Construction sites and detours
When navigating a city, you will often encounter construction sites or objects that block your path.
| Look at the sign, there is a detour! | Schau auf das Schild, es gibt eine Umleitung! |
| An excavator is blocking the street. | Ein Bagger blockiert die Straße. |
Going past obstacles with an ... vorbei
German uses "circumpositions"—prepositions split into two parts that wrap around the noun. To say you are moving "past" an object, use an ... vorbei.
Because an dictates the case here, the noun inside this circumposition takes the dative case.
| The pedestrian is walking past the excavator. | Der Fußgänger läuft an dem Bagger vorbei. |
| The cyclist is riding past the sign. | Der Radfahrer fährt an dem Schild vorbei. |
Going around obstacles with um ... herum
If you cannot go past an obstacle, you might have to go "around" it using um ... herum.
The preposition um always triggers the accusative case.
| We have to walk around the pit. | Wir müssen um die Grube herum laufen. |
| The detour leads around the barrier. | Die Umleitung führt um die Absperrung herum. |
Putting it together
Combine these phrases to give clear directions, paying close attention to whether the obstacle requires the dative (an ... vorbei) or accusative (um ... herum) case.
| Walk around the pit, not past the excavator! | Lauf um die Grube herum, nicht an dem Bagger vorbei! |
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