Breakdown of Auf der Fensterbank stehen nun Blumen, die angenehm duften.
stehen
to stand
die Blume
the flower
auf
on
angenehm
pleasant
Questions & Answers about Auf der Fensterbank stehen nun Blumen, die angenehm duften.
Why is Auf der Fensterbank using der instead of die?
In German the preposition auf can govern either the accusative (for movement) or the dative (for location). Here we’re describing where the flowers are standing (no movement), so auf takes the dative. Fensterbank is a feminine noun, and the feminine dative article is der.
Why does the verb stehen come before the subject Blumen?
German main clauses follow the Verb-Second (V2) rule: exactly one element can occupy the first position, the finite verb must be second, and everything else follows. Since Auf der Fensterbank is fronted into first position, stehen is in second position, pushing the subject Blumen into third.
Why is there no article before Blumen?
When you introduce plural nouns in a general or indefinite sense (similar to “flowers” rather than “the flowers”), German often omits the article. You could say Auf der Fensterbank stehen nun die Blumen (the flowers), but dropping the article keeps it indefinite: “flowers are now standing…”.
What role does nun play, and why is it placed right after stehen?