Breakdown of Die gesperrte Piste ist sehr gefährlich.
sein
to be
sehr
very
gefährlich
dangerous
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
sperren
to close off
die Piste
the ski slope
Questions & Answers about Die gesperrte Piste ist sehr gefährlich.
How does gesperrt become gesperrte here?
gesperrt is the past participle of the verb sperren (to block or close). In this sentence, it acts as an adjective describing the noun Piste. Because it follows the definite article die and describes a feminine noun in the nominative case, it takes the standard weak adjective ending -e.
Why use gesperrte instead of geschlossene for "closed"?
The verb schließen (past participle geschlossen) is mostly used for doors, windows, and businesses like shops or restaurants. The verb sperren (past participle gesperrt) is used when a path, road, or area is barricaded, blocked off, or restricted for safety. Since a ski slope is a route, gesperrte is the correct word here.
Could I rewrite this sentence using a relative clause instead?
Yes! Using a past participle as an adjective in front of the noun is just a more compact way to express a relative clause. You could write: Die Piste, die gesperrt ist, ist sehr gefährlich. (The ski slope that is closed is very dangerous.)
Does the word Piste always mean "ski slope"?
It usually means a ski slope or run, but it can also refer to a runway for airplanes or a dirt track. In colloquial German, you might also hear the phrase auf die Piste gehen, which is slang for going out partying or clubbing!
Learn Die gesperrte Piste ist sehr gefährlich and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free