Auf der Straße steht viel Wasser, und wir müssen vorsichtig sein.

(There is a lot of water on the street, and we must be careful.)

Breakdown of Auf der Straße steht viel Wasser, und wir müssen vorsichtig sein.

• sein: to be
• und: and
• das Wasser: the water
• wir: we
• stehen: to stand
• müssen: must
• die Straße: the street
• viel: much
• vorsichtig: careful

Questions & Answers about Auf der Straße steht viel Wasser, und wir müssen vorsichtig sein.

Why is Auf der Straße used instead of something like In der Straße?

In German, auf can indicate a position on a surface or open space. Here, it suggests that the water is spread out on the road’s surface. In der Straße would usually imply something more enclosed or physically inside a street (like a tunnel), which isn’t accurate in this scenario.

Why do we use steht to describe the water on the street?

Using steht emphasizes that the water is sitting or standing on the street as if it’s collected in one spot or area. Other verbs like liegt (lies) would be less common for water, which we generally imagine as being in a pool or puddle, not lying down. Meanwhile, ist is too vague and doesn’t carry the connotation that the water is gathered there.

What is the function of müssen in the phrase wir müssen vorsichtig sein?

Müssen expresses necessity or obligation. It tells us that it’s necessary for us to be careful. So wir müssen vorsichtig sein conveys we have to be careful or we must be careful.

Can you explain the word order in wir müssen vorsichtig sein?

In German main clauses, the conjugated verb (müssen) typically appears in the second position. The subject (wir) goes first, followed by müssen, then any additional information (here, vorsichtig), and finally the infinitive or part of the verbal phrase (sein) at the end. This structure is common with modal verbs.