Deutsch Mit Leo

Das alte Fahrrad

B1 The old bicycle · 50 sentences

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English translation

When my grandfather died, I inherited his old bicycle, which had stood in the basement for years. It was rusty, the tires were flat, and the brakes were no longer working. Although my friends laughed, I decided to repair it. I had no experience, admittedly, but on the internet I found numerous instructions that helped me further. First, the entire bicycle was cleaned thoroughly. After that, the tires and the chain had to be replaced, which was more expensive than I had expected. After three weekends in the garage, the bicycle was finally finished. When I rode through the city with it for the first time, I felt as if my grandfather were beside me. Today I ride it to work every day, even when it rains. Who knows, maybe one day it will belong to my own grandchild. But last autumn the story nearly ended differently. One morning I stood in front of the station, staring at an empty bike lock. Someone had broken the lock open and stolen the bicycle. I was so angry that at first I didn't know what to do. Then I went to the police to report the theft. The police officer I told everything to was friendly, but not particularly optimistic. He said old bikes were rarely found, because they were quickly sold on. Even so, I gave a detailed description: a dark green frame, a brown leather saddle and a little bell shaped like a frog. Over the following days I looked everywhere for my bicycle. I walked through back yards, looked in parks and asked neighbours whether they had seen anything. My friends, who had laughed at the rusty bike back then, helped me look. One of them even put up notes on lampposts and trees. A week went by without anything happening. I had almost given up hope. The following Sunday I walked around the flea market at the harbour with my sister. Actually I only wanted to buy an old lamp for my living room. Suddenly I heard a familiar ring. A boy, maybe twelve years old, pushed a green bicycle past us. On the handlebars shone a little bell shaped like a frog. My heart was beating so loudly that I thought everyone could hear it. We followed the boy to a stall where an elderly man was selling used bicycles. The man claimed he had bought the bicycle a week earlier from a stranger. When I showed him a photo of my grandfather with this very bicycle, he went pale. Without arguing for long, he gave me back the bicycle. He comforted the boy, who had been on a test ride, with an ice cream. Because the lock had damaged the frame during the theft, I took the bicycle to a workshop. The mechanic was an old man with big, oil-smeared hands. He looked at the frame for a long time and said nothing. Then he asked me where I had got this bicycle. I told him about my grandfather. Then he smiled and pointed to two small letters engraved in the metal under the saddle. They were my grandfather's initials. The mechanic explained that, as a young apprentice, he had assembled this very bicycle. My grandfather had got it as a wedding present back then, from his colleagues at the factory. He didn't want any money for the repair. Instead he asked me to visit him on the bicycle now and then. Since then I've stopped at his workshop every month. Over a cup of coffee he tells me stories about my grandfather that I had never heard. So I didn't just inherit a bicycle, but also a part of his story. And the little frog bell still rings on every ride today.

Grammar, sentence by sentence

Explained for B1 The text reads like B1.

The narrator repairs a grandfather's rusty bicycle, loses it to a thief, finds it again at a flea market and learns its history from the old mechanic who built it. The story is told in the Präteritum and practises relative clauses, the passive, the Plusquamperfekt, reported speech and the Konjunktiv II in the past.

  1. ↑ Back to the story

    Als mein Großvater starb,Time erbteVerb ichSubject sein altes Fahrrad,Accusative das jahrelang im Keller gestanden hatte.

    “When my grandfather died, I inherited his old bicycle, which had stood in the basement for years.”

    • Großvater der Großvater · nominative — subject of the als-clause
    • starb sterben · Präteritum · Indikativ — verb in the temporal subordinate clause
    • erbte erben · Präteritum · Indikativ — conjugated verb in main clause position 2
    • Fahrrad das Fahrrad · accusative — direct object of erben
    • das nominative — relative pronoun referring to das Fahrrad, subject of relative clause
    • gestanden hatte stehen · Plusquamperfekt · Indikativ — prior past event before erbte

    At this level

    Temporal clause with als B1

    Als mein Großvater starb, erbte ich

    The conjunction als introduces a subordinate clause describing a single, completed event in the past. Like in all subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb (starb) moves to the end. Because the subordinate clause occupies position 1 of the main sentence, the main clause follows with verb-subject inversion (erbte ich).

