Questions & Answers about Im Süden ist es warm.
Since we are learning about two-way prepositions using the accusative for direction, why does this sentence use the dative word im?
in is a two-way preposition. While you use the accusative case for direction or motion towards a goal (Wohin?), this sentence describes a fixed location (Wo?). For fixed locations, two-way prepositions use the dative case. im is a contraction of in + dem (the dative form of der).
Are all compass directions masculine in German?
Why is the verb ist before es? Shouldn't it be es ist warm?
You can definitely say Es ist warm im Süden. However, German places the conjugated verb in the second position of the sentence. Because the phrase Im Süden takes up the first position to emphasize the location, the verb ist stays in the second position, pushing the subject es into the third spot.
Is using es normal for describing the weather in German?
Exactly! Just like in English, German uses the impersonal pronoun es (it) to describe weather and temperature. You will see this in other common phrases like es regnet (it is raining) or es ist kalt (it is cold).
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