German Phrase
Was tun, wenn bei dir zu Hause eingebrochen wird?
Meaning
The sentence asks for advice or a plan of action in the event that a burglary occurs at your home. It is a typical safety‑oriented question that invites practical steps, such as calling the police, securing the premises, or contacting neighbors.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing home security, giving or asking for emergency instructions, or talking about personal safety measures with friends, family, or authorities.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wastun,wennbeidirzuHauseeingebrochenwird?
Infinitive question (Was tun?)
‘Was tun?’ uses the infinitive without a subject to ask for a recommended action, similar to ‘What to do?’ in English.
Conditional clause with ‘wenn’
‘wenn’ introduces a subordinate clause that describes a possible situation; the verb moves to the end of the clause.
Passive voice (eingebrochen wird)
The verb ‘einbrechen’ is turned into a passive construction with ‘werden’ + past participle, focusing on the event rather than the burglar.
Dative after ‘bei’
‘bei dir’ uses the dative case because the preposition ‘bei’ always governs the dative.
Prepositional phrase ‘zu Hause’
‘zu Hause’ is a fixed expression meaning ‘at home’; it stays unchanged regardless of case.
🗨In Conversation
Was tun, wenn bei dir zu Hause eingebrochen wird?
What should I do if there's a break‑in at your house?
Ruf sofort die Polizei, verlasse das Haus nicht und warte auf die Beamten.
Call the police right away, don’t leave the house, and wait for the officers.
✕Common Mistakes
Was tun, wenn bei dich zu Hause eingebrochen wird?
‘bei’ requires the dative case; the correct form is ‘bei dir’.
Was tun, wenn bei dir zu Hause einbrechen wird?
The passive needs the auxiliary ‘werden’; the correct order is ‘eingebrochen wird’.
Was tun, wenn bei dir zu Haus eingebrochen wird?
Do not translate literally to ‘zu Haus’; the idiomatic expression is ‘zu Hause’.
↔Alternatives
Was soll ich machen, wenn in mein Haus eingebrochen wird?
What should I do if my house is broken into?
Wie verhalte ich mich, wenn bei dir zu Hause eingebrochen wird?
How should I behave if there’s a burglary at your home?
Was ist zu tun, falls bei dir zu Hause eingebrochen wird?
What is to be done in case there’s a break‑in at your home?
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries it is common to call the emergency number 110 for police matters. After a burglary, you should also inform your insurance company and, if possible, keep a written list of stolen items. Germans tend to be very precise about the sequence of steps: secure the scene, call the police, and only then discuss the incident with neighbors or media.