    Relative clauses B1

    das jahrelang im Keller gestanden hatte

    A relative clause gives extra information about a preceding noun, matching it in gender and number while taking its case from its role inside the clause. Here, das refers back to neuter singular das Fahrrad and acts as the subject of the relative clause. The conjugated auxiliary verb (hatte) stands at the very end of the clause.

    Plusquamperfekt (Past Perfect) B1

    gestanden hatte

    The Plusquamperfekt expresses an action completed before another past event. It is formed with the Präteritum of haben or sein plus the Partizip II at the end of the clause. In this sentence, the bike had already been standing in the cellar before the speaker inherited it.

    Review

    • The Präteritum A2 The Präteritum is the narrative past tense commonly used in written German and for storytelling.
  2. ↑ Back to the story

    › describes the condition of the bike

    EsSubject warVerb rostig,Manner die ReifenSubject warenVerb platt,Manner undConnector die BremsenSubject funktioniertenVerb nicht mehr.Negation

    “It was rusty, the tires were flat, and the brakes were no longer working.”

    • Reifen der Reifen · nominative — subject of waren
    • Bremsen die Bremse · nominative — subject of funktionierten

    Review

    • Coordinating conjunctions A1 The coordinating conjunction und connects clauses in position 0 without altering word order.
    • Negation with nicht mehr A1 The phrase nicht mehr negates a continuous state or repeated action to mean no longer or not anymore.
  3. ↑ Back to the story

    › contrasts friends' skepticism with personal decision

    Obwohl meine Freunde lachten,Manner beschlossVerb ich,Subject es zu reparieren.Accusative

    “Although my friends laughed, I decided to repair it.”

    • beschloss beschließen · Präteritum · Indikativ — irregular Präteritum of beschließen

    At this level

    Concessive clauses with obwohl B1

    Obwohl meine Freunde lachten, beschloss ich

    The conjunction obwohl introduces a concessive subordinate clause that states an obstacle or contrast. The conjugated verb lachten goes to the end of the clause. When the obwohl-clause stands first, the main clause begins directly with the verb (beschloss), adhering to the verb, comma, verb structure.

    Review

    • Infinitive with zu A2 Certain verbs like beschließen take an infinitive clause with zu at the end, separated by a comma.
  4. ↑ Back to the story

    › explains how the obstacle of lack of experience was solved

    IchSubject hatteVerb zwar keine Erfahrung,Accusative aberConnector im InternetPlace fandVerb ichSubject zahlreiche Anleitungen,Accusative die mir weiterhalfen.

    “I had no experience, admittedly, but on the internet I found numerous instructions that helped me further.”

    • Erfahrung die Erfahrung · accusative — direct object of hatte
    • Anleitungen die Anleitung · accusative — direct object of fand
    • mir ich · dative — dative object required by weiterhelfen
    • weiterhalfen weiterhelfen · Präteritum · Indikativ — separable prefix attached to verb stem at end of relative clause

    At this level

    Two-part conjunctions: zwar ... aber B1

    hatte zwar keine Erfahrung, aber

    The connector pair zwar ... aber contrasts a concession with a compensating fact, meaning admittedly ... but. Zwar usually occupies the middle field or position 1 of the first clause, while aber starts the second clause in position 0. This construction helps balance opposing ideas in a single complex thought.

    Review

    • Adjective endings without article A2 Plural adjectives without a preceding article take the strong ending -e in the nominative and accusative.
    • Separable verbs A1 Separable prefixes attach back to the verb form when placed at the end of subordinate clauses.
  5. ↑ Back to the story

    › describes the first step of the restoration

    ZuerstTime wurdeVerb das ganze FahrradSubject gründlichManner geputzt.Verb end

    “First, the entire bicycle was cleaned thoroughly.”

    • wurde werden · Präteritum · Indikativ — auxiliary verb for the Vorgangspassiv
    • geputzt putzen · Partizip II · Indikativ — Partizip II forming the passive with wurde

    At this level

    Vorgangspassiv (Process Passive) in the Präteritum B1

    wurde das ganze Fahrrad gründlich geputzt

    The passive voice focuses on the action itself rather than the actor. It is formed using a conjugated form of werden plus the Partizip II placed at the end of the sentence. In the Präteritum, wurde/wurden serves as the auxiliary verb in position 2, enclosing the other elements within the Satzklammer.

