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Questions & Answers about Die Gefahr ist vorbei.
What are the roles of each word in the sentence?
- Die: definite article, feminine nominative singular (“the”).
- Gefahr: noun, feminine, “danger” (plural: Gefahren).
- ist: 3rd person singular of sein (“is”).
- vorbei: adverb used predicatively, meaning “over/past.” With sein, vorbei sein = “to be over.”
Why is it die Gefahr and not der or das?
Because Gefahr is grammatically feminine in German. Its definite article in the nominative singular is die. You just have to memorize noun genders.
Why does vorbei come at the end?
German main clauses are verb-second: the finite verb (ist) is in second position. The predicative element (vorbei) naturally sits later in the clause. So: Subject (Die Gefahr) + Verb (ist) + Predicative adverb (vorbei).
Is vorbei an adjective here?
No. It’s an adverb/particle used predicatively with sein. It doesn’t take endings and doesn’t agree with the noun. Think of the set phrase vorbei sein (“to be over”).
Can I say Die Gefahr ist vorüber instead? Any difference?