Breakdown of Auf der Liste steht der Termin für das Konzert.
stehen
to stand
auf
on
für
for
das Konzert
the concert
die Liste
the list
der Termin
the appointment
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Questions & Answers about Auf der Liste steht der Termin für das Konzert.
Why do we use the dative case in auf der Liste instead of the accusative?
The preposition auf can take either dative or accusative. When it describes location (answering “where?”), it requires dative; when it indicates movement toward something (answering “where to?”), it takes accusative. Here we’re saying “on the list” (where it is), so we use the dative form der Liste.
Why is the verb steht used here, and what does it mean?
In German, stehen is often used idiomatically to mean “to be written, printed, or listed” on something (like a list or sign). Literally it’s “stands on the list,” but in English we’d say “is on the list” or “is listed.”
Why is der Termin in the nominative case?
Der Termin is the subject of the sentence (it’s what “stands” on the list), and subjects in German are in the nominative case. The verb steht needs a nominative subject.
Why do we put für das Konzert at the end, and what case is das Konzert?
The preposition für always takes the accusative case, so das Konzert (neuter) remains das Konzert in accusative. It’s placed after the subject in this sentence, but you could also move it (e.g., Für das Konzert steht der Termin auf der Liste).
Can I start the sentence with Der Termin für das Konzert instead of Auf der Liste?
Yes. German follows the V2 (verb-second) rule: whichever element you place first, the finite verb comes second. So Der Termin für das Konzert steht auf der Liste is equally correct and more “neutral” if you want to emphasize the appointment itself.
Can I contract für das Konzert to fürs Konzert?
Yes, in spoken and less formal written German für das often contracts to fürs before a neuter noun: fürs Konzert. So Auf der Liste steht der Termin fürs Konzert is perfectly fine.
How do I know that die Liste is feminine and that its dative form is der Liste?
Many German nouns ending in -e are feminine (though there are exceptions). The base article for feminine nouns in nominative is die, and in the dative it changes to der. So die Liste becomes der Liste when you need the dative.
Could I use Datum instead of Termin here?
Datum refers strictly to a calendar date (day/month/year), while Termin usually means a scheduled appointment or event date (often including a time). For the date/time of a concert, Termin is more natural than Datum.