    Review

    • Weak adjective endings after definite articles A2 Neuter singular nouns after the definite article take the weak adjective ending -e in the nominative case.
  6. ↑ Back to the story

    › describes the next repair step and an unexpected cost

    DanachTime musstenVerb die Reifen und die KetteSubject ersetzt werden,Verb end was teurer war, als ich erwartet hatte.Manner

    “After that, the tires and the chain had to be replaced, which was more expensive than I had expected.”

    • Kette die Kette · nominative — compound subject together with die Reifen
    • mussten müssen · Präteritum · Indikativ — modal auxiliary in Präteritum agreeing with plural subject
    • ersetzt werden ersetzen · Infinitiv (Passiv) · Indikativ — passive infinitive depending on modal verb mussten
    • was nominative — relative pronoun referring to the entire preceding clause

    Review

    • Modal verbs with passive infinitive A1 Modal verbs in position 2 frame the sentence, sending the passive infinitive combination (Partizip II + werden) to the end.
    • Comparative with als A2 Comparatives use the suffix -er followed by als to express an unequal comparison against an expectation or object.
  7. ↑ Back to the story

    › concludes the repair process with the final result

    Nach drei WochenendenTime in der GaragePlace warVerb das FahrradSubject endlichManner fertig.Manner

    “After three weekends in the garage, the bicycle was finally finished.”

    • Wochenenden das Wochenende · dative — plural dative ending -n after dative preposition nach
    • Garage die Garage · dative — location answering Wo? after two-way preposition in

    Review

    • Dative prepositions and plural dative -n A1 The preposition nach always governs the dative, requiring plural nouns to add an extra -n ending when possible.
    • Two-way prepositions with dative for location A2 Two-way prepositions take the dative case when answering the question Wo? to denote stationary location.
  8. ↑ Back to the story

    › describes the emotional first ride on the finished bike

    Als ich zum ersten Mal damit durch die Stadt fuhr,Time fühlteVerb ichSubject mich,Accusative als wäre mein Großvater neben mir.Manner

    “When I rode through the city with it for the first time, I felt as if my grandfather were beside me.”

    • damit — pronominal adverb replacing mit dem Fahrrad
    • Stadt die Stadt · accusative — accusative object required by preposition durch
    • fuhr fahren · Präteritum · Indikativ — irregular Präteritum form of fahren in subordinate clause
    • mich sich · accusative — reflexive pronoun for ich with sich fühlen
    • wäre sein · Konjunktiv II — hypothetical comparison with als ob / als

    Review

    • Reflexive verbs A2 Reflexive verbs like sich fühlen require an accusative reflexive pronoun corresponding to the subject.
    • Konjunktiv II for unreal comparison A2 The Konjunktiv II form of sein (wäre) expresses hypothetical or unreal situations. In comparison clauses introduced by als alone (short for als ob), the conjugated Konjunktiv II verb stands directly after als in position 2 of that subclause. Here it conveys the emotional, imaginary presence of the grandfather.
  9. ↑ Back to the story

    › shifts from the past to the present everyday use

    HeuteTime fahreVerb ichSubject jeden TagTime damitManner zur Arbeit,Place auch wenn es regnet.

    “Today I ride it to work every day, even when it rains.”

    • Tag der Tag · accusative — accusative of definite time duration/frequency
    • Arbeit die Arbeit · dative — dative after contraction zur (zu der)

    Review

    • Accusative of time A1 Time expressions indicating frequency or duration without a preposition stand in the accusative case.
    • Conditional and concessive clauses with auch wenn A2 The conjunction wenn introduces conditional or temporal subclauses, sending the verb to the end; modified by auch, it means even if.
  10. ↑ Back to the story

    › looks forward into the distant future

    WerSubject weiß,Verb vielleicht wirdVerb esSubject eines TagesTime meinem eigenen EnkelDative gehören.Verb end

    “Who knows, maybe one day it will belong to my own grandchild.”

    • Tages der Tag · genitive — adverbial genitive expression of indefinite time
    • Enkel der Enkel · dative — dative object required by the verb gehören
    • gehören Infinitiv · Indikativ — infinitive dependent on auxiliary wird in Futur I

    At this level

    Adverbial genitive of time B1

    eines Tages

    The genitive case is occasionally used without any preposition to express an indefinite point in time. Common set phrases include eines Tages (one day), eines Abends, or moderner Vorstellungen. The masculine noun Tag takes the masculine genitive ending -(e)s.

