apology or sorry, and meine means my. Für always takes the accusative, so meine Verspätung is accusative; this short expression has no finite verb.
Sie kam wegen einer Verspätung zu spät zur Arbeit.
She arrived at work late because she was delayed.
sie kam means she arrived, zu spät means too late, and die Arbeit is work. Wegen commonly takes the genitive, so einer Verspätung is genitive; the finite verb kam is in position two.
vorbeifahren — to drive past
For a place, vorbeifahren commonly occurs with an plus dative, as in an einem Haus vorbeifahren. It takes sein in the perfect when it describes movement.
Der Bus fährt am Bahnhof vorbei.
The bus drives past the station.
der Bus is the bus and der Bahnhof is the station. am Bahnhof is dative because an describes a fixed location here; fährt is in position two and vorbei goes to the end.
Der Bus ist am Bahnhof vorbeigefahren.
The bus drove past the station.
der Bus is the bus and der Bahnhof is the station. vorbeigefahren is the Partizip II and uses sein because the bus moves; it stands at the end of the perfect clause.
Der Bus fuhr am Bahnhof vorbei.
The bus drove past the station.
der Bus is the bus and der Bahnhof is the station. fuhr is the strong preterite of fahren, while the separable prefix vorbei moves to the end.
Fahr langsam am Fahrradfahrer vorbei!
Drive slowly past the cyclist!
langsam means slowly and der Fahrradfahrer is the cyclist. am Fahrradfahrer is dative after an for a fixed point, and both parts of the separable command must be shown.
Ich würde an der Schule vorbeifahren.
I would drive past the school.
ich means I and die Schule is the school. an der Schule is dative because it names a fixed place; after würde, the complete infinitive vorbeifahren stays together at the end.
Der Zug wird am Dorf vorbeifahren.
The train will drive past the village.
der Zug is the train and das Dorf is the village. am Dorf is dative for a fixed location, and the infinitive vorbeifahren goes to the end after wird.
die Vorfahrt — right of way, priority in traffic
Vorfahrt haben means to have priority in traffic, while Vorfahrt gewähren means to give way. Do not translate it as general priority in every context; it is mainly used for road traffic and junctions.
An dieser Kreuzung hat die Vorfahrt, die von rechts kommt.
At this junction, the person coming from the right has priority.
an dieser Kreuzung means at this junction, and von rechts means from the right. Die Vorfahrt is nominative because it is the subject of hat; the relative clause die von rechts kommt describes who has priority.
Der Radfahrer beachtet die Vorfahrt nicht.
The cyclist does not observe the right of way.
der Radfahrer means cyclist, and beachten means to observe or respect. Die Vorfahrt is accusative because it is the direct object of beachten, and nicht negates the action.
Bei der Vorfahrt muss man vorsichtig sein.
When dealing with right of way, you have to be careful.
bei means in the situation of or concerning, and vorsichtig means careful. Bei der Vorfahrt is dative because bei always takes the dative; muss is followed by the infinitive sein at the end.
Die Regeln der Vorfahrt sind kompliziert.
The rules of right of way are complicated.
die Regeln means the rules, and kompliziert means complicated. Der Vorfahrt is genitive because it specifies which rules are meant, while sind remains in position two.
Die Vorfahrten an den Kreuzungen sind klar geregelt.
The rights of way at the junctions are clearly regulated.
die Kreuzungen means the junctions, and klar geregelt means clearly regulated. Vorfahrten is plural and nominative as the subject; an den Kreuzungen is dative because it describes fixed locations.
wegfahren — to leave, to drive away
Wegfahren is a separable strong verb and expresses leaving in a vehicle. Its perfect normally uses sein, and the prefix separates in a main clause.
Der Zug fährt um acht Uhr weg.
The train leaves at eight o’clock.
der Zug is the train, and um acht Uhr means at eight o’clock. The finite verb fährt is in position two, while the separable prefix weg goes to the end.
Wir sind gestern früh weggefahren.
We left early yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and früh means early. Wegfahren expresses movement, so its Partizip II weggefahren pairs with sein and stands at the end.
Der Bus fuhr ohne uns weg.
The bus left without us.
der Bus is the bus, and ohne uns means without us. Fuhr is the strong past form of fahren, while the prefix weg separates and goes to the end.
Fahr jetzt weg!
Go away now!
jetzt means now, and the sentence is a direct command. The du imperative is fahr, and the separable prefix weg remains at the end.
Ich würde gern früher wegfahren.
