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Heute probt der Schulchor im Pausenhof.

Heute probt der Schulchor im Pausenhof.
Today the school choir is rehearsing in the schoolyard.
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Questions & Answers about Heute probt der Schulchor im Pausenhof.

What does probt mean exactly, and how is it different from übt?

Both verbs are about practicing, but they’re used in different contexts:

  • proben = to rehearse (typically for performances)

    • Used for choirs, bands, theater groups, orchestras:
      • Der Schulchor probt. – The school choir is rehearsing.
      • Wir proben für das Konzert. – We’re rehearsing for the concert.

  • üben = to practice (a skill, homework, exercises)

    • Used for general practice:
      • Ich übe Klavier. – I practice the piano.
      • Wir üben die Grammatik. – We practice the grammar.

So Heute probt der Schulchor… implies a planned rehearsal, not just casual practice.

Why is the verb in second position: Heute probt der Schulchor… and not right after the subject?

German has the verb-second (V2) rule in main clauses: the conjugated verb is always in position 2, no matter what comes first.

In your sentence:

  • Heute = position 1 (time adverbial)
  • probt = position 2 (verb)
  • der Schulchor = position 3 (subject)

You could start with the subject instead:

  • Der Schulchor probt heute im Pausenhof.

This is also correct. The meaning is the same; only the emphasis changes slightly:

  • Heute probt der Schulchor… → emphasis on today (as opposed to another day)
  • Der Schulchor probt heute… → neutral emphasis, simple statement about the choir.
Is Der Schulchor probt heute im Pausenhof also correct?

Yes, completely correct and very natural.

Three common variants (all correct):

  1. Heute probt der Schulchor im Pausenhof.
  2. Der Schulchor probt heute im Pausenhof.
  3. Im Pausenhof probt heute der Schulchor.

All three have the same basic meaning. The first word mainly affects what you highlight:

  • Starting with Heute → you highlight the time.
  • Starting with Der Schulchor → you’re just talking about the choir.
  • Starting with Im Pausenhof → you emphasize the place.
What is im? Why not just in dem Pausenhof?

im is a contraction:

  • im = in + dem

So:

  • in dem Pausenhof → im Pausenhof

This contraction is standard and usually preferred in spoken and written German when possible:

  • in dem Haus → im Haus
  • in dem Auto → im Auto

Why “dem”?
The preposition in can take dative (location) or accusative (movement):

  • Wo? (Where? → location) → dative
    • Der Schulchor probt im Pausenhof. (They are there.)
  • Wohin? (Where to? → movement) → accusative
    • Der Schulchor geht in den Pausenhof. (They go there.)

In your sentence, it’s a location, so dative → in dem Pausenhof → im Pausenhof.

Why is it der Schulchor and dem/​im Pausenhof? What cases are these?
  • der Schulchor is nominative masculine singular → it’s the subject.
  • im Pausenhof = in dem Pausenhof → dative masculine singular → it’s the location.

Quick case overview in this sentence:

  • Wer/Was probt? – Who is rehearsing? → der Schulchor (nominative)
  • Wo probt der Schulchor? – Where is the choir rehearsing? → im Pausenhof (dative)
How is probt formed from proben? I thought it might be probt vs probiert.

The infinitive is proben (to rehearse). It’s a regular -en verb:

  • ich probe
  • du probst
  • er/sie/es probt
  • wir proben
  • ihr probt
  • sie/Sie proben

In the sentence, the subject is der Schulchor (3rd person singular), so you use:

  • er probt → der Schulchor probt

Probieren (to try, to taste) is a different verb:

  • Wir probieren den Kuchen. – We’re tasting / trying the cake.

So probt (from proben) is correct here.

The English translation might be “The school choir is rehearsing in the courtyard today.” Why doesn’t German use a continuous form like ist am Proben?

