The idea
“An der Reihe sein” is the neutral form of “dran sein”. “Sich stellen hinter” plus accusative describes taking a position: hinter die Dame. “Sich anstellen” means to join a queue. “Die Letzte/der Letzte” is a nominalised adjective. “Erkennen” means to make out or see clearly: “Ich konnte den Anfang nicht erkennen.” Konnte is the past of können.
Other ways to say it
“Stehen Sie hier an?” – Short check whether someone is in the queue.
“Wer ist hier der Letzte?” – Very common way to find the end of a queue.
Examples
- Waren Sie schon vor mir an der Reihe?Were you already ahead of me in the queue?
- Ich warte nur auf meine Begleitung.I am only waiting for the person with me.
- Dann stelle ich mich hinter die Dame dort.Then I will stand behind that lady.
- Ja, sie ist die Letzte in der Schlange.Yes, she is the last person in the queue.
- Danke, ich konnte den Anfang nicht erkennen.Thanks; I could not see where it began.
- Kein Problem, die Schlange geht um die Ecke.No problem; the queue goes around the corner.
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Watch out
“Dann stelle ich mich hinter der Dame dort.” → “Dann stelle ich mich hinter die Dame dort.”: Sich stellen describes moving into a position, so hinter takes the accusative: die Dame. After stehen it would be dative: hinter der Dame stehen.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: Were you already ahead of me in the queue?
Show answer or example answer
Waren Sie schon vor mir an der Reihe?
“Waren Sie” asks in the past; “vor mir” is dative, and “an der Reihe” is the fixed phrase for having the turn.
Put the words in order: Dame / Dann / die / dort / hinter / ich / mich / stelle
Show answer or example answer
Dann stelle ich mich hinter die Dame dort.
“Dann” opens the sentence; the reflexive “mich” follows the verb, and “hinter die Dame” is accusative for direction.
Write this sentence in German: No problem; the queue goes around the corner.
Show answer or example answer
Kein Problem, die Schlange geht um die Ecke.
“Kein Problem” reassures; “geht um die Ecke” uses um plus accusative for the queue’s course.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: Were you already ahead of me in the queue?
Waren Sie schon vor mir an der Reihe?
Put the words in order: Dame / Dann / die / dort / hinter / ich / mich / stelle
Dann stelle ich mich hinter die Dame dort.
Write this sentence in German: No problem; the queue goes around the corner.
Kein Problem, die Schlange geht um die Ecke.
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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Next time a queue looks unclear, ask who is last or whether someone is waiting, then tell the person where you will stand.