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German Phrase

Leuchtet die Lampe am Modem?

/ˈlɔɪ̯çtət diː ˈlampə am ˈmoːdɛm/
Meaning"Is the lamp on the modem lit?"
💡

Meaning

The sentence asks whether the indicator light on the modem is currently lit. It is a practical, technical question you might hear when troubleshooting an internet connection.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you are checking the status of a modem, router, or any device that has a small status lamp. It is common in homes, offices, or when speaking with technical support in German.

✦Grammar Breakdown

LeuchtetdieLampeamModem?

1

Verb‑First in Yes/No Questions

In German yes/no questions the finite verb occupies the first position (V1), followed by the subject.

2

Verb Conjugation – leuchten

‘leuchten’ is a regular verb; 3rd person singular present is ‘leuchtet’.

3

Definite Article – die Lampe

‘Lampe’ is feminine, so the nominative article is ‘die’.

4

Prepositional Contraction – am

‘am’ = ‘an dem’; it links the noun ‘Lampe’ to the location ‘Modem’.

5

Gender of Modem

‘Modem’ is masculine (der Modem), therefore the dative article is ‘dem’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Leuchtet die Lampe am Modem?

Is the light on the modem lit?

Ja, sie blinkt gerade. Das bedeutet, dass die Verbindung aktiv ist.

Yes, it’s flashing right now. That means the connection is active.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Leuchtend die Lampe am Modem?

    ‘leuchtend’ is an adjective; you need the finite verb ‘leuchtet’ for a question.

  • Leuchtet die Lampe bei Modem?

    The correct preposition is ‘an’ (contracted to ‘am’) for a lamp attached to a device.

  • Ist die Lampe am Modem leuchtend?

    Word order is wrong for a yes/no question; the verb must come first.

↔Alternatives

  • Ist die Lampe am Modem an?

    Is the lamp on the modem on?

  • Leuchtet die Anzeige am Modem?

    Is the indicator on the modem lit?

  • Zeigt das Modem ein Licht?

    Does the modem show a light?

de

Cultural Tip

German speakers often refer to the small status LEDs on networking equipment as ‘Lampe’ or ‘Anzeige’. When asking about a device’s status, both ‘leuchtet’ (is it lit) and ‘ist an’ (is it on) are acceptable, but ‘leuchtet’ sounds a bit more technical. Remember that ‘am’ (an dem) is the correct preposition for something attached to a device; avoid ‘auf dem Modem’, which would imply a surface rather than a built‑in light.