Der Bus hält an der Ampel an.

Der Bus hält an der Ampel an.
The bus stops at the traffic light.
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Questions & Answers about Der Bus hält an der Ampel an.

Why does the sentence have the word an twice?

There are two different an’s:

  • The first an (in an der Ampel) is the preposition an meaning “at.”
  • The last an belongs to the separable verb anhalten (“to stop”). In a main clause, separable verbs split: the conjugated part (hält) goes to position 2, and the particle (an) goes to the end. So the double an is normal and not redundant.
Why is it an der Ampel and not an die Ampel?

Because an is a two-way preposition:

  • With location (answering “where?”), it takes the dative: an der Ampel.
  • With direction/motion (answering “to where?”), it takes the accusative: e.g., an die Wand. Here it’s a location, so dative is required: der Ampel.
Why is it der Ampel and not die Ampel?
Ampel is feminine (die Ampel in the nominative), but after an with location you need the dative case. Feminine dative singular uses der, so it becomes an der Ampel.
Can I say am Ampel?
No. am is the contraction of an dem (dative masculine or neuter). Ampel is feminine, so you must say an der Ampel. You can say am Bahnhof (an dem Bahnhof), but not am Ampel.
Do I need the final an? Can I just say Der Bus hält an der Ampel?

Yes, that’s also correct. halten alone can mean “to stop” for vehicles. anhalten also means “to stop,” often with a slight emphasis on the act of coming to a stop (often briefly). In everyday speech, both are common:

  • Der Bus hält an der Ampel.
  • Der Bus hält an der Ampel an.
What is the verb being conjugated, and is hält the right form?

The verb is the separable anhalten (base verb halten). Present tense:

  • ich halte an
  • du hältst an
  • er/sie/es hält an
  • wir halten an
  • ihr haltet an
  • sie/Sie halten an Since the subject is der Bus (3rd person singular), hält is correct.
How do I say this in the past?
  • Perfekt: Der Bus hat an der Ampel angehalten.
  • Präteritum: Der Bus hielt an der Ampel an.
    Note how the particle stays separated in the Präteritum main clause, but in the Perfekt it attaches to make angehalten.
How does word order change in a subordinate clause?

In subordinate clauses, the verb goes to the end and separable prefixes reattach:

  • …, dass der Bus an der Ampel anhält.
  • …, weil der Bus an der Ampel anhält.
Can I put the place first for emphasis?

Yes. Adverbials can be fronted:

  • An der Ampel hält der Bus an.
    This stresses the location.
What’s the difference between an der Ampel and bei der Ampel?
  • an der Ampel = at the light (right at/at the point of the light); this is the idiomatic choice for vehicles stopping there.
  • bei der Ampel = near/by the light (in the vicinity, not necessarily right at it).
Why does der appear twice with different meanings?

German der can be:

  • Nominative masculine (as in der Bus), and
  • Dative feminine (as in der Ampel). Same form, different cases/genders.
How do I pronounce the tricky bits?
  • hält: ä like the vowel in “bed,” often a bit longer; think “helt” with a clearer “eh” sound.
  • Ampel: stress the first syllable: “AHM-pel.”
  • an: short “a” like “ah” (not a schwa).
How do I type ä if I don’t have a German keyboard?
  • Use the fallback spelling ae: hält → haelt.
  • Mac: Option+U, then A → ä.
  • Windows: US-International keyboard (press " then a), or Alt code Alt+0228 → ä.
  • Phones: long-press a and select ä.
Are there natural alternatives to this sentence?

Yes:

  • Der Bus bleibt an der Ampel stehen. (emphasizes coming to a standstill)
  • Der Bus stoppt an der Ampel. (also common; a bit more direct/technical)
  • With an adjective: Der Bus hält an der roten Ampel an. (note dative feminine adjective: roten)
Where does nicht go if I want to negate?
  • To deny the stopping action: Der Bus hält an der Ampel nicht an.
  • To deny the location (he stops, but not there): Der Bus hält nicht an der Ampel an.
    Position of nicht changes what is negated.
Can I ever use the accusative with an here, like an die Ampel?
Only for motion toward the traffic light (direction): e.g., Er fährt an die Ampel (“he drives up to the light”). For the bus already stopping at that place (location), use dative: an der Ampel.