Der Geldautomat ist neben der Post.

The ATM is next to the post office.

Breakdown of Der Geldautomat ist neben der Post.

• sein: to be
• neben: next to
• die Post: the post office
• der Geldautomat: the ATM

Questions & Answers about Der Geldautomat ist neben der Post.

What does Geldautomat literally mean and how is the word formed?

Geldautomat is a compound noun made from Geld (money) + Automat (machine). In German you often stick nouns together: the last element (Automat) determines the gender (masculine), so the whole word is der Geldautomat.

Why is the article before Geldautomat der instead of die or das?

Because Automat is a masculine noun. In the nominative singular, the masculine definite article is der. Even in compounds, you keep the gender of the “head” noun, here Automat, so you say der Geldautomat.

Why is it neben der Post and not neben die Post?

The preposition neben can take either accusative (for movement) or dative (for location). Here there’s no movement— it’s describing position— so you use the dative case. The base word Post is feminine (die Post), and the dative singular of die is der, giving neben der Post.

How do I know when to use dative or accusative with neben?

German prepositions of two-way case (Wechselpräpositionen) like neben, in, auf decide case by meaning:
• Location (Wo?) → dative
• Direction/movement (Wohin?) → accusative
Example:
• “Der Geldautomat ist neben der Post.” (Wo ist er? → neben der Post, dative)
• “Stell den Kaffee neben die Post!” (Wohin? → neben die Post, accusative)

What is the word order rule in Der Geldautomat ist neben der Post?

In a simple German main clause:

1. The finite verb (ist) must be in second position.
2. You can put the subject (Der Geldautomat) in first position, then the verb, then the rest (neben der Post).
   Order: [Subject] + [Verb] + [Prepositional phrase].

How do I pronounce Geldautomat correctly?

Break it up: Geld-au-to-mat. A phonetic guide:
• Geld = /ɡɛlt/ (like “gelt”)
• Automat = /aʊtoˈmaːt/ (“ow-toh-maht”)
Put together: /ɡɛlt.aʊtoˈmaːt/.

Can “Post” ever change meaning or gender in German?

Yes. die Post usually means the post office or the mail service (feminine). But das Posten or der Posten are different words (a post in a job sense). Here you stick with die Post, and because of the dative it becomes neben der Post.