Wir richten den Lenker aus.

Here ausrichten means to align, to straighten, or to adjust so that something is properly lined up.

So Wir richten den Lenker aus means something like We align the handlebar or We are straightening the handlebars, depending on context.

Because ausrichten is a separable verb.

In a normal main clause, German separable verbs split:

• the conjugated part goes in the usual verb position
• the prefix goes to the end

So:

• infinitive: ausrichten
• main clause: Wir richten den Lenker aus.

This is very common in German:

• Ich stehe auf. = I get up
• Sie ruft an. = She calls
• Wir richten den Lenker aus.

Because in a German main clause, the finite verb normally comes in the second position.

Here the finite verb is richten.

So the structure is:

• Wir = subject
• richten = finite verb in second position
• den Lenker = object
• aus = separated prefix at the end

So Wir ausrichten den Lenker is not correct German word order.

Den Lenker is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb.

The sentence answers the question:

• What are we aligning?
• Den Lenker

So the verb ausrichten is acting directly on the handlebar, which makes it the direct object.

Because Lenker is a masculine noun: der Lenker in the nominative.

But after a verb like this, when it is the direct object, it changes to the accusative:

• nominative: der Lenker
• accusative: den Lenker

So:

• Der Lenker ist schief. = The handlebar is crooked.
• Wir richten den Lenker aus. = We align the handlebar.

In this context, Lenker most likely means handlebar or steering handle, especially for a bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle.

Depending on context, Lenker can sometimes mean driver or person steering, but in this sentence that would be much less likely. Since you align or straighten a physical part, the meaning here is almost certainly handlebar.

It can mean either one.

The German present tense often covers both:

• English simple present: We align the handlebar
• English present continuous: We are aligning the handlebar

German usually does not make that distinction in the same way English does. The exact meaning depends on context.

Yes, German word order can change for emphasis, but the finite verb still stays in second position in a main clause.

For example:

• Wir richten den Lenker aus. = neutral
• Den Lenker richten wir aus. = emphasizes the handlebar
• Ausrichten cannot stay split incorrectly, though

So the position of wir and den Lenker can change, but richten must stay in second position and aus stays at the end in a main clause.

In a subordinate clause, the separable verb usually becomes whole again and goes to the end.

For example:

• ..., weil wir den Lenker ausrichten. = ..., because we are aligning the handlebar

Notice that in the subordinate clause, you do not split it:

• main clause: Wir richten den Lenker aus.
• subordinate clause: ..., weil wir den Lenker ausrichten.

No, not exactly.

Richten by itself has different meanings, such as:

• to direct
• to set
• sometimes to judge in legal contexts

The prefix aus- changes the meaning. Ausrichten can mean things like:

• to align
• to orient
• to set up properly
• in other contexts, even to convey a message

So in this sentence, you should learn ausrichten as the full verb.

You would say:

Wir richten einen Lenker aus.

Because Lenker is masculine, the accusative indefinite article is:

• nominative: ein Lenker is not used; it would be ein Lenker only in very limited contexts because masculine nominative indefinite article is ein
• accusative: einen Lenker

So:

• den Lenker = the handlebar
• einen Lenker = a handlebar