Breakdown of Führt diese Straße durch den Tunnel?
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
die Straße
the street
durch
through
der Tunnel
the tunnel
Questions & Answers about Führt diese Straße durch den Tunnel?
Why is it den Tunnel instead of der Tunnel?
The preposition durch (through) always requires the accusative case. Since the word for tunnel is a masculine noun (der Tunnel), the article changes to den in the accusative case.
Why does the sentence start with the verb führt?
In German, yes/no questions are formed by putting the conjugated verb at the very beginning of the sentence. You do not use a helper word like 'does' as we do in English. Literally, this sentence asks: 'Leads this street through the tunnel?'
How do we know diese Straße is the subject here?
The street is the thing performing the action (doing the 'leading'). Because Straße is a feminine noun (die Straße), the word for 'this' takes the feminine nominative ending -e, making it diese Straße.
Can the verb führen be used for inanimate things like a road?
Yes! Just like the English verb 'to lead', führen can be used for physical paths, roads, or doors leading somewhere. It is also used when talking about leading a person, an animal, or managing a business.