Das Rücklicht dient der Sicherheit.

The rear light is for safety.

Breakdown of Das Rücklicht dient der Sicherheit.

• die Sicherheit: the safety
• das Rücklicht: the rear light
• dienen: to serve a purpose

Questions & Answers about Das Rücklicht dient der Sicherheit.

What does dient mean here?

dient is the 3rd person singular form of the verb dienen, which means to serve or to be for the purpose of something.

So:

• Das Rücklicht dient der Sicherheit. = The tail light serves safety / is for safety / serves the purpose of safety.

In natural English, this often sounds better as:

• The tail light is for safety.
• The tail light serves to improve safety.

Why is it der Sicherheit and not die Sicherheit?

Because the verb dienen takes the dative case.

So the pattern is:

• jemandem / etwas dienen = to serve someone / something

That means the noun after dienen must be in the dative.

Here, die Sicherheit is a feminine noun. Its forms are:

• nominative: die Sicherheit
• accusative: die Sicherheit
• dative: der Sicherheit

So in this sentence:

• Das Rücklicht = subject
• dient = verb
• der Sicherheit = dative phrase

How do I know that Das Rücklicht is the subject?