    Review

    • Futur I with werden A2 Futur I is formed with the conjugated present tense of werden plus the infinitive of the full verb at the end of the clause.
  11. ↑ Back to the story

    › turns to what happened later

    DochConnector im letzten HerbstTime wäreVerb die GeschichteSubject beinahe andersManner ausgegangen.Verb end

    “But last autumn the story nearly ended differently.”

    • wäre … ausgegangen ausgehen · Plusquamperfekt · Konjunktiv II — it nearly happened, but didn't

    At this level

    Konjunktiv II in the past B1

    wäre … beinahe anders ausgegangen

    wäre or hätte + participle describes a past that didn't happen. With beinahe or fast (almost), it says something nearly happened: the story nearly ended differently, but it didn't. Verbs that take sein in the Perfekt take wäre here, so wäre ausgegangen.

  12. ↑ Back to the story

    Eines MorgensTime standVerb ichSubject vor dem BahnhofPlace undConnector starrteVerb auf ein leeres Fahrradschloss.

    “One morning I stood in front of the station, staring at an empty bike lock.”

    • Morgens der Morgen · genitive — eines Morgens: a time in the genitive, like eines Tages
    • stand stehen · Präteritum · Indikativ — irregular: stehen, stand, gestanden
    • Fahrradschloss das Fahrradschloss · accusative — starren auf + accusative
  13. ↑ Back to the story

    JemandSubject hatteVerb das SchlossAccusative aufgebrochenVerb end undConnector das FahrradAccusative gestohlen.Verb end

    “Someone had broken the lock open and stolen the bicycle.”

    • hatte … aufgebrochen aufbrechen · Plusquamperfekt · Indikativ — before the narrator arrived
    • gestohlen stehlen · Plusquamperfekt · Indikativ — stehlen, stahl, gestohlen
  14. ↑ Back to the story

    IchSubject warVerb so wütend,Manner dass ich zuerst gar nicht wusste, was ich tun sollte.

    “I was so angry that at first I didn't know what to do.”

    • wusste wissen · Präteritum · Indikativ — wissen, wusste, gewusst
    • sollte sollen · Präteritum · Indikativ — a clause inside the dass clause, both verb-last

    At this level

    so …, dass B1

    so wütend, dass

    so + adjective, then a dass clause, gives the result: so angry that … The dass clause has its verb at the end, and here it holds another subordinate clause, was ich tun sollte, with its own verb at the end.

  15. ↑ Back to the story

    DannTime gingVerb ichSubject zur Polizei,Place um den Diebstahl zu melden.

    “Then I went to the police to report the theft.”

    • ging gehen · Präteritum · Indikativ
    • Diebstahl der Diebstahl · accusative — from der Dieb (thief) and stehlen

    At this level

    um … zu: in order to B1

    um den Diebstahl zu melden

    um … zu + infinitive gives the purpose of an action when both parts have the same subject: I went to the police (in order) to report the theft. um opens the clause, zu + infinitive close it, and there's no subject of its own. With different subjects, use damit: Ich rief an, damit die Polizei kommt.

  16. ↑ Back to the story

    Der Polizist,Subject dem ich alles erzählte, warVerb freundlich,Manner aberConnector nicht besonders optimistisch.Negation

    “The police officer I told everything to was friendly, but not particularly optimistic.”

    • Polizist der Polizist · nominative
    • dem der · dative — relative pronoun: erzählen + dative person
    • erzählte erzählen · Präteritum · Indikativ

    At this level

    Relative pronouns in the dative B1

    dem ich alles erzählte

    Reminder: the relative pronoun takes its case from its job inside its own clause. I told everything to him → dative → dem.

  17. ↑ Back to the story

    ErSubject meinte,Verb alte Fahrräder würden selten gefunden, weil sie schnell weiterverkauft würden.

    “He said old bikes were rarely found, because they were quickly sold on.”

    • meinte meinen · Präteritum · Indikativ
    • würden … gefunden finden · Präsens Passiv · Konjunktiv II — reported speech: würden replaces Konjunktiv I werden, which looks like the Indikativ
    • weiterverkauft würden weiterverkaufen · Präsens Passiv · Konjunktiv II

    At this level

    Reported speech B2

    alte Fahrräder würden selten gefunden

    Newspapers and careful speech report what someone said in the Konjunktiv I (er sagt, er habe …), which marks it as their words, not facts. Where the Konjunktiv I looks like the normal present (sie werden), the Konjunktiv II replaces it: sie würden. Here würden … gefunden is the passive.

