Finding the end of a line | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: Near a doorway, two adults talk about where a line ends and where to join from the back..

EN → DE / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Finding the end of a line to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Wo ist das Ende dieser Schlange?

voh ist dahs END-uh DEE-zur SHLANG-uh? Where is the end of this line?
B

Das Ende ist dort bei der Tür.

dahs END-uh ist dort by dair TEWR. The end is over by the door.
A

Soll ich dort warten?

zoll ikh dort VAHR-ten? Should I wait there?
B

Stell dich hinter die letzte Person.

SHTELL dikh HIN-ter dee LETS-tuh pair-ZOHN. Stand behind the last person.
A

Ich habe das Schild nicht gesehen.

ikh HAH-buh dahs SHILT nikht guh-ZAY-en. I missed the sign.
B

Es hängt neben der Tür.

ess HENGT NAY-ben dair TEWR. It is posted next to the door.
A

Ich gehe nach hinten.

ikh GAY-uh nahkh HIN-ten. I will head to the back.
B

Dort stellen sich die Leute an.

dort SHTELL-en zikh dee LOY-tuh ahn. That is where people are joining.

Word by Word

Wo “Wo” asks for a place; here it asks where the end of the line is. Use it at the beginning of a question about a location, such as when looking for the end of a queue.
ist “ist” means “is” and identifies the location of something here. It is the form of sein used with a singular subject. Use it to ask or state where a singular thing is.
das “das” means “the” in “das Ende” and introduces the specific end being discussed. It is used before the neuter noun Ende in this definite noun phrase. Use it before a specific thing that has already been identified or is clear from the situation.
Ende “Ende” means “end”; here it means the end of the queue. It is the noun referred to in “das Ende dieser Schlange.” Use it when identifying the final part of a line, route, or activity.
dieser “dieser” points to the specific line being discussed, giving “this” in “dieser Schlange.” It connects Ende with the particular queue the speaker is asking about. Use it before a noun when indicating a specific nearby or known thing.
Schlange “Schlange” means “line” or “queue” here, not a snake. In “dieser Schlange,” it names the queue whose end the speaker wants to find. Use it when talking about people waiting in an organized line.
dort “dort” means “there” and points to the place near the door. It gives the location in “Das Ende ist dort bei der Tür.” Use it to refer to a place that is visible or already understood.
bei “bei” means “by” or “near” in “bei der Tür,” placing the end close to the door. It introduces a nearby reference point. Use it with a person, place, or object to say that something is near it.
der “der” means “the” before Tür in “bei der Tür.” Here it is the definite article used after bei with this noun. Use it before a specific noun when describing something located near it with bei.
Tür “Tür” means “door”; here it is the reference point for the location of the queue’s end. It appears in “bei der Tür.” Use it when giving directions or describing where something is in relation to a door.
Soll “Soll” asks whether the speaker should do something in “Soll ich dort warten?” It is the form of sollen used with ich in this question. Use the pattern “Soll ich …?” when asking for guidance about your next action.
ich “ich” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who may wait. It is the subject in “Soll ich dort warten?” Use it when describing or asking about your own action.
warten “warten” means “wait” and names the action the speaker is considering. It remains in this form after “Soll ich.” Use it after a modal verb when saying that someone should or may wait.
Stell “Stell” tells one person to position themselves somewhere in “Stell dich hinter die letzte Person.” It is the command form related to stellen. Use it to give a direct instruction about where one person should stand.
dich “dich” refers to the person being told to position themselves, meaning “you” or “yourself” here. It is used with “Stell” because the person is positioning themselves. Use it in a direct instruction telling one person to move or place themselves.
hinter “hinter” means “behind” and identifies the place where the person should stand relative to the last person. It introduces the reference point in “hinter die letzte Person.” Use it to describe a position behind someone or something.
die “die” means “the” and introduces the specific person at the back of the queue in “die letzte Person.” Together with letzte Person, it identifies one particular person. Use it before a specific noun phrase when the person or thing is known in the situation.
letzte “letzte” means “last” and identifies the person at the end of the queue. It describes Person in “die letzte Person.” Use it before a noun to mark the final person or item in an order.
Person “Person” means “person”; here it refers to the person currently at the back of the line. It is part of “die letzte Person.” Use it when referring clearly and neutrally to an individual.
habe “habe” is the auxiliary meaning “have” in “Ich habe das Schild nicht gesehen.” It is the form of haben used with ich, while gesehen supplies the completed seeing action. Use it with a completed-action form when reporting something the speaker has done or experienced.
Schild “Schild” means “sign”; here it is the sign that the speaker did not see. It appears as the object in “das Schild nicht gesehen.” Use it when referring to a written or displayed sign that gives information or instructions.
nicht “nicht” means “not” and negates the speaker’s seeing of the sign. In “Ich habe das Schild nicht gesehen,” it changes the statement to say that the sign was not seen. Use it to deny or negate an action or statement.
gesehen “gesehen” means “seen” and expresses the completed seeing action in “habe … gesehen.” It is the completed form related to sehen. Use it with an auxiliary when reporting that something was or was not seen.
Es “Es” means “it” and refers back to the sign mentioned in the previous line. It is the subject of “Es hängt neben der Tür.” Use it to refer to an already mentioned thing without repeating the noun.
hängt “hängt” means “hangs” or “is posted” here, describing the sign’s displayed position next to the door. It is the form of hängen used with Es. Use it when saying that a sign, picture, or similar object is hanging or posted somewhere.
neben “neben” means “next to” and places the sign beside the door in “neben der Tür.” It introduces the object used as the location reference. Use it to describe something positioned directly beside a person or object.
gehe “gehe” means “go” or “head” and describes the speaker moving toward the back in “Ich gehe nach hinten.” It is the form of gehen used with ich. Use it with a destination or direction when saying where you are going.
nach “nach” marks direction in “nach hinten,” meaning toward the back. It works with hinten to form the direction phrase. Use it with a directional place expression when describing movement toward an area.
hinten “hinten” means “at the back” or “toward the back” here. With nach, it identifies where the speaker intends to go in the queue. Use it to refer to the rear part of a place or group.
stellen “stellen” supplies the action of positioning people in “stellen sich an”; the particle an completes the line-up meaning. Here the people are positioning themselves in the queue. Use it with a reflexive pronoun and an when describing people joining a line.
sich “sich” refers to the people positioning themselves in “stellen sich an.” It is the reflexive element showing that the people are placing themselves in the line. Use it with a verb when the people performing the action are also the ones being positioned.
Leute “Leute” means “people” and refers to the group joining the queue. It appears in “die Leute,” meaning the people understood in this situation. Use it as a common word for a group of people in everyday conversation.
an “an” completes “stellen sich an” and gives the expression its meaning of joining or lining up. It is not translated separately here. Use it as part of this expression when talking about people entering a queue.

