Vor dem Abflug zeigt die Mitarbeiterin den Notausgang.

Vor dem Abflug means before departure or before takeoff, depending on context.

It is at the beginning because German often puts a time expression first. That is very natural style. Starting with the time phrase gives it a bit of emphasis:

• Vor dem Abflug zeigt die Mitarbeiterin den Notausgang.
• Die Mitarbeiterin zeigt vor dem Abflug den Notausgang.

Both are grammatically correct, but the first version highlights when this happens.

Because vor takes the dative here, and Abflug is a masculine noun.

So:

• nominative: der Abflug
• accusative: den Abflug
• dative: dem Abflug

With time expressions like vor dem Abflug, German uses vor + dative.

Not always. Vor is a two-way preposition, which means it can take either:

• dative for location or time
• accusative for movement toward something

In this sentence, it is used with time, so it takes the dative:

• vor dem Abflug = before departure

A location example with dative:

• Das Auto steht vor dem Haus. = The car is in front of the house.

An accusative example with movement:

• Das Auto fährt vor das Haus. = The car drives up in front of the house.

Because German main clauses follow the verb-second rule.

That means the conjugated verb must be the second element in the sentence. If you put the time phrase first, the verb still has to come second:

• Vor dem Abflug | zeigt | die Mitarbeiterin den Notausgang.

So even though the subject is not first, the sentence is still correct.

Because the first position is already occupied by vor dem Abflug.

In German, only one element comes before the conjugated verb in a normal main clause. If the time phrase comes first, the subject usually comes after the verb:

• Vor dem Abflug zeigt die Mitarbeiterin den Notausgang.

This is very common in German and should not be translated too literally into English word order.

You identify it as the subject because:

1. zeigt needs someone who is doing the action.
2. den Notausgang is clearly accusative, so that is the direct object.
3. The meaning also makes sense: the staff member is the one showing something.

So:

• die Mitarbeiterin = the subject
• den Notausgang = the direct object

Even though die can sometimes be nominative or accusative, here the sentence structure makes the role clear.

Because Notausgang is a masculine noun: der Notausgang.

It is the direct object of zeigen, so it must be in the accusative case:

• nominative: der Notausgang
• accusative: den Notausgang

That is why the sentence says den Notausgang.

It is a compound noun:

• Not = emergency
• Ausgang = exit

So Notausgang literally means emergency exit.

A useful rule: in German compound nouns, the last part determines the gender. Since Ausgang is masculine (der Ausgang), Notausgang is also masculine (der Notausgang).

Mitarbeiterin means female employee, female staff member, or sometimes simply staff member when the feminine form matters.

It is the feminine form of:

• der Mitarbeiter = male employee / employee
• die Mitarbeiterin = female employee

In this sentence, it suggests that the person showing the emergency exit is a woman.

It can mean both, depending on context.

In this sentence, zeigt den Notausgang could mean:

• shows the emergency exit
• points out the emergency exit

So the verb is a little broader than just physically displaying something. It can also mean directing someone’s attention to something.

Yes. German word order is flexible, as long as the conjugated verb stays in second position in a main clause.

For example:

• Vor dem Abflug zeigt die Mitarbeiterin den Notausgang.
• Die Mitarbeiterin zeigt vor dem Abflug den Notausgang.

Both are normal. The difference is mainly emphasis:

• first version: emphasis on before departure
• second version: emphasis on the staff member

Usually yes, but the exact nuance depends on context.

Abflug is commonly used for:

• a flight’s scheduled departure
• the act of leaving by plane
• the time around takeoff

So in an airport or airline context, vor dem Abflug is very natural for before departure.

In normal full sentences, vor dem Abflug is the standard form.

You may sometimes see vor Abflug in shortened styles such as:

• notices
• labels
• headlines
• very compact instructions

But for ordinary sentence-building, learners should prefer vor dem Abflug.