tarpaulin / tarp
die Plane, die Planen
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tarpaulin
A large piece of sturdy, usually waterproof material used to cover something or protect it from rain, wind, and dirt.
Wir deckten das Brennholz mit einer Plane ab, damit es bei Regen trocken blieb.
We covered the firewood with a tarpaulin so that it stayed dry in the rain.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Planen |
| genitive | der Plane |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Plane | die Planen |
| accusative | die Plane | die Planen |
| dative | der Plane | den Planen |
| genitive | der Plane | der Planen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
A common pattern is „etwas mit einer Plane abdecken“ (to cover something with a tarpaulin). The object being protected is in the accusative; after „mit“ (with), the dative is used.
Vor dem Streichen decken wir die Möbel mit einer Plane ab.
Before painting, we cover the furniture with a tarpaulin.
When putting up a shelter, the pattern „eine Plane über etwas spannen“ (to stretch a tarpaulin over something) is useful. In this pattern, „über“ (over) is followed by the accusative because the tarpaulin is moved into a specific position.
Für das Gartenfest spannen wir eine Plane über den Sitzbereich.
For the garden party, we stretch a tarpaulin over the seating area.
Common collocations include „eine Plane befestigen“ (to secure a tarpaulin), „eine Plane festbinden“ (to tie down a tarpaulin), and „eine Plane mit Seilen sichern“ (to secure a tarpaulin with ropes). These expressions are especially useful when talking about wind and keeping something firmly in place.
Wir sichern die Plane mit Seilen, damit der Wind sie nicht wegweht.
We secure the tarpaulin with ropes so that the wind does not blow it away.
