Learn Languages with LearnWithOliver.com

German Text:
Ein Vater bringt seinem Sohn das Fahrradfahren bei.

English Translation:
A father teaching his son how to ride a bicycle.

Grammar Notes:
Sentence: "Ein Vater bringt seinem Sohn das Fahrradfahren bei."

#### Word-by-Word Breakdown

1. Ein Vater:
- Meaning: A father
- Grammar: Noun phrase, nominative singular
- Infinitive/Root Word: "Vater" (father) is a masculine noun. "Ein" is the indefinite article in the nominative case.

2. bringt:
- Meaning: teaches, brings
- Grammar: Verb, third person singular present tense
- Infinitive/Root Word: "bringen" (to bring, to teach in the context of teaching a skill)

3. seinem Sohn:
- Meaning: to his son
- Grammar: Noun phrase, dative singular
- Infinitive/Root Word: "Sohn" (son) is a masculine noun. "Seinem" is the possessive article "sein" (his) in the dative case, agreeing with "Sohn."

4. das Fahrradfahren:
- Meaning: the cycling, riding a bicycle
- Grammar: Noun phrase, accusative singular
- Infinitive/Root Word: "Fahrradfahren" (cycling), a neuter noun. "Das" is the definite article in the accusative case.

5. bei:
- Meaning: teaches (in the phrase "beibringen," meaning to teach or instruct)
- Grammar: Part of the separable verb "beibringen"
- Infinitive/Root Word: "beibringen" (to teach, to instruct), a separable verb where "bei" is the prefix that splits off in the sentence.

### Sentence Structure and Translation

The sentence translates to "A father teaches his son how to ride a bicycle."

- "Ein Vater" is the subject of the sentence in the nominative case.
- "bringt" is the main verb, indicating the action being performed by the subject.
- "seinem Sohn" is the indirect object in the dative case, indicating to whom the action is directed.
- "das Fahrradfahren" is the direct object in the accusative case, indicating what is being taught.
- "bei" is the separable prefix of the verb "beibringen," placed at the end of the sentence.

### General Grammar Tip

German verbs can be separable or inseparable. Separable verbs have prefixes that detach and move to the end of the clause in present and imperative tenses. For example, in "beibringen," "bei" is the prefix that separates from "bringen." It's important to recognize the base verb and its prefix to understand the meaning. Additionally, in German, the dative case is often used for the indirect object (the recipient of an action), while the accusative case is used for the direct object (the thing being acted upon).

### Related Words

- Vater: Related family terms include "Mutter" (mother), "Eltern" (parents), and "Kind" (child).
- Sohn: Related family terms include "Tochter" (daughter) and "Geschwister" (siblings).
- beibringen: Related verbs include "lehren" (to teach), "unterrichten" (to instruct), and "zeigen" (to show).
- Fahrrad: Related words include "Fahrradfahren" (cycling), "Rad" (bike, wheel), and "Fahrradtour" (bike tour).

Learn German online

★ Daily exercises with our free newsletter
★ Read daily world news
★ Chat with a celebrity with our AI Chatbot
★ Picture flashcards with grammar lessons explaining each word
★ Advanced and beginner flashcards
★ Over 200 languages to choose from
★ Write essays and get corrections from other users

Click here to Sign Up Free!

Or sign up via Google with one click:

Beautiful Picture Flashcards like this one: