Word
Wir nehmen den Fahrstuhl, weil das Treppenhaus renoviert wird.
Meaning
We take the elevator because the stairwell is being renovated.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
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Questions & Answers about Wir nehmen den Fahrstuhl, weil das Treppenhaus renoviert wird.
Why is nehmen used in this sentence?
The verb nehmen means “to take” and is commonly used with modes of transportation or means of moving (e.g. bus, train, elevator). Here it literally means “we take the elevator.”
Why is it den Fahrstuhl and not der Fahrstuhl?
In German, nehmen requires a direct object in the accusative case. Der Fahrstuhl (masculine nominative) becomes den Fahrstuhl in the accusative.
Why is there a comma before weil?
German grammar mandates a comma before a subordinating conjunction like weil. It marks the boundary between the main clause (“Wir nehmen den Fahrstuhl”) and the subordinate clause (“weil das Treppenhaus renoviert wird”).
Why is the verb renoviert wird at the end of the clause?
In German subordinate clauses introduced by words like weil, the finite verb moves to the very end. So instead of “wird renoviert,” you see “renoviert wird.”
Why is the clause das Treppenhaus renoviert wird in the passive voice?
The passive (wird renoviert) focuses on the fact that the renovation is happening, not on who is doing it. If you cared about the actor, you could switch to active: “weil sie das Treppenhaus renovieren.”