5.3 where is the nearest...?

On the previous two pages, we have practised how to get directions to specific places. The vocabulary and skills are slightly different when we have to find the nearest shop, station etc. In this conversation we find Herr McNaught asking a female passer-by (eine Passantin) wher the nearest telephone box and the nearest chemist's are.

 Glossary

die Passantin---passer-by (female)

Wo ist denn hier...?---"Wo ist...?" is the basic phrase used to translate "wher is...?". The additional words "denn hier" merely add a sense of conversational emphasis, and can be omitted.

die Telefonzelle---telephone box 

die nächste Telefonzelle---"The nearest telephone box." The endings of the adjective "nächst-" depend on the gender of the noun, and the case - i.e. whether it is in the nominative or the accusative case.

gleich hier---just here; right here

um die Ecke---around the corner

in der Nähe von "Near...". When the preposition "von" is followed by the definite article, this becomes "vom" for a masculine or neuter noun, and "von der" for a feminine noun.

das Brandenburger Tor---"The Brandenburg Gate" is probably Berlin's most famous landmark. We have included a picture of it in the top left-hand corner of each page in this chapter.

Wo gibt es hier...?---Another variant of "wher is...?" Note that in this construction, the thing which you are looking for is in the accusative case, wheras it is in the nominative case for the "Wo ist..." construction. This of course affects the endings on each noun.

die Apotheke---This is a "chemist's shop" which is staffed by qualified pharmacists who can prescribe medication for straightforward ailments without a doctor's prescription.

die Drogerie---We would also translate this as a "chemist's shop", but it is one that merely sells toothpaste, toilet articles and cough sweets. 

die Ampel---"Traffic lights". This is a singular noun in German.

an der Ampel rechts "Right at the traffic lights". The definite article "die" becomes "der" after the preposition "an" which takes the dative case.

dann stehen Sie...---"Then you stand...". The verb "stehen" is regular in the present tense.

direkt---directly

vor der Apotheke---"In front of the chemists shop". This is another preposition which takes the dative case.

Ist das weit?---Is it far? 

nur---only

fünf Minuten zu Fuß---five minutes by foot