across / transverse
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across
Used as an adverb to describe movement from one side to the other, across or through something. It often appears with prepositions such as 'über' (over/across), 'durch' (through), or 'zu' (to).
Anstatt den Weg zu benutzen, liefen sie quer über die Wiese.
Instead of using the path, they walked across the meadow.
The word 'quer' (across/transverse) is also part of useful compounds. A 'Quereinsteiger' (career changer/lateral entrant), for example, is someone who moves from another professional field into a new activity, so they enter 'quer' (from the side).
Als ehemaliger Lehrer ist er jetzt ein Quereinsteiger in der IT-Branche.
As a former teacher, he is now a career changer in the IT industry.
In the meaning of 'hindurch' (through), 'quer' (across) is used as an adverb and is almost always followed by a preposition such as 'durch' (through) or 'über' (over/across). It describes a movement that crosses a surface or space.
Wir sind quer durch den Park gelaufen.
We walked across the park.
The expression 'sich quer stellen' means that someone resists or does not cooperate. The verb is reflexive ('sich'), and the person who is blocking things is the subject.
Bei diesem Vorschlag wird sich der Betriebsrat sicher quer stellen.
The works council is sure to refuse to cooperate on this proposal.
As an adjective, 'quer' (transverse/across) describes the orientation of something, often in contrast to 'längs' (lengthwise). It is usually used predicatively, meaning after the noun.
Der Holzbalken liegt quer im Raum.
The wooden beam lies across the room.
The expression 'kreuz und quer' means 'in all directions' or 'without order'. It is often combined with verbs of movement such as 'laufen' (to walk/run), 'fahren' (to drive/go), or 'reisen' (to travel).
Die Kinder rannten kreuz und quer durch den Garten.
The children ran all over the garden.
along
'entlang' and 'quer' both describe directions, but they are often opposites. 'entlang' means along the length of something, that is, parallel to it. For example, you walk 'eine Straße entlang' (along a street). 'quer' means from one side to the other or not lengthwise. For example, you walk 'quer über einen Platz' (across a square). They can be confused because both occur with paths and movement. The simple orientation is: 'entlang' follows a line, while 'quer' cuts across it or goes across a surface.
Herr Schmidt ist quer über den Parkplatz gegangen.
Mr. Schmidt walked across the parking lot.
Anna läuft den Bahnsteig entlang und sucht ihren Wagen.
Anna walks along the platform and looks for her carriage.