Breakdown of Wir berechnen die Route und umfahren das Wohngebiet.
und
and
wir
we
das Wohngebiet
the residential area
die Route
the route (planned path)
umfahren
to bypass / to run over
berechnen
to calculate
Questions & Answers about Wir berechnen die Route und umfahren das Wohngebiet.
Why is umfahren not split into fahren ... um at the end of the sentence?
The prefix um- is a variable prefix, meaning it can be separable or inseparable depending on the exact meaning of the verb. When umfahren means to bypass or drive around something, as it does here, it is inseparable. If it were separable (like in wir fahren das Schild um), it would mean to run over or knock down!
How can I tell when speaking if umfahren means to bypass or to run over?
You can hear it in the word stress! Inseparable verbs like the one in this sentence (meaning bypass) stress the root verb: umFAHREN. The separable version (meaning run over) stresses the prefix instead: UMfahren.
Is berechnen also a verb with a variable prefix?
No, the prefix be- is always inseparable. You never split it off, which is why the verb stays whole as berechnen. Other prefixes that are always inseparable include ent-, er-, ge-, ver-, and zer-.
Why does Wohngebiet use the neuter article das?
Wohngebiet is a compound noun made of the verb stem from wohnen (to live) and the noun das Gebiet (the area). In German, the gender of a compound word always matches its final part, so it takes the neuter article das. It is in the accusative case here because it is the direct object of the sentence.
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