Learn Hardcore German: Der Fahrer erzählt mir häufig von der schönen Umgebung, worüber wir dann lange sprechen. - The driver often tells me about the beautiful surroundings, which we then talk about for a long time.

Because erzählen is one of those German verbs that require an indirect object in the dative. In other words, you “tell something to someone,” and that “someone” must be in the dative. So mir (to me) is the correct form.

Why is the prepositional phrase von der schönen Umgebung in the dative?

The verb erzählen combines with von to mean “to tell of/about.” The preposition von always governs the dative case. Since Umgebung is feminine, its dative singular article is der, and the adjective schön takes the ending -en, giving von der schönen Umgebung.

Why does schönen end with -en here?

After a definite article in dative singular (here der for a feminine noun), adjectives take the strong ending -en. So schön → schönen to agree with der Umgebung in the dative.

What is worüber, and why not just über was or repeat über die schöne Umgebung?

worüber is a prepositional relative pronoun (the combination of wo- + über) used to introduce a relative clause referring back to a non-human antecedent (here die schöne Umgebung). In written (and more formal) German, you avoid über was in such clauses. You also don’t repeat the full noun phrase; you replace it with worüber to keep the sentence concise.

Why does the verb sprechen appear at the end in worüber wir dann lange sprechen?

Because German subordinate clauses (including relative clauses) use verb-final word order. The finite verb (here sprechen) must come after all the other elements of that clause.

Why is there a comma before worüber?

German grammar rules dictate that any dependent clause—relative clauses included—must be separated from the main clause by a comma. That’s why you see a comma before worüber.

Why is häufig placed between erzählt and von der schönen Umgebung?

German main clauses typically follow: Subject – finite verb – (indirect) object – adverbial(s) – other complements. Here häufig is a frequency adverb and belongs in the “mid-field” after the dative object mir but before the longer prepositional phrase. You could move häufig to the very beginning or end for emphasis, but this position is the neutral, unmarked one.

Why is lange used in lange sprechen? Can I say lang sprechen?

Both lange and lang exist, but as an adverb meaning “for a long time,” lange is standard. lang is more common in compounds (e.g. langsam) or as an adjective. So for “we speak for a long time,” you use lange sprechen.

What’s the difference between sprechen and reden in this context? Could I say worüber wir dann lange reden?

Yes. sprechen and reden both mean “to talk,” but sprechen is a bit more neutral or formal, whereas reden feels slightly more colloquial. Swapping in reden—worüber wir dann lange reden—is perfectly acceptable and conveys the same idea in everyday speech.