Breakdown of Der Tisch im Wohnzimmer ist noch nicht gedeckt.
sein
to be
der Tisch
the table
das Wohnzimmer
the living room
noch nicht
not yet
im
in the (used with months) / in the (contraction of in + dem)
decken
to set (the table)
Questions & Answers about Der Tisch im Wohnzimmer ist noch nicht gedeckt.
Why do we use ist here instead of wird for the passive voice?
This sentence uses the stative passive (Zustandspassiv), which is formed with sein (here, ist) and a past participle. It describes a state resulting from a completed action. If you used wird (Der Tisch wird gedeckt), it would be the dynamic passive, meaning the action is happening right now: the table is being set.
Does gedeckt just mean "set" in this sentence?
Yes! The verb decken generally means "to cover," but the fixed phrase den Tisch decken is the standard way to say "to set the table." So gedeckt here means the table is not yet "covered" with plates and silverware.
Why is it im Wohnzimmer rather than ins Wohnzimmer?
We use im (a contraction of in dem) because it is the dative case. The preposition in takes the dative when it describes a fixed location answering the question "where?". If someone were actively moving the table into the room (a destination), you would use the accusative ins (in das).
Could I say nicht noch instead of noch nicht?
No, noch nicht is a fixed phrase that translates to "not yet." In German, you must keep this specific word order when expressing that a state or action hasn't happened up to the present moment.
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