I would like to leave earlier.
gern means gladly or would like to, and früher means earlier. Würde introduces the Konjunktiv II, and the whole infinitive wegfahren stays at the end.
Wir werden morgen mit dem Auto wegfahren.
We will leave by car tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and mit dem Auto means by car. The finite verb werden is in position two, and the infinitive wegfahren goes to the end.
der Wohnwagen — caravan, camping trailer
A Wohnwagen is a trailer that contains beds and basic living facilities, so it can be used for camping. Do not confuse it with Wohnmobil, which has its own engine and can be driven without a separate car.
Der Wohnwagen steht auf dem Campingplatz.
The caravan is standing at the campsite.
steht means is standing, and der Campingplatz is the campsite. Wohnwagen is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Campingplatz is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Wir kaufen einen Wohnwagen.
We are buying a caravan.
Wir kaufen means we are buying. einen Wohnwagen is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from ein to einen.
Ich schlafe in einem Wohnwagen.
I sleep in a caravan.
schlafe means sleep, and in einem Wohnwagen means in a caravan. einem Wohnwagen is dative because in describes a location here; with movement into the caravan, in would take the accusative.
Die Farbe des Wohnwagens ist weiß.
The colour of the caravan is white.
Die Farbe is the colour and weiß means white. des Wohnwagens is genitive and means of the caravan; the genitive article des and ending -s are both visible.
Auf dem Platz stehen fünf Wohnwagen.
There are five caravans on the site.
Auf dem Platz means on the site, stehen means stand, and fünf means five. Wohnwagen is unchanged in the plural after fünf; auf dem Platz is dative because it names a fixed location.
die Zapfsäule — petrol pump, fuel pump
Die Zapfsäule is the machine where a vehicle is filled with petrol, diesel or another fuel. In German petrol stations, you commonly an der Zapfsäule tanken, meaning “to fill up at the pump.”
Die Zapfsäule ist frei.
The petrol pump is free.
frei means “free” or “available.” Die Zapfsäule is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich suche die Zapfsäule Nummer fünf.
I am looking for petrol pump number five.
suche means “am looking for,” and Nummer fünf means “number five.” Die Zapfsäule is accusative because suchen takes an accusative object.
Ich stehe an der Zapfsäule.
I am standing at the petrol pump.
stehe means “am standing.” The preposition an takes the dative here because this sentence describes a fixed location, so der Zapfsäule is dative.
Die Nummer der Zapfsäule steht auf dem Beleg.
The number of the petrol pump is on the receipt.
die Nummer means “the number,” steht means “is written,” and der Beleg is the receipt. Der Zapfsäule is genitive because it identifies whose number it is; the finite verb steht is in position two.
An dieser Tankstelle gibt es acht Zapfsäulen.
There are eight petrol pumps at this petrol station.
diese Tankstelle means “this petrol station,” and acht means “eight.” Zapfsäulen is the plural after acht; in es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative, although the plural article is not visible here.
zurückfahren — to drive back; to travel back; to drive a vehicle back
For movement without a direct object, zurückfahren normally takes sein in the perfect: ist zurückgefahren. With a direct object, as in driving a car back, it takes haben: hat das Auto zurückgefahren.
Wir fahren am Sonntag nach München zurück.
We are travelling back to Munich on Sunday.
am Sonntag means on Sunday and nach München means to Munich. This use describes movement without a direct object, so the perfect takes sein; fahren is in position two and zurück is separated to the end.
Sie ist gestern nach Hause zurückgefahren.
She travelled back home yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and nach Hause means home, with movement towards home. Because the verb describes movement without a direct object, the perfect uses ist; the complete Partizip II zurückgefahren stands at the end.
Der Bus fuhr um sechs Uhr zurück.
The bus travelled back at six o’clock.
der Bus is the bus and um sechs Uhr means at six o’clock. The strong simple-past form is fuhr, not fahrte; it is in position two and the prefix zurück goes to the end.
Fahr vorsichtig zurück!
Drive back carefully!
vorsichtig means carefully. The informal imperative is fahr, without the subject du; the separable prefix zurück stands at the end.
Ich würde erst morgen zurückfahren.
I would not travel back until tomorrow.
erst morgen means not until tomorrow or only tomorrow. After würde, the complete infinitive zurückfahren goes to the end and stays together; the prefix is not separated in this position.
Nächste Woche werden sie nach Hamburg zurückfahren.
Next week they will travel back to Hamburg.
nächste Woche means next week and nach Hamburg means to Hamburg. werden is in position two, while the complete infinitive zurückfahren goes to the end; this is movement without a direct object, so the perfect counterpart uses sein.
