The idea
Location prepositions take the dative when they answer wo?: vor dem Haus, hinter dem Baum, gegenüber der Mauer. Gegenüber can come before or after its noun (der Mauer gegenüber). Adjectives after der in the dative end in -en: der roten Backsteinmauer, dem zweiten Baum. Stehen is used for cars and upright objects. “Von der Kreuzung aus” means seen from the junction.
Other ways to say it
“Das Auto parkt in der Seitenstraße, gleich nach der Bäckerei.” – Neutral; parken works for cars as the subject too.
“Du findest es auf der linken Straßenseite, kurz vor der Ampel.” – Casual du form for friends sharing a car.
Examples
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Watch out
“Es steht gegenüber die rote Backsteinmauer.” → “Es steht gegenüber der roten Backsteinmauer.”: Gegenüber always takes the dative, so the feminine article becomes der and the adjective takes -en. Learners often keep the nominative form.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: The car is not directly outside the building.
Show answer or example answer
Das Auto steht nicht direkt vor dem Haus.
“Nicht direkt” negates only the exact position; “vor dem Haus” is dative because it answers where the car is.
Put the words in order: Backsteinmauer / der / Es / gegenüber / roten / steht
Show answer or example answer
Es steht gegenüber der roten Backsteinmauer.
Gegenüber with dative: “der roten Backsteinmauer”; the weak adjective ending -en follows the article der.
Write this sentence in German: Then I will look on that side of the street.
Show answer or example answer
Dann suche ich auf dieser Straßenseite.
“Dann” moves “suche” to second place; “auf dieser Straßenseite” is dative and limits the search to one side.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: The car is not directly outside the building.
Das Auto steht nicht direkt vor dem Haus.
Put the words in order: Backsteinmauer / der / Es / gegenüber / roten / steht
Es steht gegenüber der roten Backsteinmauer.
Write this sentence in German: Then I will look on that side of the street.
Dann suche ich auf dieser Straßenseite.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe in three German sentences where a car, bike or scooter is parked near your home, using at least two landmarks and dative prepositions.