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Questions & Answers about Der Weg ist gesperrt.
Why is der Weg in the nominative case?
Because der Weg is the subject of the sentence. With the copular verb sein (to be), the noun before the verb always appears in the nominative case.
Why do we use ist instead of wird?
This sentence uses the Zustandspassiv (stative passive) to describe a resulting state: the path is in a closed state. If you wanted to describe the action of closing, you’d use the Vorgangspassiv (event passive) with werden, for example Der Weg wird gesperrt (“The path is being closed”).
Is gesperrt an adjective or a verb form?
It’s the past participle of the verb sperren (to block), but here it functions as a predicative adjective, linked by sein. Grammatically it behaves like an adjective describing a state.
How do I pronounce gesperrt correctly?
Phonetically it’s [gəˈʃpɛʁt]. Note that the initial sp cluster in German is pronounced like "shp". The ge- prefix has a short schwa [ə].
When should I use geschlossen instead of gesperrt?
- Geschlossen is used for shops, businesses or events (“closed for business”) or for doors (“locked”).
- Gesperrt refers to roads, paths or access points that have been blocked off (by barriers, authorities, etc.).
What’s the difference between gesperrt and abgesperrt?
- Gesperrt: general term for “closed/blocked.”
- Abgesperrt: implies cordoned off or sealed by tape/barriers (e.g. police tape). It’s often more emphatic.
How do I form the question Is the path closed? in German?
Invert verb and subject:
Ist der Weg gesperrt?
Can I omit ist on a road sign?
Yes. Signs often drop the verb for brevity:
Weg gesperrt
This is understood as “Path closed.”
How do I say that the path is closed because of construction work?
Use wegen (because of) or durch (through/by) to express the cause, for example:
- Der Weg ist wegen Bauarbeiten gesperrt.
- Der Weg ist durch einen umgestürzten Baum gesperrt.