Die Eltern warten am Bahnhof.

The parents are waiting at the train station.

Breakdown of Die Eltern warten am Bahnhof.

• dem: the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
• der Bahnhof: the train station
• warten: to wait
• an: at
• die Eltern: the parents

Questions & Answers about Die Eltern warten am Bahnhof.

What does the word order tell me? Could I start with the place?

The neutral order is Subject–Verb–(other info): Die Eltern warten am Bahnhof. You can front the place for emphasis and still keep verb-second: Am Bahnhof warten die Eltern. Both are correct; the second highlights the location.

Does German need a special “-ing” form for “are waiting”?

No. German has no separate present progressive. The simple present covers both “wait” and “are waiting.” So Die Eltern warten = “The parents wait/are waiting.”

Why is it die Eltern? Is that feminine?

Here, die is the definite article in the plural, not feminine gender. Eltern is always plural (“parents”). So die Eltern = “the parents.”

How do I say “a parent” in German?

Use ein Elternteil (“a parent”). There’s also der/das Elternteil in the singular in dictionaries. A rare alternative is ein Elter, but Elternteil is the usual, clear choice.

What does am mean here, and why not just an?

am = an dem (a contraction). It means “at the.” You need the article with a specific place, so it’s am Bahnhof, not bare an Bahnhof. The full form an dem Bahnhof is grammatically fine but much less common than the contraction.

Why is it dative after an?

an is a two-way preposition:

• Location (where?) → dative: an dem Bahnhof = am Bahnhof (“at the station”).
• Direction (to where?) → accusative: an den Bahnhof (“to the station”), though everyday German usually says zum Bahnhof (“to the station”).

Could I say im Bahnhof or beim Bahnhof instead of am Bahnhof?

• am Bahnhof = “at the station” (general vicinity, platforms, outside area).
• im Bahnhof = “in/inside the station building.”
• beim Bahnhof (bei dem) = “near/by the station,” not necessarily at or in it.

Is auf dem Bahnhof okay?

In some regions people say auf dem Bahnhof for “at the station,” but in standard German use am Bahnhof (at) or im Bahnhof (inside). auf literally suggests “on top of.”

What’s the gender and plural of Bahnhof?

Bahnhof is masculine: der Bahnhof. Dative singular is dem Bahnhof (hence am Bahnhof). Plural: die Bahnhöfe.

Why are Eltern and Bahnhof capitalized but warten isn’t?

All nouns are capitalized in German: Eltern, Bahnhof. Verbs like warten are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are nominalized.

How is warten conjugated here?

With a plural subject (die Eltern), you use third person plural: sie/Die Eltern warten. Present tense forms:

• ich warte
• du wartest
• er/sie/es wartet
• wir warten
• ihr wartet
• sie/Sie warten

How would I ask “Are the parents waiting at the station?” and “Where are the parents waiting?”

• Yes/no: Warten die Eltern am Bahnhof?
• Wh-question: Wo warten die Eltern? — Am Bahnhof.

How do I say what they’re waiting for?

Use the fixed pattern warten auf + accusative:

• Die Eltern warten am Bahnhof auf den Zug.
• Die Eltern warten am Bahnhof auf ihre Tochter / ihren Sohn. Don’t use warten für; that’s wrong.

What’s the difference between warten and erwarten?

• warten (auf) = physically wait (for someone/something).
• erwarten = expect, anticipate.
  Example: Die Eltern erwarten ihre Tochter am Bahnhof = “The parents are expecting their daughter at the station” (not necessarily standing there waiting; it’s about expectation).

How do I negate this sentence?

Place nicht before the element you’re negating:

• General negation of the action: Die Eltern warten nicht.
• Negating the place: Die Eltern warten nicht am Bahnhof (…but somewhere else). Fronting keeps the meaning: Am Bahnhof warten die Eltern nicht.

Can I add time and manner? Where do they go?

A common order is Time–Manner–Place:

• Die Eltern warten heute geduldig am Bahnhof. You can front one element for emphasis, but keep the main verb in second position.

Is there a colloquial “am + Verb” progressive in German, like “Ich bin am Warten”?

Yes, in some regions (e.g., the Rhineland) people use sein + am + nominalized verb: Ich bin am Warten. It’s colloquial/regional. In standard German, prefer the simple present: Ich warte.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

• w in warten sounds like English “v”: “VAR-ten.”
• Bahn has a long “a”: “BAAHN.”
• hof has a long “o”: “hohf.”
  So: “DEE EL-tern VAR-ten ahm BAAHN-hohf.”