Breakdown of Am Eingang greife ich nach dem Ausweis.
dem
the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
ich
I
an
at
der Eingang
the entrance
der Ausweis
the ID card
greifen nach
to reach for
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching German grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Am Eingang greife ich nach dem Ausweis.
Why is it Am Eingang instead of An dem Eingang?
Because am is the standard contraction of an dem. Here:
- an is a two-way preposition.
- With location (no movement), an takes the dative: an dem Eingang.
- German commonly contracts this to am Eingang.
Why is the word order greife ich and not ich greife?
German main clauses are verb-second. If you put a phrase like Am Eingang at the start, it occupies the first position, so the finite verb (greife) must still be second, pushing the subject (ich) to third: Am Eingang | greife | ich …. You can also say: Ich greife am Eingang …
Why nach dem Ausweis and not den Ausweis?
The preposition nach governs the dative case, so the article must be dative masculine singular: dem. Hence nach dem Ausweis, not nach den/den.
What nuance does greifen nach have compared to nehmen/holen?
- greifen nach: to reach for something (you’re extending your hand; you may or may not have it yet).
- nehmen: to take (you actually take it).
- holen: to fetch/go and get (often involves leaving and coming back). In this sentence, the idea is the physical motion of reaching for the ID.
Can I say greifen zu instead of greifen nach?
Sometimes, but the nuance differs:
- greifen zu + Dativ often means “go for/reach for” as a choice or quick action, e.g., Er greift zum Handy. It can sound like picking up something that’s readily at hand.
- greifen nach + Dativ emphasizes the reaching motion toward the object (common when it’s in a pocket/bag). For an ID at an entrance, nach dem Ausweis greifen is very natural; zum Ausweis greifen is possible if the ID is lying in front of you.
Is nach dem the same as nachdem?
No.
- nach dem = preposition nach
- article dem (two words), takes a noun: nach dem Ausweis.
- nachdem = a conjunction meaning “after (that)”, introducing a clause with verb-final order: Nachdem ich …, …. Don’t write nachdem in the sentence here; it changes the grammar and meaning.
Could I say beim Eingang, vor dem Eingang, or im Eingang instead of am Eingang?
All are possible but with different nuances:
- am Eingang: at the entrance (neutral “at/on” the spot).
- beim Eingang: by/near the entrance (slightly looser “by”).
- vor dem Eingang: in front of the entrance (out front/outside).
- im Eingang: in the entrance area/doorway (inside the threshold).
Can I move parts around, like Ich greife am Eingang nach dem Ausweis?
Yes. Common variants (all correct, with different emphasis):
- Am Eingang greife ich nach dem Ausweis.
- Ich greife am Eingang nach dem Ausweis.
- Ich greife nach dem Ausweis am Eingang. (sounds a bit more afterthought-like) Keep the finite verb in second position in main clauses.
Why dem Ausweis and not meinem Ausweis?
Both are possible. dem can refer to the contextually obvious/previously mentioned ID (e.g., the one the guard asked for). If you want to be explicit that it’s yours, use meinem Ausweis. German often uses the definite article where English might use a possessive when the possessor is clear.
What are the gender and plural of Ausweis, and what are the dative forms?
- Ausweis is masculine: der Ausweis.
- Plural: die Ausweise.
- Dative singular: dem Ausweis (e.g., nach dem Ausweis).
- Dative plural: den Ausweisen (note the -n), e.g., nach den Ausweisen.
- With possessives: nach meinem Ausweis, nach seinen Ausweisen.
How do I replace nach dem Ausweis with a pronoun?
Use a prepositional pronoun:
- danach (generic pro-form): Am Eingang greife ich danach.
- Or keep nach and use a dative pronoun matching gender/number: nach ihm (for a masculine noun like der Ausweis): Am Eingang greife ich nach ihm. Do not say ich greife ihn—greifen nach requires the preposition.
How do I say this in the past?
greifen is a strong verb: greifen – griff – gegriffen.
- Simple past: Ich griff nach dem Ausweis.
- Present perfect: Ich habe nach dem Ausweis gegriffen. Past participle: gegriffen. The verb has no separable prefix.
Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts?
- ei in greife/Eingang = [ai], like English “eye”.
- ch in nach = the back-of-the-throat sound (like in German Bach).
- ng in Eingang = [ŋ] (as in English “sing”).
- You may link nach dem in speech, but keep it written as two words (not nachdem).
When would I use accusative with an instead of dative?
With motion toward a place (direction), use accusative:
- an den Eingang gehen/fahren (to go to the entrance). With location (no movement), use dative:
- am Eingang warten (wait at the entrance).
Is Ausweis the same as Pass?
Not exactly:
- der Ausweis = an ID card/document in general (e.g., Personalausweis, Studentenausweis).
- der Pass = passport. At a venue, Ausweis usually means any valid ID; a passport is one type of Ausweis.