Meine Schwester ist mit dem Zug gefahren, aber ich bin lieber mit dem Bus unterwegs.

My sister traveled by train, but I prefer to be on the bus.

Breakdown of Meine Schwester ist mit dem Zug gefahren, aber ich bin lieber mit dem Bus unterwegs.

• sein: to be
• dem: the
• ich: I
• mit: with
• aber: but
• lieber: rather
• meine: my
• die Schwester: the sister
• fahren: to travel
• der Zug: the train
• der Bus: the bus
• unterwegs: on the move

Questions & Answers about Meine Schwester ist mit dem Zug gefahren, aber ich bin lieber mit dem Bus unterwegs.

Why is the perfect tense used in the clause "Meine Schwester ist mit dem Zug gefahren" instead of the simple past?

In spoken German, the perfect tense (Perfekt) is commonly used to talk about completed past actions. Although in writing the simple past might be found more often, in everyday conversation Germans usually say "ist gefahren". Additionally, for motion verbs like "fahren", which indicate a change of location, the perfect tense with the auxiliary "sein" is standard.

Why does "fahren" use "ist" as the auxiliary verb in this sentence?

Many German verbs that involve motion or a change of state (such as "fahren" when it describes moving from one place to another) take "sein" instead of "haben" in the perfect tense. Hence, "ist gefahren" is used to show that a movement took place, following this grammatical rule.

What does the phrase "mit dem Bus unterwegs" mean in the context of the second clause?

The expression "unterwegs sein" literally means "to be on the move" or "to be traveling." In this sentence, it is used to express a habitual state or a general preference for traveling by bus. It does not describe a specific completed action but rather indicates how you usually get around.

What role does the word "lieber" play in "ich bin lieber mit dem Bus unterwegs"?

The word "lieber" means "rather" or "preferably." It shows that you favor traveling by bus over another method (in this case, over traveling by train, as your sister did). It is a way to state a personal preference or inclination.

Why is there a contrast introduced by the conjunction "aber" in the sentence?

The conjunction "aber" means "but." It is used to contrast the two halves of the sentence—first, describing your sister’s travel experience by train, and second, stating your personal preference for traveling by bus. This contrast emphasizes the difference in travel habits between you and your sister.

Why doesn’t the second clause also use the perfect tense like the first clause?

The second clause "ich bin lieber mit dem Bus unterwegs" expresses a general state or habitual preference, not a specific past event. Since it indicates how you usually travel rather than recounting a single completed journey, it is expressed in the present tense. The focus here is on your ongoing travel habits rather than a past action.