Breakdown of Im Fahrplan sehe ich, dass der Zug um zehn Uhr von Gleis drei abfährt.
in
in
dem
the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
ich
I
sehen
to see
die Uhr
the clock
dass
that
der Zug
the train
um
at
von
from
drei
three
zehn
ten
der Fahrplan
the timetable
das Gleis
the track
abfahren
to depart
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Questions & Answers about Im Fahrplan sehe ich, dass der Zug um zehn Uhr von Gleis drei abfährt.
Why is im Fahrplan used instead of just in Fahrplan?
im Fahrplan is a contraction of in dem Fahrplan. The preposition in indicating a location or context (“in the timetable”) requires the dative case, so you need dem, contracted to im.
Why does in take the dative case here?
When in expresses a static location or context (answering “where?” rather than “where to?”), it governs the dative case. You’re not entering the timetable, you’re looking in it.
Why is there a comma before dass?
In German, subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like dass are always preceded by a comma. It separates the main clause (Im Fahrplan sehe ich) from the subordinate clause (dass der Zug … abfährt).
Why is abfährt at the end of the subordinate clause?
German subordinate clauses push the finite verb to the very end. Here abfahren is a separable verb; the prefix ab stays with the verb, giving abfährt as the last element.
Why is the separable verb abfahren written as one word (abfährt) in the subordinate clause?
In main clauses you split separable verbs (“Der Zug fährt ab”). In subordinate clauses the prefix and verb stay together at the end: …dass der Zug … abfährt.
Why do we say um zehn Uhr for clock times?
Exact clock times in German use um plus the hour and Uhr. No article is needed: um zehn Uhr means “at ten o’clock.”
Why is there no article before zehn Uhr?
Time expressions with hours drop the article. You never say um die zehn Uhr, just um zehn Uhr.
Why is there no article in von Gleis drei? Could we say vom Gleis drei instead?
In timetable style and announcements, articles are often omitted: von Gleis drei. Grammatically you could say vom Gleis drei (von dem), but the shorter form is preferred in this context.
What case is Gleis in von Gleis drei?
The preposition von always takes the dative. So Gleis is in the dative case (technically dem Gleis), even though the article is dropped.
What role does der Zug play in the subordinate clause?
der Zug is the subject of the subordinate clause dass der Zug … abfährt, so it’s in the nominative case (masculine singular).