Breakdown of Der Anweisung entgegen hielt der Wagen nicht am Zebrastreifen.
nicht
not
halten
to stop
an
at, on (vertical) / to (addressee) / of (in quantity/stock expressions)
die Anweisung
the instruction
der Wagen
the car (formal, vehicle)
entgegen
contrary to
der Zebrastreifen
the zebra crossing
Questions & Answers about Der Anweisung entgegen hielt der Wagen nicht am Zebrastreifen.
Why is entgegen placed after the noun in Der Anweisung entgegen?
The word entgegen is special because it can be used as either a normal preposition (before the noun) or a postposition (after the noun). When it means "contrary to" or "against" an abstract concept like a rule or expectation, it is very commonly placed after the noun.
Does entgegen still dictate the case of the noun even when it comes after it?
Yes. Whether it comes before or after the noun, entgegen always requires the dative case. That is why the feminine noun die Anweisung takes the dative article der here.
Why does the verb hielt come immediately after entgegen?
This is the standard verb-second (V2) rule. The entire phrase Der Anweisung entgegen occupies the first position in the sentence. The verb (hielt) must take the second position, which pushes the subject (der Wagen) into the third position.
Could I use anhalten instead of halten for the car stopping?
Yes, you could say hielt nicht am Zebrastreifen an. Both verbs work well for vehicles. halten is frequently used for stopping at a designated point like a crosswalk or a red light, while anhalten emphasizes the physical process of bringing the vehicle to a halt.
Why is the preposition am (an dem) used for "at the zebra crossing"?
The preposition an is used to describe being at a border, line, or edge. Since the car is supposed to wait right at the edge of the crossing, an is the right choice. Because this describes a stationary location rather than movement towards a destination, it takes the dative case, combining an and dem into am.
Learn Der Anweisung entgegen hielt der Wagen nicht am Zebrastreifen 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