Das Haus ist dort, aber der Park ist weit weg.

to be

Breakdown of Das Haus ist dort, aber der Park ist weit weg.

• dort: there
• das Haus: the house
• aber: but
• weit weg: far away
• der Park: the park

Questions & Answers about Das Haus ist dort, aber der Park ist weit weg.

Why is Haus neuter while Park is masculine?

German nouns have grammatical genders that don’t always follow a logical pattern. You simply need to memorize that Haus is neuter (das Haus) and Park is masculine (der Park). Over time, you will get used to which article goes with which noun.

Why do we use dort instead of da or hier?

Dort specifically indicates that something is located at a distance, but still in sight or known about. Da can sometimes have a similar meaning but can also mean then or at that moment, while hier means here. In this sentence, dort emphasizes that the house is located over there, not here.

What is the function of aber in this sentence?

Aber means but and introduces contrast. The sentence states that das Haus is there, but in contrast, der Park is far away. It helps show two opposing pieces of information in a single statement.

Why do we use ist twice in one sentence?

There are two separate statements: Das Haus ist dort and der Park ist weit weg. German grammar requires a conjugated verb in each clause, so in each part of the sentence, ist is needed as the verb for the subject.

How should I understand weit weg?

Weit means far, and weg means away. Combined, weit weg emphasizes that something is located a good distance from the speaker or the current location. It’s a common way to say far away in German.