Question 1

Why is it dem Fenster instead of das Fenster?

Accepted Answer

The preposition aus (out of) always forces the following noun into the dative case. Because Fenster is a neuter word (das Fenster), the word for "the" changes from das to dem.

Question 2

Why does the verb schauen (to look) end in a -t here?

Accepted Answer

When you use the question word Wer (Who), the verb takes the third-person singular form (the "he/she/it" form). Just like in English we say "Who is looking?" instead of "Who are looking?", German uses Wer schaut?.

Question 3

Doesn't the word aus usually mean "from"?

Accepted Answer

It can mean both! You have probably seen aus used for origins, like Ich komme aus Deutschland (I come from Germany). However, when talking about looking or moving from the inside to the outside of a physical space, like a window or a building, it means "out of".

Question 4

Is Fenster singular or plural here?

Accepted Answer

It is singular. The plural of das Fenster happens to be exactly the same: die Fenster. We can be sure this sentence means "out of the window" (singular) because it uses dem. If it were plural, the dative article would change it to aus den Fenstern.

Wer schaut aus dem Fenster?

Breakdown of Wer schaut aus dem Fenster?

Questions & Answers about Wer schaut aus dem Fenster?

Learn Wer schaut aus dem Fenster and more in German