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German Phrase

Such nach dem Schild mit dem 'M'.

/ˈzuːχ naːx deːm ˈʃɪlt mɪt deːm ˈʔeːm/
Meaning"Look for the sign with the ‘M’."
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Meaning

The sentence is an informal command telling someone to look for a sign that bears the letter ‘M’. It combines the verb ‘suchen’ in the imperative with the prepositions ‘nach’ (search for) and ‘mit’ (with), both requiring the dative case.

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When to use

Use this phrase when giving directions inside a building, a campus, or a public space where several signs are present and you need the listener to locate the one marked with a specific letter.

✦Grammar Breakdown

SuchnachdemSchildmitdem'M'

1

Imperativ (2. Person Singular)

‘Such’ is the informal command form of suchen. It is used when speaking to one person you know well.

2

Präposition nach + Dativ

‘nach’ governs the dative case, so ‘dem Schild’ (masculine dative) is required.

3

Präposition mit + Dativ

‘mit’ also takes the dative, hence the second ‘dem’ before the quoted letter.

4

Anführungszeichen um Buchstaben

When you refer to a single letter, German convention is to put it in single quotes (or sometimes in quotation marks).

🗨In Conversation

A

Such nach dem Schild mit dem 'M'.

Look for the sign with the ‘M’.

Okay, ich sehe es gleich rechts neben dem Aufzug.

Okay, I see it right next to the elevator.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Suche nach dem Schild mit dem 'M'.

    ‘Suche’ is the noun form (search) or 1st‑person singular present; the correct command is ‘Such’.

  • nach dem Schild mit dem M

    The letter should be quoted to make clear you refer to the character, not the word ‘M’.

  • Such auf dem Schild mit dem 'M'.

    ‘auf’ means ‘on’ and would change the meaning; the correct preposition for ‘search for’ is ‘nach’.

↔Alternatives

  • Sieh nach dem Schild mit dem 'M'.

    Check for the sign with the ‘M’.

  • Finde das Schild mit dem 'M'.

    Find the sign with the ‘M’.

  • Schau nach dem Schild, das ein 'M' hat.

    Look for the sign that has an ‘M’.

de

Cultural Tip

In German signage, letters are often displayed in capital block type, and it is common to refer to a specific sign by the letter it carries. When speaking informally, the imperative ‘Such’ is perfectly natural, but in a formal setting you would use ‘Suchen Sie nach dem Schild mit dem „M“.’ Also note that German uses single quotes for single letters, while double quotes are used for longer quotations.