Learn Hardcore German: Der Stecker steckt nicht richtig in der Steckdose, deshalb bleibt die Mikrowelle aus. - The plug isn’t properly in the socket, therefore the microwave stays off.

Because in is a two‑way preposition: it takes the dative for location (no movement) and the accusative for motion (movement into). Here it’s a location.

State: Der Stecker steckt in der Steckdose. (Where? dative feminine: der)
Motion: Ich stecke den Stecker in die Steckdose. (Into where? accusative feminine: die)

What genders and cases are used for the nouns here?

der Stecker: masculine nominative singular (subject of the first clause).
in der Steckdose: Steckdose is feminine; der here is dative feminine singular because of location with in.
die Mikrowelle: feminine nominative singular (subject of the second clause, placed after the verb because of inversion with deshalb).

What’s the difference between Stecker and Steckdose?

der Stecker = the plug (the part at the end of the cable with prongs).
die Steckdose = the socket/outlet (on the wall or power strip). They’re the “male” and “female” parts, respectively.

Why is aus at the end in deshalb bleibt die Mikrowelle aus?

Here aus is a predicative adjective/adverb meaning “off,” used with linking verbs like sein/bleiben. German places that predicate element after the finite verb: ist/bleibt … aus. It is not a separable prefix of bleiben in this sentence.

Is this the verb ausbleiben?

No. This is bleiben + predicate aus (“to remain off”). The verb ausbleiben exists but means “to fail to occur/turn up”: e.g., Der Regen blieb aus (“The rain didn’t come”). For devices, say Die Mikrowelle bleibt aus or ist aus.

Why is the verb before the subject after deshalb?

Deshalb is a sentence adverb that occupies the first position. German main clauses are verb‑second, so the verb comes next and the subject follows: Deshalb bleibt die Mikrowelle aus, not “deshalb die Mikrowelle bleibt …”

Could I use weil instead of deshalb?

Yes, but it changes the structure:

Weil der Stecker nicht richtig in der Steckdose steckt, bleibt die Mikrowelle aus. With weil, the verb of the subordinate clause (here steckt) goes to the end. You can also keep two main clauses: Der Stecker steckt …, deshalb bleibt …

Why is nicht placed before richtig?

Because it negates the manner adverb richtig: nicht richtig = “not properly.” If you want to say the plug isn’t in at all, drop richtig: Der Stecker steckt nicht in der Steckdose.

Is richtig an adjective or an adverb here? Does it need an ending?

It functions adverbially here (“properly”), and German doesn’t add an “-ly” ending—adjectives and adverbs often look the same. Endings appear only when an adjective directly modifies a noun: die richtige Steckdose (“the correct socket”).

Can I say Der Stecker steckt nicht richtig drin?

Yes—colloquial but very common. drin is a short form of drinnen (“inside”). You’ll also hear the slightly redundant Der Stecker steckt nicht richtig in der Steckdose drin; it’s natural in speech.

Why not just ist aus instead of bleibt aus?

You can. ist aus states the current state (“is off”), while bleibt aus emphasizes the continuation of that state (“stays/remains off”), which fits the cause‑and‑effect logic after deshalb. Another common option: Die Mikrowelle geht nicht an (“won’t turn on”).

Is the comma before deshalb necessary?

Yes. You’re separating two independent main clauses. In German you must punctuate between them—comma, semicolon, or period are all fine:

Der Stecker steckt …, deshalb bleibt die Mikrowelle aus.
Der Stecker steckt …. Deshalb bleibt die Mikrowelle aus.

Are Stecker, Steckdose, and stecken related?

Yes. They share the root steck- (“to stick/insert”). Stecker is “the thing that you stick in,” and Steckdose is literally a “sticking receptacle.”

Can I replace deshalb with deswegen, darum, or daher?

Yes. All mean roughly “therefore/so,” with minor register differences (daher can sound a bit more formal). Word order stays the same (verb‑second after them): Darum/deswegen/daher bleibt die Mikrowelle aus.

Why not say im Steckdose?

Because im = in dem, which only works with masculine/neuter dative nouns. Steckdose is feminine, so you need in der Steckdose (dative feminine).