Breakdown of Das Auto funktioniert nicht, daher fahre ich mit dem Zug in die Stadt.
dem
the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
das Auto
the car
ich
I
mit
with
nicht
not
die Stadt
the city
funktionieren
to work
der Zug
the train
fahren
to take
in
to
daher
therefore
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Questions & Answers about Das Auto funktioniert nicht, daher fahre ich mit dem Zug in die Stadt.
Why is daher used in this sentence, and what does it mean?
Daher is a conjunctive adverb that means "therefore" or "thus." It links the two clauses by showing that the second clause is a consequence of the first. In this case, because the car is not working, the speaker is taking the train to the city.
Why is the phrase mit dem Zug in the dative case?
The preposition mit always takes the dative case in German. In mit dem Zug, dem Zug is the dative form of der Zug. This structure indicates the means of transportation, meaning "by train."
Why is in die Stadt used instead of in der Stadt?
The choice between in die Stadt and in der Stadt depends on whether there is a change of location. In die Stadt uses the accusative case to show movement or direction—implying that the speaker is traveling into the city. If describing a location where something already is, you would use in der Stadt (dative). Since the sentence indicates a journey into the city, the accusative is appropriate.
Why does the second clause begin with daher fahre ich instead of following the typical subject–verb order?
In German main clauses, the finite verb must always be in the second position. Since daher occupies the first position as a transitional adverb, the verb fahre comes immediately next, which pushes the subject ich after the verb. This inversion is standard when an element other than the subject starts the clause.
How are the two clauses in the sentence connected, and why is a comma used?
The sentence is composed of two independent clauses. The first clause states a condition (Das Auto funktioniert nicht) and the second clause provides the result or consequence (daher fahre ich mit dem Zug in die Stadt). The comma is used to separate these clauses, and daher serves as the linking adverb that shows the causal relationship between them.
What does funktionieren mean in this context, and is it similar to the English verb "to work"?
In this sentence, funktionieren means "to work" or "to operate properly." When the sentence says Das Auto funktioniert nicht, it indicates that the car is not working. This usage is similar to the English expression when referring to machines or devices that are not operating as they should.