German Phrase
Geh nach hinten im Bus.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to move toward the rear part of the bus. It is a direct, informal command that can be used in a crowded vehicle or when you want to sit at the back.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to ask a fellow passenger, a friend, or a child to relocate to the back of the bus – for example, to free up space, to keep a group together, or simply to sit farther from the driver.
✦Grammar Breakdown
GehnachhintenimBus
Imperative (du)
‘Geh’ is the informal singular imperative of the verb ‘gehen’ (to go). It is used when speaking to a friend or someone you address with ‘du’.
Direction with ‘nach’
‘nach’ can introduce a direction without a definite article, e.g., ‘nach hinten’ = ‘towards the back’. It is not followed by a case ending.
Preposition ‘im’
‘im’ is the contraction of ‘in dem’, the dative form of ‘in’ + definite article ‘dem’. It is used because ‘Bus’ is a masculine noun in the dative case after ‘in’.
Gender & case of ‘Bus’
‘Bus’ is masculine (der Bus). In the phrase ‘im Bus’, the dative article ‘dem’ is required, giving ‘im Bus’.
🗨In Conversation
Entschuldigung, kannst du bitte nach hinten im Bus gehen?
Excuse me, could you please go to the back of the bus?
Klar, ich setze mich gleich nach hinten.
Sure, I’ll sit right at the back.
✕Common Mistakes
Geh zu hinten im Bus.
‘zu’ is used for destinations (e.g., ‘zu dem Bus’), not for directional movement inside a vehicle.
Gehen nach hinten im Bus.
In an imperative you drop the infinitive ending; ‘gehen’ is the infinitive, not a command.
Geh nach dem hinten im Bus.
‘nach’ already expresses direction, so adding ‘dem’ is redundant and ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
Gehe nach hinten im Bus.
Go to the back of the bus.
Setz dich nach hinten im Bus.
Sit at the back of the bus.
Bitte nach hinten im Bus gehen.
Please go to the back of the bus.
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking countries, it’s common to keep the front of the bus free for standing passengers and the elderly. If you need to move, a polite ‘Bitte’ or ‘Entschuldigung’ softens the command. Also, note that the informal ‘du’ form (Geh) is only appropriate with people you know well; with strangers you’d use the formal imperative ‘Gehen Sie …’.