Öffentliche Verkehrsmittel
Public Transport
German public transport is punctual and extensive. On older systems you must validate (entwerten) your ticket before boarding. Inspectors (Kontrolleure) do random checks — travelling without a valid ticket means a hefty on-the-spot fine. Apps like DB Navigator (national) and BVG (Berlin) are helpful but you still need the language at stations and ticket machines.
Ich fahre mit der U-Bahn zur Arbeit.
I take the underground to work.
Grammar
verb position 2
Verb at position 2. 'Mit + dative' is used for mode of transport: 'mit der U-Bahn', 'mit dem Bus', 'mit dem Zug'. The dative article for 'die U-Bahn' becomes 'der'.
Der Zug fährt um 14:32 Uhr ab.
The train departs at 14:32.
Grammar
separable verb
'Abfahren' (to depart) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'ab' splits off and goes to the end. 'Fährt' stays at position 2, 'ab' goes to the end.
Ich muss noch eine Fahrkarte kaufen.
I still have to buy a ticket.
Grammar
modal mussen
'Müssen' (must/have to) expresses necessity. Modal at position 2, infinitive at the end. 'Noch' (still/yet) is placed before the object — a very common word in everyday German.
Morgen fahre ich mit dem Bus, weil die U-Bahn streikt.
Tomorrow I'm taking the bus because the underground is on strike.
Grammar
inversion nebensatz weil
Two concepts: time expression 'morgen' at position 1 causes inversion (fahre ich), then 'weil' sends 'streikt' to the end of its clause. Both rules active in one sentence.
Ich verpasse den Zug, wenn ich jetzt nicht laufe.
I'll miss the train if I don't run now.
Grammar
nebensatz wenn
'Wenn' (if/when) introduces a conditional Nebensatz — 'laufe' goes to the end. Negation 'nicht' comes just before the final verb. This 'wenn' means 'if' (conditional), not 'when' (time).
Der Anschluss ist weg, deshalb nehme ich den nächsten Zug.
I've missed the connection, so I'll take the next train.
Grammar
deshalb inversion
'Deshalb' causes inversion again: 'nehme ich' not 'ich nehme'. This is the same pattern every time, no exceptions. 'Der Anschluss ist weg' — literally 'the connection is gone' — is natural German for missing a connection.
Ich habe die falsche Linie genommen, weil ich die Aushänge nicht gelesen habe.
I took the wrong line because I didn't read the signs.
Grammar
perfekt nebensatz weil
Perfekt in both clauses. Main clause: 'habe' at position 2, 'genommen' at end. Weil-clause: 'gelesen habe' at end — past participle before auxiliary in Nebensatz.
Das Ticket gilt für zwei Stunden.
The ticket is valid for two hours.
Grammar
verb position 2
'Gelten' (to be valid) is an irregular verb — 'gilt' in third person. Essential for understanding ticket duration. 'Für' + accusative for duration of validity.
Ich soll am Hauptbahnhof umsteigen.
I should change at the main station.
Grammar
modal sollen separable
'Umsteigen' (to change/transfer) is a separable verb but in infinitive form it stays together at the end. Separable verbs only split in conjugated form — as infinitives they remain whole.
Obwohl der Bus Verspätung hatte, bin ich pünktlich angekommen.
Although the bus was delayed, I arrived on time.
Grammar
obwohl perfekt
'Obwohl' sends 'hatte' to the end of its clause. Main clause then inverts: 'bin ich'. 'Angekommen' is the past participle of 'ankommen' (to arrive) — a separable verb whose participle keeps the ge- in the middle: an-ge-kommen.
Der Kontrolleur sagt, dass mein Ticket nicht mehr gültig ist.
The inspector says that my ticket is no longer valid.
Grammar
nebensatz dass
'Dass' sends 'ist' to the end. 'Nicht mehr' (no longer) is the German way to express something that was true but no longer is — more common than 'nicht noch'.
Ich will in die Innenstadt fahren, aber die Linie ist gesperrt.
I want to go into the city centre but the line is closed.
Grammar
modal aber
Modal 'will' with infinitive 'fahren' at the end. 'Aber' joins two main clauses — no word order change in either clause. Both verbs stay at position 2.
Der Zug hat zehn Minuten Verspätung, deshalb warte ich auf dem Bahnsteig.
The train is ten minutes late so I'm waiting on the platform.
Grammar
deshalb inversion
'Verspätung haben' (to be delayed, lit. to have delay) is the fixed expression for delays in German. Then 'deshalb' triggers the now-familiar inversion pattern.
Ich fahre lieber mit dem Fahrrad, weil es schneller ist.
I prefer cycling because it's faster.
Grammar
nebensatz weil comparative
'Lieber' is the comparative of 'gern' — 'fahre lieber' means prefer to go. 'Weil' sends 'ist' to the end. 'Schneller' = faster (schnell + er). Two important patterns in one sentence.
