Die Kinder laufen durch das Tor auf die Wiese und staunen über den Regenbogen.

The children run through the gate onto the meadow and marvel at the rainbow.

Breakdown of Die Kinder laufen durch das Tor auf die Wiese und staunen über den Regenbogen.

• das Kind: the child
• und: and
• durch: through
• laufen: to run

Questions & Answers about Die Kinder laufen durch das Tor auf die Wiese und staunen über den Regenbogen.

Why is das Tor used with das?

Tor is a neuter noun in German, so its definite article is das. Every German noun has a gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter), and Tor happens to be neuter.

Why does durch take the accusative case in durch das Tor?

durch is one of the Wechselpräpositionen (two-way prepositions). When it expresses movement into or through something, it requires the accusative case. Since the children are running through the gate, you use durch das Tor (accusative).

Why is auf die Wiese in the accusative, not the dative case?

auf is also a Wechselpräposition. It takes accusative when indicating motion onto a surface. The children are moving onto the meadow, so you use accusative (auf die Wiese). If they were simply located on the meadow (no movement), you would use dative (auf der Wiese).

Why does staunen use über with the accusative in über den Regenbogen?