The idea
The Sie imperative puts the verb first with Sie after it: Gehen Sie. Durch takes the accusative: durch die Tür. “Nach Ihnen” uses nach + dative. “Die Tür aufhalten” or “offen halten” means to hold it open; noch einen Moment means a moment longer. “Hinter jemandem nachkommen” means to follow behind. With strangers in public, Sie is the safe default.
Other ways to say it
“Bitte, nach Ihnen!” – Short and polite; the closest match to English “After you”.
“Geh ruhig vor!” – Casual du version; vorgehen means to go ahead of someone.
“Ich halte Ihnen die Tür auf.” – Neutral; announces the gesture, useful when someone is carrying things.
Examples
- Gehen Sie ruhig zuerst durch die Tür.Please go through the door first.
- Vielen Dank, ich habe beide Hände voll.Thank you; I have both hands full.
- Ich halte die Tür noch einen Moment offen.I will hold the door open a moment longer.
- Jetzt bin ich mit den Taschen durch.Now I am through with the bags.
- Dann komme ich hinter Ihnen nach.Then I will follow behind you.
- Danke für die kurze Hilfe am Eingang.Thank you for the brief help at the entrance.
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Watch out
“Nach Sie, bitte.” → “Nach Ihnen, bitte.”: Nach always takes the dative, so the formal pronoun Sie becomes Ihnen. The same applies to du: nach dir.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: Please go through the door first.
Show answer or example answer
Gehen Sie ruhig zuerst durch die Tür.
Sie imperative: verb first, then Sie. Ruhig makes it an offer, zuerst sets the order, and durch takes the accusative die Tür.
Put the words in order: die / einen / halte / Ich / Moment / noch / offen / Tür
Show answer or example answer
Ich halte die Tür noch einen Moment offen.
“Die Tür offen halten” keeps the door open. “Noch einen Moment” is an accusative time phrase meaning a moment longer.
Write this sentence in German: Thank you for the brief help at the entrance.
Show answer or example answer
Danke für die kurze Hilfe am Eingang.
Für takes the accusative: für die Hilfe. “Am Eingang” is an + dem, naming the place where the help happened.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: Please go through the door first.
Gehen Sie ruhig zuerst durch die Tür.
Put the words in order: die / einen / halte / Ich / Moment / noch / offen / Tür
Ich halte die Tür noch einen Moment offen.
Write this sentence in German: Thank you for the brief help at the entrance.
Danke für die kurze Hilfe am Eingang.
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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At the entrance of a pharmacy, an older man with a walking stick arrives at the same time as you. Let him go first with one polite Sie sentence and say you will hold the door.