Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse auf.

I keep the train ticket in my wallet.

Breakdown of Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse auf.

• in: in
• ich: I
• mein: my
• die Geldbörse: the wallet
• aufbewahren: to keep
• das Zugticket: the train ticket

Questions & Answers about Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse auf.

Why is auf at the end of the sentence? What is its function?

Auf is part of the separable verb aufbewahren (to keep, to store, to put away safely).

In the infinitive, it’s aufbewahren:

• Ich möchte das Zugticket aufbewahren. – I would like to keep the train ticket.

In the main clause in the present tense, the verb “splits”:

• Ich bewahre das Zugticket auf.

So:

• bewahre = the conjugated part
• auf = the separable prefix, moved to the end

The basic word order rule:
Subject – conjugated verb – (other elements) – separable prefix

Could I just say Ich bewahre das Zugticket without auf?

You can say Ich bewahre das Zugticket auf. or just Ich bewahre das Zugticket., but the meanings are not identical:

• bewahren alone = “to preserve, to protect from something”
  • e.g. Gott bewahre! – God forbid!
• aufbewahren = “to keep/store something somewhere safely for some time”

In everyday language, when you mean “I keep/store the ticket (in some place)”, German speakers strongly prefer aufbewahren with auf:

• Ich bewahre das Zugticket (irgendwo) auf. – I keep the ticket (somewhere).

So in your sentence, you really need auf for the natural, everyday meaning.

Why is it das Zugticket but in meiner Geldbörse? Why different forms?

Two different cases are used:

1. das Zugticket – accusative (direct object)

   • The verb aufbewahren takes a direct object in the accusative:
     • Wen oder was bewahre ich auf? – What am I keeping?
       → das Zugticket

2. in meiner Geldbörse – dative (location)

   • The preposition in can take accusative (into) or dative (in/at).
   • Here it describes where the ticket is kept (location, no movement), so it takes the dative:
     • Wo bewahre ich es auf? – Where do I keep it?
       → in meiner Geldbörse

So:

• Direct object: das Zugticket (accusative)
• Place/location: in meiner Geldbörse (dative)

Why is it meiner Geldbörse and not mein Geldbörse or meine Geldbörse?

Because:

1. Geldbörse is grammatically feminine: die Geldbörse
2. The preposition in with a static location uses the dative case.
3. Feminine singular in the dative case ends in -er.

Declension of mein (my), singular:

• Masculine:
  
  • Nominative: mein
  • Accusative: meinen
  • Dative: meinem
• Neuter:
  
  • Nominative: mein
  • Accusative: mein
  • Dative: meinem
• Feminine:
  
  • Nominative: meine
  • Accusative: meine
  • Dative: meiner

Here we have feminine + dative (because of in + location):

→ in meiner Geldbörse

Why is in followed by the dative here? When would it take the accusative?

In is a “two-way preposition” (Wechselpräposition). It can take:

• Dative → for location (answering Wo? – Where?)
• Accusative → for direction/movement (answering Wohin? – Where to?)

Your sentence describes a location (where the ticket is kept):

• Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse auf.
  → Wo? In meiner Geldbörse. → dative

If you describe movement into the wallet, you use the accusative:

• Ich stecke das Zugticket in meine Geldbörse.
  → Wohin? In meine Geldbörse. → accusative

So:

• in meiner Geldbörse (dative) = in my wallet (location)
• in meine Geldbörse (accusative) = into my wallet (direction)

Can I change the word order? For example: Ich bewahre in meiner Geldbörse das Zugticket auf.

Yes, you can change the order, but the usual and most neutral order is:

• Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse auf.

Other grammatically correct options:

• Ich bewahre in meiner Geldbörse das Zugticket auf.
  → less natural; sounds slightly marked, as if you especially want to highlight “in my wallet”.

• In meiner Geldbörse bewahre ich das Zugticket auf.
  → emphasizes the location (maybe contrasting it with somewhere else).

• Das Zugticket bewahre ich in meiner Geldbörse auf.
  → emphasizes “the ticket” (as opposed to something else).

So the sentence structure is flexible, but the original is the default, most neutral order.

What is the difference between aufbewahren and aufheben?

Both can be translated as “to keep” or “to save,” but they’re not identical:

• aufbewahren

  • to store/keep something somewhere, usually safely and for some time
  • often with an explicit or implied place
  • Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse auf.
  • Wir bewahren wichtige Dokumente im Safe auf.

• aufheben

  • to pick something up / to keep something (often that you might otherwise throw away)
  • Heb das bitte auf. – Please pick that up / keep that.
  • Ich hebe die Quittung auf. – I’m keeping the receipt (for later use).