  18. ↑ Back to the story

    Trotzdem gabVerb ichSubject eine genaue BeschreibungAccusative ab:Verb end dunkelgrüner Rahmen, brauner Ledersattel und eine kleine Klingel in Form eines Frosches.

    “Even so, I gave a detailed description: a dark green frame, a brown leather saddle and a little bell shaped like a frog.”

    • gab … ab abgeben · Präteritum · Indikativ — separable
    • Rahmen der Rahmen · nominative — no article: the adjective shows the case, -er
    • Frosches der Frosch · genitive — eines Frosches: genitive -es

    Review

    • trotzdem A2 Reminder: trotzdem (even so) takes position 1, so the verb comes next.
  19. ↑ Back to the story

    › the search

    In den folgenden TagenTime suchteVerb ichSubject überallPlace nach meinem Fahrrad.

    “Over the following days I looked everywhere for my bicycle.”

    • suchte suchen · Präteritum · Indikativ — suchen nach + dative

    At this level

    Participles as adjectives B2

    den folgenden Tagen

    Both participles can stand before a noun as adjectives, with the usual endings. Partizip I (infinitive + d) is active and happening now: die folgenden Tage (the days that follow). Partizip II is passive or finished: gebrauchte Fahrräder (bikes that have been used).

  20. ↑ Back to the story

    IchSubject liefVerb durch Hinterhöfe,Place schauteVerb in ParksPlace undConnector fragteVerb Nachbarn,Accusative ob sie etwas gesehen hätten.

    “I walked through back yards, looked in parks and asked neighbours whether they had seen anything.”

    • lief laufen · Präteritum · Indikativ — laufen, lief, gelaufen
    • Hinterhöfe der Hinterhof · accusative — durch takes the accusative
    • Nachbarn der Nachbar · accusative
    • gesehen hätten sehen · Plusquamperfekt · Konjunktiv II — reported question
  21. ↑ Back to the story

    Meine Freunde,Subject die damals über das rostige Fahrrad gelacht hatten, halfenVerb mirDative bei der Suche.

    “My friends, who had laughed at the rusty bike back then, helped me look.”

    • die der · nominative — relative pronoun for meine Freunde
    • gelacht hatten lachen · Plusquamperfekt · Indikativ — lachen über + accusative
    • halfen helfen · Präteritum · Indikativ — helfen + dative
  22. ↑ Back to the story

    Einer von ihnenSubject hängteVerb sogar ZettelAccusative an Laternen und Bäume.Place

    “One of them even put up notes on lampposts and trees.”

    • Einer nominative — one (masculine) of them
    • hängte hängen · Präteritum · Indikativ — hängen with an object is regular: hängte; without one it's hing
    • Laternen die Laterne · accusative — Wohin? an + accusative
  23. ↑ Back to the story

    Eine WocheSubject verging,Verb ohne dass etwas passierte.

    “A week went by without anything happening.”

    • verging vergehen · Präteritum · Indikativ
    • passierte passieren · Präteritum · Indikativ

    At this level

    ohne dass B1

    ohne dass etwas passierte

    ohne dass + a clause means without something happening, when the clause has its own subject. With the same subject, use ohne … zu: Ohne lange zu diskutieren.

  24. ↑ Back to the story

    IchSubject hatteVerb die HoffnungAccusative schon fast aufgegeben.Verb end

    “I had almost given up hope.”

    • hatte … aufgegeben aufgeben · Plusquamperfekt · Indikativ
  25. ↑ Back to the story

    › a turn

    Am Sonntag daraufTime gingVerb ichSubject mit meiner Schwester über den Flohmarkt am Hafen.Place

    “The following Sunday I walked around the flea market at the harbour with my sister.”

    • Flohmarkt der Flohmarkt · accusative — über + movement across: accusative
  26. ↑ Back to the story

    Eigentlich wollteVerb ichSubject nur eine alte Lampe für mein WohnzimmerAccusative kaufen.Verb end

    “Actually I only wanted to buy an old lamp for my living room.”

    • wollte wollen · Präteritum · Indikativ
  27. ↑ Back to the story

    PlötzlichTime hörteVerb ichSubject ein bekanntes Klingeln.Accusative

    “Suddenly I heard a familiar ring.”

