Breakdown of Wir treffen uns morgen früh auf dem Platz, falls der Aufzug im Hotel nicht funktioniert.
in
in
dem
the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
wir
we
nicht
not
morgen
tomorrow
früh
early
funktionieren
to work
auf
on
falls
in case
das Hotel
the hotel
der Platz
the square
der Aufzug
the elevator
sich treffen
to meet
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Questions & Answers about Wir treffen uns morgen früh auf dem Platz, falls der Aufzug im Hotel nicht funktioniert.
Why is uns used with treffen here?
In German, sich treffen is a reflexive verb meaning “to meet (each other).” When the subject is wir, the reflexive pronoun is uns (accusative). So wir treffen uns literally means “we meet ourselves,” i.e. “we meet each other.”
Why is the time expression morgen früh placed before auf dem Platz?
German often follows the Time–Place–Manner (TPM) order for adverbials. Here:
- morgen früh (time)
- auf dem Platz (place)
If you swapped them (auf dem Platz morgen früh), it would sound less natural or confusing.
Why is it auf dem Platz (dative) and not auf den Platz (accusative)?
The preposition auf can take either dative (location/static) or accusative (movement/direction).
- auf dem Platz = “on/at the square” (static meeting point) → dative
- auf den Platz = “onto the square” (movement toward) → accusative
Why is morgens not used here instead of morgen früh?
- morgens means “in the mornings” (habitual).
- morgen früh means “early tomorrow (morning)” (specific upcoming day).
Since you refer to one particular tomorrow morning, you use morgen früh.
Why does the verb funktioniert come at the end of the clause after falls?
falls introduces a subordinate clause (Subjunktion). In German subordinate clauses, the finite verb must go to the very end. Hence ..., falls der Aufzug im Hotel nicht funktioniert.
What’s the difference between falls and wenn when they both can mean “if”?
- falls emphasizes a single, possible condition or “in case” something happens.
- wenn is more general/habitual (“whenever” or repeated conditions).
Here you want “in case the elevator doesn’t work,” so falls is more precise.
Why is it im Hotel and not ins Hotel?
- im = in
- dem (dative): used for location (“inside the hotel”).
- ins = in
- das (accusative): used for movement into (“into the hotel”).
Since you talk about the elevator’s condition inside the hotel (static location), you need dative → im Hotel.
- das (accusative): used for movement into (“into the hotel”).
Why is the simple present tense treffen used to talk about tomorrow?
In German, the Präsens (simple present) is often used for future events when a time adverbial clarifies the moment (here morgen früh). It’s perfectly natural to say Wir treffen uns morgen früh for a planned future meeting.