The idea
Zu is used for buildings, entrances and people: zum Seiteneingang (zu dem), zur Halle (zu der). Nach is reserved for towns and countries without an article. The genitive der Halle attaches the entrance to the building. “Ich prüfe, wo ich halten kann” is an indirect question with the verb at the end. Abstimmen means to agree on, to coordinate. The driver is addressed with Sie.
Other ways to say it
“Können Sie mich am Hintereingang absetzen?” – Neutral; absetzen is the usual verb for dropping a passenger.
“Bitte nicht zum Haupteingang, sondern zur Parkstraße.” – Short and clear; nicht … sondern corrects a likely assumption.
Examples
- Bitte fahren Sie zum Seiteneingang der Halle.Please drive to the side entrance of the hall.
- Meinen Sie den Eingang zur Parkstraße?Do you mean the entrance on Parkstraße?
- Ja, dort wartet meine Gruppe.Yes, my group is waiting there.
- Ich prüfe, wo ich halten kann.I will check where I can stop.
- Ein Stück zu Fuß ist für mich okay.A short walk is fine for me.
- Dann stimmen wir den Haltepunkt gleich ab.Then we will agree on the stopping point shortly.
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Watch out
“Bitte fahren Sie nach dem Seiteneingang.” → “Bitte fahren Sie zum Seiteneingang.”: English “to” tempts learners to use nach everywhere, but nach is only for towns and countries. For entrances, buildings and people use zu.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: Please drive to the side entrance of the hall.
Show answer or example answer
Bitte fahren Sie zum Seiteneingang der Halle.
Polite imperative “fahren Sie” softened by “Bitte”; “zum Seiteneingang” gives the direction, “der Halle” is genitive.
Put the words in order: dort / Gruppe / Ja / meine / wartet
Show answer or example answer
Ja, dort wartet meine Gruppe.
“Dort” opens the sentence, so the verb “wartet” comes before the subject “meine Gruppe”; the reason is given simply.
Write this sentence in German: Then we will agree on the stopping point shortly.
Show answer or example answer
Dann stimmen wir den Haltepunkt gleich ab.
Abstimmen is separable, so “ab” goes to the end; “gleich” means shortly, and der Haltepunkt is the exact stopping place.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: Please drive to the side entrance of the hall.
Bitte fahren Sie zum Seiteneingang der Halle.
Put the words in order: dort / Gruppe / Ja / meine / wartet
Ja, dort wartet meine Gruppe.
Write this sentence in German: Then we will agree on the stopping point shortly.
Dann stimmen wir den Haltepunkt gleich ab.
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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Pick a large building you know, such as a hospital or stadium, and tell an imagined taxi driver which entrance to use and why.