    • Klingeln das Klingeln · accusative — a verb as a noun is das
  28. ↑ Back to the story

    Ein Junge,Subject der vielleicht zwölf Jahre alt war, schobVerb ein grünes FahrradAccusative an uns vorbei.Place

    “A boy, maybe twelve years old, pushed a green bicycle past us.”

    • Junge der Junge · nominative
    • schob schieben · Präteritum · Indikativ — schieben, schob, geschoben
  29. ↑ Back to the story

    An der LenkstangePlace glänzteVerb eine kleine Klingel in Form eines Frosches.Subject

    “On the handlebars shone a little bell shaped like a frog.”

    • glänzte glänzen · Präteritum · Indikativ — the subject comes after the verb: the place is in position 1
  30. ↑ Back to the story

    Mein HerzSubject klopfteVerb so laut,Manner dass ich glaubte, alle könnten es hören.

    “My heart was beating so loudly that I thought everyone could hear it.”

    • Herz das Herz · nominative
    • klopfte klopfen · Präteritum · Indikativ
    • könnten können · Konjunktiv II — an imagined thought
  31. ↑ Back to the story

    WirSubject folgtenVerb dem JungenDative bis zu einem Stand,Place an dem ein älterer Herr gebrauchte Fahrräder verkaufte.

    “We followed the boy to a stall where an elderly man was selling used bicycles.”

    • folgten folgen · Präteritum · Indikativ — folgen takes the dative
    • Jungen der Junge · dative — n-declension: dem Jungen
    • dem der · dative — relative pronoun after an: an dem Stand
    • Herr der Herr · nominative

    At this level

    N-declension B1

    dem Jungen

    A group of masculine nouns adds -n or -en in every case except the nominative singular: der Junge, den Jungen, dem Jungen, des Jungen. Many end in -e (der Junge, der Kollege) or name people (der Herr → den Herrn, der Polizist → den Polizisten).

  32. ↑ Back to the story

    Der HerrSubject behauptete,Verb er habe das Fahrrad vor einer Woche von einem Unbekannten gekauft.

    “The man claimed he had bought the bicycle a week earlier from a stranger.”

    • behauptete behaupten · Präteritum · Indikativ
    • habe … gekauft kaufen · Perfekt · Konjunktiv I — reported: his claim, not a fact
    • Unbekannten der Unbekannte · dative — an adjective used as a noun keeps adjective endings
  33. ↑ Back to the story

    Als ich ihm ein Foto zeigte, auf dem mein Großvater mit genau diesem Fahrrad zu sehen war,Time wurdeVerb erSubject blass.Manner

    “When I showed him a photo of my grandfather with this very bicycle, he went pale.”

    • zeigte zeigen · Präteritum · Indikativ
    • ihm er · dative
    • dem das · dative — relative pronoun: auf dem Foto
    • zu sehen war sehen · Präteritum · Indikativ — sein + zu + infinitive: could be seen
    • wurde werden · Präteritum · Indikativ — werden = to become: he went pale
  34. ↑ Back to the story

    Ohne lange zu diskutieren,Manner gabVerb erSubject mirDative das FahrradAccusative zurück.Verb end

    “Without arguing for long, he gave me back the bicycle.”

    • gab … zurück zurückgeben · Präteritum · Indikativ
    • mir ich · dative
  35. ↑ Back to the story

    Den Jungen,Accusative der eine Probefahrt gemacht hatte, trösteteVerb erSubject mit einem Eis.

    “He comforted the boy, who had been on a test ride, with an ice cream.”

    • Jungen der Junge · accusative — the object first, for emphasis
    • tröstete trösten · Präteritum · Indikativ
  36. ↑ Back to the story

    › at the workshop

    Weil das Schloss beim Diebstahl den Rahmen beschädigt hatte, brachteVerb ichSubject das FahrradAccusative in eine Werkstatt.Place

    “Because the lock had damaged the frame during the theft, I took the bicycle to a workshop.”

    • beschädigt hatte beschädigen · Plusquamperfekt · Indikativ
    • brachte bringen · Präteritum · Indikativ — bringen, brachte, gebracht
  37. ↑ Back to the story

    Der MechanikerSubject warVerb ein alter Mann mit großen, ölverschmierten Händen.

    “The mechanic was an old man with big, oil-smeared hands.”