Standard German doesn’t have a separate continuous tense like English “is rehearsing”. The Präsens (simple present) covers:

  • present:

    • Der Schulchor probt im Pausenhof.
      = The school choir rehearses / is rehearsing in the courtyard.

  • near future (with a time word):

    • Der Schulchor probt morgen im Pausenhof.
      = The school choir is rehearsing / will rehearse there tomorrow.

There is a colloquial construction like ist am Proben, but it’s regional and informal and not used in standard written German. For learners, just use the normal present.

Can Heute probt der Schulchor im Pausenhof also mean “The school choir will rehearse in the courtyard today”?

Yes. With a clear time expression like heute, German Präsens is often used for the future:

  • Heute probt der Schulchor im Pausenhof.
    → The school choir is rehearsing in the courtyard today.
    → The school choir will rehearse in the courtyard today.

You could also say:

  • Heute wird der Schulchor im Pausenhof proben. (Futur I)

…but in everyday language, the simple present with heute, morgen, etc. is more common and sounds perfectly natural.

Where would I put nicht if I want to say “Today the school choir is not rehearsing in the courtyard”?

You usually put nicht before the part you want to negate.

  1. Negating the place (“not in the courtyard”):

    • Heute probt der Schulchor nicht im Pausenhof.
      → They are rehearsing, but somewhere else, not in the courtyard.

  2. Negating the whole action (more general):

    • Heute probt der Schulchor nicht.
      → Today, the choir is not rehearsing at all.

In your original sentence, the most natural negation with the place included is:

  • Heute probt der Schulchor nicht im Pausenhof.
How do I turn this statement into a yes/no question or a “where” question?

1. Yes/No question (Ja/Nein-Frage)
Move the verb to position 1, keep the rest in the same order:

  • Prob[t] der Schulchor heute im Pausenhof?
    → Is the school choir rehearsing in the courtyard today?

2. “Where” question (Wo-Frage)
Use wo + verb in second position:

  • Wo probt der Schulchor heute?
    → Where is the school choir rehearsing today?

Or, if you want to keep im Pausenhof:

  • Wo probt der Schulchor heute, im Pausenhof? (checking/confirming)
What exactly is a Pausenhof? Is it the same as Schulhof?
  • Hof = courtyard / yard
  • Schule = school
  • Pause = break, recess

Pausenhof is a compound noun:

  • Pausen + hof → Pausenhof
  • Literally: “break yard” → the yard used during school breaks.

Usage:

  • Schulhof = the general school yard/grounds
  • Pausenhof = specifically the area where students go during recess

In practice, people often use Schulhof and Pausenhof almost interchangeably, but Pausenhof emphasizes the recess function.

Why is Pausenhof masculine? Is there a rule?

In German compound nouns, the last part of the compound determines:

  • the gender
  • the plural form

Here:

  • Pausenhof → last element is Hof
  • Hof is masculine: der Hof

So:

  • der Pausenhof (masculine)
  • plural: die Pausenhöfe (like Höfe from Hof)

General pattern:

  • die Schule
    • der Hof → der Schulhof
  • die Pause
    • der Hof → der Pausenhof

When in doubt about a compound noun, check the gender of the last word.

Can I move heute and im Pausenhof around freely? For example: Im Pausenhof probt der Schulchor heute?

Yes, German word order is quite flexible, as long as you respect verb-second. All of these are grammatically correct:

  1. Heute probt der Schulchor im Pausenhof.
  2. Der Schulchor probt heute im Pausenhof.
  3. Der Schulchor probt im Pausenhof heute. (less common, but possible)
  4. Im Pausenhof probt der Schulchor heute.

They all have the same basic meaning, but:

  • Starting with Heute → time is highlighted.
  • Starting with Im Pausenhof → place is highlighted.
  • …im Pausenhof heute at the end → a bit marked/unusual, but okay in speech for emphasis or rhythm.

For learners, the safest and most neutral choice is:

  • Der Schulchor probt heute im Pausenhof.