German Phrase
Park dein Auto an gut beleuchteten Stellen.
Meaning
This is an informal command telling someone to park their car in places that are well lit. The phrase emphasizes safety, especially at night or in unfamiliar areas.
When to use
Use this sentence when giving a friend or a colleague practical safety advice, for example before they head out for an evening event, or when you’re explaining parking etiquette in a German‑speaking city.
✦Grammar Breakdown
ParkdeinAutoangutbeleuchtetenStellen
Imperative (du) of separable verb
The verb *parken* is separable; in the du‑imperative the prefix drops and the stem appears alone: *Park!*
Possessive pronoun
*dein* agrees with the neuter noun *Auto* (nominative/accusative) and stays unchanged in the dative.
Preposition *an* + dative
*an* can govern the dative when indicating location. Here it introduces the dative plural *Stellen*.
Adjective declension (weak)
After *an* + dative, the adjective takes the weak ending *-en*: *gut beleuchteten*.
Word order in imperative
In a simple command the verb comes first, followed by object and prepositional phrase.
🗨In Conversation
Kannst du dein Auto hier parken?
Can you park your car here?
Ja, ich parke mein Auto an gut beleuchteten Stellen.
Yes, I’ll park my car in well‑lit places.
✕Common Mistakes
Parke dein Auto an gut beleuchteten Stellen.
The du‑imperative of *parken* drops the *‑e*; the correct form is *Park dein Auto…*.
Park dein Auto an gut beleuchteten Stellen.
*Auto* is neuter, so the correct possessive is *dein Auto*.
Park dein Auto an gut beleuchtete Stellen.
After the preposition *an* (location) the noun is dative plural, so the adjective needs the weak ending *‑en*: *gut beleuchteten Stellen*.
↔Alternatives
Stelle dein Auto an gut beleuchteten Orten.
Place your car in well‑lit locations.
Parke dein Fahrzeug an einer gut beleuchteten Stelle.
Park your vehicle at a well‑lit spot.
Lass dein Auto an einer hell erleuchteten Stelle stehen.
Leave your car at a brightly lit spot.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries, especially in larger cities, it’s common to advise friends to use well‑lit parking areas to deter theft and vandalism. Note that *parken* is a separable verb, so the imperative for *du* drops the prefix (*Park!*), while the formal *Sie* form would be *Parken Sie Ihr Auto…*. Also, avoid using *Stellen* in the nominative (*gut beleuchtete Stellen*) because the preposition *an* here requires the dative case.