Vor dem hohen Gebäude steigen wir aus dem Taxi.

In front of the tall building we get out of the taxi.

Breakdown of Vor dem hohen Gebäude steigen wir aus dem Taxi.

• dem: the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
• wir: we
• vor: in front of
• hoch: tall

Questions & Answers about Vor dem hohen Gebäude steigen wir aus dem Taxi.

Why is dem used in vor dem hohen Gebäude, instead of den or das?

Because vor is a two‐way preposition. When it indicates location (“where?”), it takes the dative. Gebäude is neuter, so its dative singular article is dem. Hence vor dem Gebäude.

Why does hohen end with -en?

After a definite article in the dative (dem), adjectives follow the weak declension pattern, which requires -en. So dem hohen Gebäude.

When would you use the accusative with vor instead of dative?

Use accusative with vor when you describe movement toward a point:
• Wir fahren vor das hohe Gebäude. (We drive up to the front of the tall building.)
Here, however, you describe location (we get out in front of it), so you use the dative.

Why does the verb steigen come before wir in this sentence?

In German main clauses the conjugated verb must occupy the second position. If you start with an adverbial phrase (here Vor dem hohen Gebäude is position 1), the verb follows in position 2, then the subject comes in position 3.