In your sentence, aufbewahren fits better, because you’re emphasizing where you systematically keep the ticket.

Could I say Ich halte das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse instead of bewahre ... auf?

You can say it, but it sounds unusual if you mean “I keep/store it there.”

• halten focuses on physically holding something (in your hand, arm, etc.), or metaphorically “to consider something (to be).”
  • Ich halte das Buch in der Hand. – I am holding the book in my hand.
  • Ich halte das für eine gute Idee. – I consider that a good idea.

For “I keep/store the ticket in my wallet,” Germans would normally use:

• aufbewahren
• or simply haben: Ich habe das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse.

So:

• Natural: Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse auf.
• Also okay, but more neutral/general: Ich habe das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse.
• Unusual for this meaning: Ich halte das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse.

Can I use aufbewahren without saying where? For example: Ich bewahre das Zugticket auf.

Yes.

• Ich bewahre das Zugticket auf.
  → I keep the train ticket (somewhere / carefully / safe).

In that case, you’re just not mentioning the place. The idea of “keeping it safe” is still there. Adding in meiner Geldbörse simply gives more information about the location.

Why Zugticket and not Fahrkarte or just Ticket?

All three are possible in German, but they differ slightly:

• Zugticket
  • transparent for English speakers (“train ticket”)
  • common in everyday speech, especially among younger people and in many regions
• Fahrkarte
  • more traditional word, often used by transport companies and in more formal or neutral contexts
  • Zugfahrkarte, Bahnfahrkarte are also possible but longer
• Ticket
  • borrowed from English
  • very common in modern usage, especially in cities and with modern branding (e.g. Bahn-Ticket, Online-Ticket)

You could also hear:

• Ich bewahre die Fahrkarte in meiner Geldbörse auf.
• Ich bewahre das Ticket in meiner Geldbörse auf.

They are all understandable; Zugticket is just a specific, clear compound in your example.

Why Geldbörse? Are there other common words for “wallet / purse” in German?

Yes, there are several common synonyms, and usage depends on region and personal preference:

• die Geldbörse – very standard, neutral
• das Portemonnaie / Portmonee – very common in everyday speech
• die Brieftasche – often a bit more formal or old-fashioned; sometimes a larger, flat wallet
• das Wallet – only in some tech or finance contexts (e.g. crypto wallet), not a normal everyday word

You could also say:

• Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meinem Portemonnaie auf.
• Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meiner Brieftasche auf.

The grammar (case, possessive endings) would change accordingly, because the gender may be different:

• das Portemonnaie → in meinem Portemonnaie
• die Brieftasche → in meiner Brieftasche

Does the present tense here mean I am doing it right now, or that I usually keep my ticket there?

German Präsens (present tense) is quite flexible. It can express:

1. A current action:

   • Ich esse gerade. – I am eating (right now).

2. A general habit:

   • Ich esse oft Pasta. – I often eat pasta.

3. The near future (with context):

   • Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin. – I am going to Berlin tomorrow.

In your sentence:

• Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meiner Geldbörse auf.

It can mean:

• A general habit: I (usually / always) keep the ticket in my wallet.
• Or a present decision: I keep it there (that’s where I store it).

Context would clarify, but both interpretations are natural.

How do you pronounce bewahre, aufbewahren, and Geldbörse?

Approximate pronunciation (IPA and rough English hints):

• bewahre – /bəˈvaːʁə/

  • be- like “beh”
  • -wa- like “vah” (with a long aa sound)
  • -hre: the h is silent; r is the German R; e like a short “uh/eh”

• aufbewahren – /ˈaʊ̯fbəˌvaːʁən/

  • auf – /aʊ̯f/ like “owf” in “ouch” + f
  • be- – as above
  • -wa- – as above
  • -ren – “rün” with German R and a schwa /ən/

• Geldbörse – /ˈɡɛltˌbœʁzə/

  • Geld – /ɡɛlt/ like “gelt” (“e” as in “bed”)
  • bör- – /bœʁ/ “bör” with rounded lips (like French oe in sœur)
  • -se – /zə/ like “zuh”

The most tricky parts for English speakers are the German R and the rounded vowel ö in Börse.

What are the plural forms of Zugticket and Geldbörse?

• das Zugticket → die Zugtickets

  • Ich bewahre die Zugtickets in meiner Geldbörse auf.

• die Geldbörse → die Geldbörsen

  • Ich bewahre das Zugticket in meinen Geldbörsen auf.
    (grammatically correct, but unusual – who has several wallets for one ticket?)

More natural plurals in context:

• Ich bewahre die Zugtickets in meinen Geldbörsen auf. – I keep the train tickets in my wallets. (if you really had multiple wallets)