Breakdown of Der Lastwagen umfährt die Baustelle.
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
die Baustelle
the construction site
der Lastwagen
the truck
umfahren
to bypass / to run over
Questions & Answers about Der Lastwagen umfährt die Baustelle.
Wait, isn't um- a separable prefix? Why isn't it at the end of the sentence?
The prefix um- is a variable prefix. It can be separable or inseparable depending on the verb's meaning. When umfahren means to bypass or to drive around, it is inseparable. That is why it stays attached to the verb as umfährt rather than moving to the end of the sentence.
What happens if I accidentally separate the verb and say Der Lastwagen fährt die Baustelle um?
You would drastically change the meaning! When umfahren is used as a separable verb (fährt ... um), it means to run over or to knock down. So your new sentence would mean the truck is running over or knocking down the construction site!
How do I pronounce umfährt in this sentence?
Because it is inseparable here, the spoken stress goes on the verb stem: um-FÄHRT. If it were the separable version meaning to run over, the stress would be on the prefix: UM-fährt.
How would I form the spoken past tense (Perfekt) of this sentence?
Because this version of umfahren is inseparable, it doesn't use the -ge- prefix in its past participle. You would say: Der Lastwagen hat die Baustelle umfahren. If it were the separable version, it would be hat umgefahren.