The idea
In den Keller uses the accusative because it names a direction; im Keller (dative) names the location: Der Stromzähler ist im Keller. After modals German often leaves out gehen or fahren: Ich muss in den Keller. Times are given with zwischen … und … for a window. Klingeln bei + dative names whose bell: bei Wohnung zwölf, bei Müller. With service staff you do not know, Sie is the standard form.
Other ways to say it
“Wo genau befindet sich der Zähler, den Sie ablesen?” – Neutral question that lets the technician explain the location.
“Ich bin ab neun Uhr zu Hause und öffne Ihnen den Keller.” – Gives your availability and offers access in one sentence.
Examples
- Müssen Sie für die Ablesung in den Keller?Do you need to enter the basement for the reading?
- Ja, dort ist der Stromzähler.Yes, the electricity meter is there.
- Wann soll ich die Kellertür öffnen?When should I open the basement door?
- Wir kommen zwischen neun und zehn.We will come between nine and ten.
- Bitte klingeln Sie bei Wohnung zwölf.Please ring the bell for flat twelve.
- Ich zeige Ihnen dann den richtigen Zähler.I will then show you the correct meter.
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Watch out
“Müssen Sie für die Ablesung in dem Keller?” → “Müssen Sie für die Ablesung in den Keller?”: In is a two-way preposition. Movement towards a place takes the accusative (in den Keller); position takes the dative (im Keller). Here the technician is going there, so it must be accusative.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: Do you need to enter the basement for the reading?
Show answer or example answer
Müssen Sie für die Ablesung in den Keller?
Müssen opens the yes/no question. The implied verb gehen is dropped, and in den Keller is accusative because it states where the person needs to go.
Put the words in order: die / ich / Kellertür / öffnen / soll / Wann
Show answer or example answer
Wann soll ich die Kellertür öffnen?
Wann asks for a time, soll asks what is expected of you, and öffnen stands at the end as the infinitive. Kellertür is a compound: Keller plus Tür.
Write this sentence in German: I will then show you the correct meter.
Show answer or example answer
Ich zeige Ihnen dann den richtigen Zähler.
Zeigen takes two objects: Ihnen (dative, the person) and den richtigen Zähler (accusative, the thing). Dann marks that this happens once they arrive.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: Do you need to enter the basement for the reading?
Müssen Sie für die Ablesung in den Keller?
Put the words in order: die / ich / Kellertür / öffnen / soll / Wann
Wann soll ich die Kellertür öffnen?
Write this sentence in German: I will then show you the correct meter.
Ich zeige Ihnen dann den richtigen Zähler.
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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A letter says the meter will be read next week. Write two sentences to the company giving a time window and the flat number to ring.