Learn Hardcore German: Durch den alten Fensterrahmen sehe ich unten wieder die Ampel. - Through the old window frame I see the traffic light below again.

Compound nouns in German take the gender of their head (the last component). Here the head is Rahmen (der Rahmen), which is masculine. Therefore Fensterrahmen is also masculine.

Why is the article den used with alten Fensterrahmen rather than dem?

The preposition durch always requires the accusative case. Since Fensterrahmen is masculine singular, its accusative definite article is den (not dem, which is dative).

Why is the adjective alten not alter or altem?

With a definite article in the accusative masculine singular, German adjectives take the weak declension ending -en. Hence it’s den alten Fensterrahmen, not alter or altem.

Why does the verb sehe come before the subject ich?

German main clauses obey the verb-second (V2) rule: the finite verb must occupy the second position in the sentence. The first position here is the prepositional phrase Durch den alten Fensterrahmen, so sehe comes next (position 2) and the subject ich follows.

What case is die Ampel in, and why does it look the same as the nominative?

Die Ampel is the direct object of sehen, so it’s in the accusative case. Feminine singular has die for both nominative and accusative, so the form remains die.

What does wieder mean here, and why is it placed after unten?

Wieder means again. Placing it after unten (“down below”) emphasizes the location first and then the fact that you see the traffic light again. German adverb order is somewhat flexible for emphasis.

Can I swap unten and wieder, and how does that change the nuance?

Yes. wieder unten is the neutral “again down below.” unten wieder emphasizes “down below” before “again,” giving a slight shift in focus or rhythm. Both are grammatically correct.