German Phrase
Such nach der roten Markise.
Meaning
A direct command telling someone to look for the red awning. It uses the common collocation ‘nach etwas suchen’ (to look for something).
When to use
Use this phrase when giving a quick, informal instruction during a scavenger hunt, when guiding a friend to a landmark, or when you need someone to spot a specific awning in a crowded street.
✦Grammar Breakdown
SuchnachderrotenMarkise
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Such’ is the informal command form of ‘suchen’ (to look for), used when speaking to one person you know well.
Preposition ‘nach’ + Dative
‘nach’ is used with the dative case when it means ‘for’ in the expression ‘nach etwas suchen’ (to look for something).
Definite article ‘der’ (Dative, feminine)
‘der’ is the dative feminine form of the definite article, required after ‘nach’.
Adjective ending ‘-en’ after definite article
When an adjective follows a definite article in the dative, it takes the ending ‘-en’ (roten).
Noun ‘Markise’ (feminine)
‘Markise’ means ‘awning’ and is a feminine noun (die Markise).
🗨In Conversation
Wo ist das Café mit dem guten Kuchen?
Where is the café with the good cake?
Such nach der roten Markise, dort drüben.
Look for the red awning, over there.
✕Common Mistakes
Such nach die rote Markise.
‘nach’ requires the dative case; the article should be ‘der’, not ‘die’.
Such die rote Markise.
When ‘suchen’ means ‘to look for’, it must be followed by ‘nach’. Dropping ‘nach’ changes the meaning to ‘search the red awning’ (as a location).
Such nach der roter Markise.
After a definite article in the dative, the adjective takes the ending ‘-en’, not ‘-er’.
↔Alternatives
Sieh nach der roten Markise.
Check for the red awning.
Finde die rote Markise.
Find the red awning.
Schau nach der roten Markise.
Take a look for the red awning.
Cultural Tip
In German, the verb ‘suchen’ is almost always paired with the preposition ‘nach’ when you’re looking for something (e.g., ‘nach dem Schlüssel suchen’). Avoid using ‘unter’ or ‘auf’ in this construction, as they change the meaning to a physical location rather than the object being sought. Also, ‘Markise’ is a common street feature in German towns, often used as a visual cue for meeting points.