Ich kann ohne Brille die Abfahrtstafel nicht lesen.
Without my glasses I can't read the departure board.
Grammar
modal negation
Modal 'kann' with negation. 'Nicht' comes just before the infinitive 'lesen' at the end. 'Ohne' + accusative (without). 'Abfahrtstafel' is a compound: Abfahrt (departure) + Tafel (board).
Wann fährt der nächste Zug nach München?
When does the next train to Munich leave?
Grammar
w frage
W-question with 'wann'. Verb at position 2, subject at position 3. One of the most essential travel questions in German.
Wo muss ich umsteigen?
Where do I have to change?
Grammar
w frage modal separable
W-question with modal. Question word at position 1, modal 'muss' at position 2, subject at position 3, separable infinitive 'umsteigen' at the end — not split because it's in infinitive form.
Fährt dieser Bus zum Hauptbahnhof?
Does this bus go to the main station?
Grammar
ja nein frage
Yes/no question — verb at position 1. 'Zum' = zu + dem (dative). 'Dieser' (this) is a demonstrative determiner — 'dieser' for masculine nouns like 'der Bus'.
Wie viele Stationen sind es bis zur Innenstadt?
How many stops is it to the city centre?
Grammar
w frage wie viele
'Wie viele' (how many) is followed by a plural noun. 'Es' is a dummy subject. 'Bis zur' = bis + zu + der (dative) — 'bis' here means 'until/up to'.
Kann ich dieses Ticket auch für die S-Bahn benutzen?
Can I use this ticket for the S-Bahn as well?
Grammar
modal question
Modal yes/no question. 'Auch' (also/as well) is placed after the subject. Infinitive 'benutzen' at end. Essential for understanding whether your ticket covers multiple transport types.
Welcher Bahnsteig ist für den Zug nach Hamburg?
Which platform is for the train to Hamburg?
Grammar
welch frage
'Welch-' agrees with noun gender. 'Der Bahnsteig' is masculine, so 'Welcher'. Remember: Welcher (masc.), Welche (fem./pl.), Welches (neut.).
Darf ich hier mit dem Fahrrad einsteigen?
Am I allowed to board here with my bicycle?
Grammar
modal durfen separable
'Dürfen' for permission. Separable infinitive 'einsteigen' (to board) stays whole at the end. Bikes are allowed on many German trains but not all — this is a genuinely useful question.
Wissen Sie, ob dieser Zug Verspätung hat?
Do you know whether this train is delayed?
Grammar
indirect question ob
Indirect yes/no question with 'ob'. Polite opener 'Wissen Sie' + 'ob' clause with verb at end. 'Hat' pushed to the end — even though it's a simple verb, 'ob' always triggers this.
Wie lange dauert die Fahrt bis zum Flughafen?
How long does the journey to the airport take?
Grammar
w frage wie lange
'Wie lange' (how long) asks about duration. 'Dauern' (to take/last) is the verb for duration. 'Bis zum' = bis + zu + dem — a very common preposition combination.
Können Sie mir sagen, wo ich eine Fahrkarte kaufen kann?
Can you tell me where I can buy a ticket?
Grammar
indirect w question modal
Indirect W-question with modal in the embedded clause. Inside the clause: infinitive 'kaufen' comes before modal 'kann' at the very end. Polite structure using 'Können Sie mir sagen'.
Warum ist der Zug noch nicht abgefahren?
Why hasn't the train departed yet?
Grammar
w frage perfekt separable
W-question in Perfekt. 'Ist' at position 2 (sein-verb), 'abgefahren' at end. Separable verbs in Perfekt: the ge- goes between the prefix and stem — ab + ge + fahren = abgefahren.
Muss ich das Ticket vor der Fahrt entwerten?
Do I have to validate the ticket before the journey?
Grammar
modal question
'Müssen' in a yes/no question. 'Entwerten' (to validate/cancel a ticket) is a key word for German public transport — forgetting to do this results in a fine even with a valid ticket.
Gibt es eine direkte Verbindung nach Frankfurt?
Is there a direct connection to Frankfurt?
Grammar
gibt es
'Gibt es' for existence. 'Eine direkte Verbindung' — 'eine' is the indefinite article for feminine nouns (die Verbindung) in nominative. The article signals the noun's gender.
Welche Linie fährt zum Stadtzentrum, wenn die U1 gesperrt ist?
Which line goes to the city centre if the U1 is closed?
Grammar
welch frage wenn
'Welche' for feminine 'die Linie'. Then a 'wenn' conditional clause with 'ist' at the end. W-question and Nebensatz combined in one practical sentence.
Wann kommt der Bus an, damit ich den Anschluss noch schaffe?
When does the bus arrive so that I can still make my connection?
Grammar
damit nebensatz separable
'Damit' (so that) is a purpose conjunction — sends 'schaffe' to the end. Also notice 'ankommen' separable in the question: 'kommt' at position 2, 'an' at the end of the main clause — before the 'damit' clause begins.