A homeowners' association meeting can be a tense affair, full of formal motions, objections, and debates about costs.
| We are opening the assembly of the owners. | Wir eröffnen die Versammlung der Eigentümer. |
| Does anyone have an objection to the agenda? | Hat irgendwer einen Einwand gegen die Tagesordnung? |
Active vs. Passive Perspectives
In formal German, noun-verb combinations (Nomen-Verb-Verbindungen) often come in pairs. The verb you choose determines whether the phrase is active (someone is doing something) or describes a passive state (something is in a certain condition).
Zur Diskussion (Discussion)
To actively put a topic on the table, use zur Diskussion stellen (to put up for discussion). To shift the perspective and express that the topic is currently being debated, use zur Diskussion stehen (to be up for discussion).
| Who put this expensive project up for discussion? | Wer hat dieses teure Projekt zur Diskussion gestellt? |
| The planned refurbishment is now up for discussion. | Die geplante Sanierung steht jetzt zur Diskussion. |
Zur Sprache (Bringing it Up)
To actively broach a subject, use zur Sprache bringen (to bring up). When an issue arises naturally or has already been raised, use zur Sprache kommen (to come up).
| We must bring up the costs of the refurbishment. | Wir müssen die Kosten der Sanierung zur Sprache bringen. |
| The high costs have already come up often. | Die hohen Kosten sind schon oft zur Sprache gekommen. |
Zur Verfügung (Availability)
When dealing with funds or resources, you either provide them or they are simply there for you.
- zur Verfügung stellen: to make available (active)
- zur Verfügung stehen: to be available (passive state)
| The president said we should make the money available. | Der Präsident sagte, wir sollen das Geld zur Verfügung stellen. |
| Unfortunately, the financial reserve is not available to us. | Leider steht uns die Rücklage nicht zur Verfügung. |
Zur Abstimmung (Voting)
At the end of a debate, a motion goes to a vote. The exact same verb pattern from zur Diskussion applies: you actively put a motion to a vote with stellen, or the motion stands ready for a vote with stehen.
| We are putting the point to a vote now. | Wir stellen den Punkt jetzt zur Abstimmung. |
| The project is no longer up for a vote. | Das Projekt steht nicht mehr zur Abstimmung. |