    • Händen die Hand · dative — mit + dative plural
  38. ↑ Back to the story

    ErSubject betrachteteVerb den RahmenAccusative langeTime undConnector schwieg.Verb

    “He looked at the frame for a long time and said nothing.”

    • schwieg schweigen · Präteritum · Indikativ — schweigen, schwieg, geschwiegen
  39. ↑ Back to the story

    DannTime fragteVerb erSubject mich,Accusative woher ich dieses Fahrrad hätte.

    “Then he asked me where I had got this bicycle.”

    • hätte haben · Konjunktiv II — a reported question
  40. ↑ Back to the story

    IchSubject erzählteVerb ihmDative von meinem Großvater.

    “I told him about my grandfather.”

    • ihm er · dative
  41. ↑ Back to the story

    DaTime lächelteVerb erSubject undConnector zeigteVerb auf zwei kleine Buchstaben, die unter dem Sattel in das Metall graviert waren.

    “Then he smiled and pointed to two small letters engraved in the metal under the saddle.”

    • zeigte zeigen · Präteritum · Indikativ — zeigen auf + accusative = to point at
    • Buchstaben der Buchstabe · accusative
    • graviert waren gravieren · Präteritum · Indikativ — sein + participle: a state, the Zustandspassiv
  42. ↑ Back to the story

    EsSubject warenVerb die Initialen meines Großvaters.

    “They were my grandfather's initials.”

    • waren sein · Präteritum · Indikativ — es waren: the verb agrees with the plural that follows
    • Großvaters der Großvater · genitive — meines Großvaters: whose
  43. ↑ Back to the story

    Der MechanikerSubject erklärteVerb mir,Dative dass er als junger Lehrling genau dieses Fahrrad zusammengebaut habe.

    “The mechanic explained that, as a young apprentice, he had assembled this very bicycle.”

    • zusammengebaut habe zusammenbauen · Perfekt · Konjunktiv I — reported
    • Lehrling der Lehrling · nominative — als + noun: as
  44. ↑ Back to the story

    Mein GroßvaterSubject habeVerb esAccusative damalsTime zur Hochzeit bekommen,Verb end von seinen Kollegen aus der Fabrik.

    “My grandfather had got it as a wedding present back then, from his colleagues at the factory.”

    • habe … bekommen bekommen · Perfekt · Konjunktiv I — still his report: Konjunktiv I in a main clause
    • Kollegen der Kollege · dative
  45. ↑ Back to the story

    Für die Reparatur wollteVerb erSubject kein GeldAccusative haben.Verb end

    “He didn't want any money for the repair.”

    • wollte wollen · Präteritum · Indikativ
  46. ↑ Back to the story

    Stattdessen batVerb erSubject mich,Accusative ihn ab und zu mit dem Fahrrad zu besuchen.

    “Instead he asked me to visit him on the bicycle now and then.”

    • bat bitten · Präteritum · Indikativ — bitten, bat, gebeten
    • ihn er · accusative
  47. ↑ Back to the story

    SeitdemTime halteVerb ichSubject jeden MonatTime an seiner WerkstattPlace an.Verb end

    “Since then I've stopped at his workshop every month.”

    • halte … an anhalten · Präsens · Indikativ — seitdem + present: still going on
  48. ↑ Back to the story

    Bei einer Tasse Kaffee erzähltVerb erSubject mirDative Geschichten über meinen Großvater,Accusative die ich noch nie gehört hatte.

    “Over a cup of coffee he tells me stories about my grandfather that I had never heard.”

    • erzählt erzählen · Präsens · Indikativ
    • gehört hatte hören · Plusquamperfekt · Indikativ
  49. ↑ Back to the story

    › the point of it all

    So habeVerb ichSubject nicht nur ein FahrradAccusative geerbt,Verb end sondern auch einen Teil seiner Geschichte.Accusative

    “So I didn't just inherit a bicycle, but also a part of his story.”

    • habe … geerbt erben · Perfekt · Indikativ
    • Geschichte die Geschichte · genitive — seiner Geschichte: whose part
  50. ↑ Back to the story

    UndConnector die kleine FroschklingelSubject klingeltVerb noch heuteTime bei jeder Fahrt.

    “And the little frog bell still rings on every ride today.”

    • Froschklingel die Froschklingel · nominative — Frosch + Klingel