das Tor
die Garage
die Wand

The idea

Two-way prepositions (in, an, auf, hinter, neben, vor …) take the accusative for a destination (wohin?) and the dative for a location (wo?). “Gehören” plus a direction (“gehört hinter das Tor”) describes where something should go, so it takes the accusative too. Zurückstellen and hinstellen are separable. “So … wie” compares manner: “Stell sie so hin wie die daneben.” Die Tonne is the everyday word for a wheelie bin.

Other ways to say it

“Wo ist der Platz für die Mülltonnen?” – Neutral question about the bin area in general.

“Kommt die Biotonne auch dorthin?” – Follow-up for a specific bin type; Biotonne is for organic waste.

Examples

  • Wohin soll ich diese Tonne zurückstellen?Where should I put this bin back?
  • Sie gehört hinter das kleine Tor.It belongs behind the small gate.
  • Meinen Sie das Tor neben den Garagen?Do you mean the gate next to the garages?
  • Ja, dort stehen auch die anderen Tonnen.Yes, the other bins are there too.
  • Soll der Deckel zur Wand zeigen?Should the lid face the wall?
  • Stell sie bitte so hin wie die daneben.Please place it like the one next to it.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

“Sie gehört hinter dem kleinen Tor.” → “Sie gehört hinter das kleine Tor.”: Here gehören describes where the bin should be put, a destination, so hinter takes the accusative. The dative would only describe where it already stands.

Try it yourself

  1. Translate into German: Where should I put this bin back?

    Show answer or example answer

    Wohin soll ich diese Tonne zurückstellen?

    “Wohin” asks for a destination; the modal “soll” is second, “diese Tonne” is accusative, and “zurückstellen” closes the question.

  2. Put the words in order: das / den / Garagen / Meinen / neben / Sie / Tor

    Show answer or example answer

    Meinen Sie das Tor neben den Garagen?

    “Meinen Sie” checks understanding; “das Tor” is the object, and “neben den Garagen” is dative plural for location.

  3. Write this sentence in German: Please place it like the one next to it.

    Show answer or example answer

    Stell sie bitte so hin wie die daneben.

    The du-imperative “Stell … hin” splits the separable verb; “so … wie die daneben” compares with the neighbouring bin.

Use it today

Look at where the bins stand in your building and write two sentences explaining to a new neighbour where each bin goes back after collection.