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Der Zug hat Verspätung, also warte ich im Café.

Der Zug hat Verspätung, also warte ich im Café.
The train is delayed, so I wait in the café.
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Questions & Answers about Der Zug hat Verspätung, also warte ich im Café.

Why is it Der Zug and not just Zug?

German nouns almost always need an article (like der/die/das or ein/eine).
Der Zug = the train (specific train in the context).
You’d mainly omit the article in special cases (headlines, signs, lists), e.g. Zug verspätet on a display.

What does hat Verspätung literally mean, and why is it hat?

Literally it’s has delay. German often uses haben + a noun where English uses to be + adjective:

  • Der Zug hat Verspätung. = The train is delayed.
    Related: Der Zug hat 10 Minuten Verspätung. = The train is 10 minutes late.
Why is Verspätung a noun and not an adjective like verspätet?

Both are possible, but they’re different common patterns:

  • Der Zug hat Verspätung. (very common, neutral)
  • Der Zug ist verspätet. (also correct; focuses more on “is delayed” as a state)

Verspätung is a feminine noun (die Verspätung), but after hat you use the noun without die.

What does also mean here? Is it the same as English also?

No. German also usually means so / therefore / well then (a conclusion or transition).
In this sentence: …, also warte ich … = …, so I’m waiting …
English also (= “in addition”) is usually auch in German.

Why is there a comma before also?

Because also introduces a second main clause here. German normally separates two independent main clauses with a comma, especially when a linking word like also, denn, aber, und is used:
Der Zug hat Verspätung, also warte ich im Café.

Why is the word order also warte ich… and not also ich warte…?

In German main clauses, the conjugated verb is typically in position 2 (V2 rule).
When also takes the first position, the verb comes next:

  • Also warte ich… (correct: verb in 2nd position)
  • Also ich warte… is possible in speech, but it sounds more like a discourse filler (Well, I’m waiting…) and is less “clean” as a standard written structure.
Why is it warte ich and not ich warte?

Because of the same V2 rule: something other than the subject is placed first (also), so the subject moves after the verb:

  • Ich warte im Café. (subject first)
  • Also warte ich im Café. (connector first → verb second)
What tense is warte?

It’s present tense (ich warte). German present tense often covers what English might express with present continuous:

  • Ich warte. = I wait / I am waiting.
Why is it im Café and not in dem Café?

im is a contraction of in dem (dative masculine/neuter). It’s extremely common in everyday German:

  • im Café = in the café
    You’d use the full form in dem Café mainly for emphasis or contrast, e.g. in dem Café da drüben.
Why is it in + dative here (so im)—how do I know it’s not accusative?

With two-way prepositions like in, German uses:

  • dative for location (where?) → Wo?
  • accusative for movement/direction (where to?) → Wohin?

Here it’s location: you’re waiting in the café (already there) → im Café (dative).
If it were movement: Ich gehe ins Café. (ins = in das, accusative)

Is Café masculine, feminine, or neuter?

das Café is neuter. That’s why it’s in dem Café → im Café.
You’ll also see spellings like Cafe; gender stays the same.

Could I replace also with deshalb or darum?

Yes, and the meaning stays very similar:

  • Der Zug hat Verspätung, deshalb warte ich im Café.
  • …, darum warte ich im Café. All of these still trigger normal main-clause word order with the verb in second position.
Why doesn’t German use weil here, like “because”?

You can use weil, but it changes the structure:

  • Der Zug hat Verspätung, also warte ich im Café. (two main clauses)
  • Ich warte im Café, weil der Zug Verspätung hat. (weil clause → verb goes to the end: hat)

Using also emphasizes the conclusion/result; using weil emphasizes the reason.

Can Der Zug hat Verspätung stand alone as a full sentence?

Yes. It’s a complete main clause: subject (Der Zug) + verb (hat) + object (Verspätung).
You can use it by itself, e.g. as an announcement or explanation.

Is there any nuance between im Café and im Bahnhofscafé?

im Café is general: any café (could be near the station, could be elsewhere depending on context).
im Bahnhofscafé is specific: the café at the station. If you want to be explicit that it’s at the station, im Bahnhofscafé (or im Café am Bahnhof) is clearer.