German Phrase
Es ist an der Ecke von Elm und Oak.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that something (a building, shop, etc.) is located at the corner where Elm Street meets Oak Street. It is a concise way to give a precise point of reference in German.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving directions, describing the location of a business, or answering a 'Wo ist…?' question. It works well in both casual conversation and more formal contexts such as a tourist information desk.
✦Grammar Breakdown
EsistanderEckevonElmundOak
Verb 'sein' (ist)
The verb 'sein' (to be) is used as a copula to link the subject with a location.
Preposition 'an' + Dative
'an' meaning 'at' takes the dative case when indicating a static location; therefore 'der' is the dative feminine article for 'Ecke'.
Noun 'Ecke' (feminine)
'Ecke' (corner) is a feminine noun, so its dative form is 'der Ecke'.
Preposition 'von' + Dative
'von' (of) also governs the dative; street names are treated as proper nouns without an article.
Coordinate Conjunction 'und'
'und' simply joins the two street names.
🗨In Conversation
Wo ist das Café?
Where is the café?
Es ist an der Ecke von Elm und Oak.
It’s at the corner of Elm and Oak.
✕Common Mistakes
Es ist auf der Ecke von Elm und Oak.
Use 'an' for a static location; 'auf' would imply being on top of something.
Es ist bei der Ecke von Elm und Oak.
'bei' means 'near' and does not convey the exact corner location.
Es ist an der Ecke von Elm und Oak's.
German does not use the English possessive ’s; keep the structure 'von … und …'.
↔Alternatives
Es befindet sich an der Kreuzung Elm und Oak.
It is located at the intersection of Elm and Oak.
Es liegt an der Ecke Elm und Oak.
It lies at the Elm‑Oak corner.
Dort, an der Ecke von Elm und Oak, ist es.
There, at the corner of Elm and Oak, it is.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking cities, the word 'Ecke' is commonly used for a street corner, while 'Kreuzung' refers to a full intersection. When naming streets, the preposition 'von' is often used with the dative case, especially in spoken directions. Remember that street names are capitalised and usually not preceded by an article.