Word
Auf dem Formular steht männlich oder weiblich.
Meaning
The form says male or female.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Auf dem Formular steht männlich oder weiblich.
stehen
to stand
auf
on / to (down/up to a level)
oder
or
das Formular
the form
Questions & Answers about Auf dem Formular steht männlich oder weiblich.
Why does the sentence use steht (stands) instead of a word for "says"?
In German, when a text, sign, or document "says" something, you use the verb stehen (to stand). Literally, this sentence translates to "On the form stands...", which is the natural German way to express that words are written on a page.
Why is it Auf dem Formular instead of Auf das Formular?
The preposition auf (on) is a two-way preposition. It takes the dative case when describing a fixed location (answering "where?") and the accusative case for movement toward a destination ("where to?"). Because the text is resting in one place on the form, it's a fixed location. Therefore, we use the dative dem for the neuter noun das Formular.
Does Formular mean "formula"?
No, it is a false friend! Das Formular means a printed or digital "form" that you fill out with personal details. If you want to talk about a mathematical or scientific "formula", the German word is die Formel.
Both männlich and weiblich end in -lich. What does this ending mean?