Er hat den Wagen in die Garage zurückgefahren.
He drove the car back into the garage.
der Wagen is the car, die Garage is the garage, and in die Garage means into the garage. den Wagen is accusative because it is the direct object, and in die Garage is accusative because it expresses movement into a place; with this object use, the perfect takes hat.
Kannst du bitte das Fahrrad zurückfahren?
Can you please ride the bicycle back?
kannst du means can you, bitte means please, and das Fahrrad is the bicycle. das Fahrrad is accusative as the direct object; after the modal kannst, the complete infinitive zurückfahren goes to the end and is not split.
zustellen — to deliver; to block, to obstruct
For postal delivery, zustellen takes an accusative object: etwas zustellen. It is separable in main clauses, but zustellen stays together after a modal or in the perfect infinitive.
Der Briefträger stellt die Post zu.
The postman delivers the mail.
der Briefträger is the postman, and die Post means “the mail”. Die Post is accusative because zustellen takes a direct object; stellt is in position two and zu goes to the end.
Wir haben das Paket gestern zugestellt.
We delivered the parcel yesterday.
das Paket is the parcel, and gestern means “yesterday”. Das Paket is accusative as the object of zustellen; the perfect uses haben, with zugestellt at the end.
Der Fahrer stellte die Sendung am Morgen zu.
The driver delivered the shipment in the morning.
der Fahrer is the driver, die Sendung is the shipment, and am Morgen means “in the morning”. Die Sendung is accusative after zustellen; the regular past form stellte is in position two and zu is final.
Stell den Brief sofort zu!
Deliver the letter immediately!
der Brief is the letter, and sofort means “immediately”. Den Brief is accusative because it is the object; in the singular command, stell and zu stand apart.
Ich würde die Einladung morgen zustellen.
I would deliver the invitation tomorrow.
die Einladung is the invitation, and morgen means “tomorrow”. Die Einladung is accusative after zustellen; with würde, the infinitive zustellen stays together at the end.
Der Bote wird das Paket am Montag zustellen.
The messenger will deliver the parcel on Monday.
der Bote is the messenger, and am Montag means “on Monday”. Das Paket is accusative because it is delivered; wird is in position two and the whole infinitive zustellen goes to the end.
Die Kartons stellen den Flur zu.
The boxes are blocking the hallway.
die Kartons are the boxes, and der Flur is the hallway. Den Flur is accusative because it is the place being blocked; stellen is in position two and zu goes to the end.
Jemand hat den Eingang mit Fahrrädern zugestellt.
Someone has blocked the entrance with bicycles.
jemand means “someone”, der Eingang is the entrance, and Fahrräder are bicycles. Den Eingang is accusative as the object of zustellen, while mit Fahrrädern uses the dative after mit.
übersetzen — to translate; to cross by boat
In this meaning, übersetzen is inseparable and takes haben in the perfect. It is different from the separable verb meaning to cross by ferry.
Ich übersetze den Brief ins Englische.
I am translating the letter into English.
der Brief means letter and ins Englische means into English. den Brief is accusative because it is the object of übersetzen, and übersetze is in position two.
Sie hat den Vertrag ins Deutsche übersetzt.
She translated the contract into German.
der Vertrag means contract and ins Deutsche means into German. den Vertrag is accusative; hat is in position two and übersetzt goes to the end.
Er übersetzte das Buch innerhalb eines Jahres.
He translated the book within a year.
das Buch means book and innerhalb eines Jahres means within one year. das Buch is accusative, and the Präteritum verb is in position two.
Übersetz bitte diesen Satz.
Please translate this sentence.
bitte means please and dieser Satz means this sentence. diesen Satz is accusative, and du is omitted in the imperative.
Ich würde den Artikel gern übersetzen.
I would like to translate the article.
der Artikel means article and gern means gladly. den Artikel is accusative; würde plus the infinitive expresses a wish.
Morgen übersetzt er die Anleitung für die Gäste.
Tomorrow he will translate the instructions for the guests.
morgen means tomorrow, die Anleitung means instructions, and die Gäste means guests. The present tense can express a future plan when a time word makes the meaning clear.
Wir setzen mit der Fähre über.
We are crossing by ferry.
die Fähre means ferry. This meaning is separable: setzen is in position two and über goes to the end.
Die Touristen sind auf die Insel übergesetzt.
The tourists crossed to the island.
die Touristen means tourists and die Insel means island. The movement meaning uses sein in the perfect, and the complete Partizip II goes to the end.