Das Auto ist dort.

to be

Breakdown of Das Auto ist dort.

• dort: there
• das Auto: the car

Questions & Answers about Das Auto ist dort.

Why do we use das instead of der or die for Auto?

In German, Auto happens to be a neuter noun, which is why it takes the article das. The grammatical gender of many German words doesn’t necessarily match logical or “natural” gender; it’s determined by language usage over time.

What is the difference between dort and da in German?

Both dort and da can be translated roughly as “there,” but dort often emphasizes a more distinct or farther location, while da can sound a bit more casual or indicate a location closer to the speaker. In many contexts, they can be used interchangeably, though.

Could we say Das Auto steht dort instead of Das Auto ist dort?

Yes. Das Auto steht dort emphasizes that the car is in a standing position (usually implying it’s parked). Das Auto ist dort simply states the location of the car without describing how it’s positioned. Both are correct but carry this slight nuance.

Why is the verb ist placed right after Das Auto?

In a basic German declarative sentence, the typical word order is Subject – Verb – Other Elements. Here, Das Auto is the subject, and ist is the conjugated verb, so it naturally comes second. Dort is the other element describing location.

How do we pronounce dort properly?

In German, the r is pronounced more in the back of the throat, and the o is short. It sounds a bit like “dort” in English but with a more rolled r and a crisp t at the end. Try keeping the vowel short and the r gentle.