Grammar Points

sich anstellen → stellen sich ... an

Die Leute stellen sich ... an.

dee LOY-tuh SHTELL-en zikh ... AHN.

The people queue up.

The verb anstellen is separable: an moves to the end of a main clause, while the reflexive pronoun stays near the verb.

hinter + Akkusativ bei Richtung

Stell dich hinter die letzte Person.

SHTELL dikh HIN-ter dee LETS-tuh pair-ZOHN.

Stand behind the last person.

For movement toward a position, hinter takes the accusative: die letzte Person becomes die letzte Person.

German Vocabulary

bei prep
BY by; near; at

bei der Tür

das Ende noun
dahs END-uh the end
das Schild noun
dahs SHILT the sign
die letzte Person phrase
dee LETS-tuh pair-ZOHN the last person
die Schlange noun
dee SHLANG-uh the line; queue dieser Schlange
die Tür noun
dee TEWR the door der Tür
dort adv
DORT there
hinter prep
HIN-ter behind

hinter die letzte Person

neben prep
NAY-ben next to; beside

neben der Tür

sehen verb
ZAY-en to see gesehen
sich hinter jemanden stellen phrase
zikh HIN-ter YAY-man-den SHTELL-en to stand behind someone Stell dich hinter die letzte Person
warten verb
VAHR-ten to wait

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Where is the end of this line?

Show AnswerWo ist das Ende dieser Schlange?

Should I wait there?

Show AnswerSoll ich dort warten?

Stand behind the last person.

Show AnswerStell dich hinter die letzte Person.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to wait

Show Answerwarten

behind

Show Answerhinter

there

Show Answerdort

to see

Show Answergesehen