The Suspicious "Etwa"
German uses small words called modal particles to add emotion or tone to a sentence. When a neighborhood watch member asks a question, they aren't always just looking for objective information—often, they are expressing shock, suspicion, or a negative expectation.
To add this flavor of disbelief to a question (similar to asking "seriously?", "actually?", or "by any chance?"), use the modal particle etwa.
| seriously / really (in questions) | etwa |
In a yes/no question, etwa typically sits in the middle of the sentence, after the conjugated verb and the subject.
| Is the alarm system seriously broken? | Ist die Alarmanlage etwa kaputt? |
| Are you seriously sneaking around on my property at night? | Schleichen Sie etwa nachts auf meinem Grundstück herum? |
Voicing Disbelief and Concern
Using etwa implies that you strongly hope the answer is "no," or that you are completely astounded by what you are witnessing. It is the perfect tool for confronting strange or unauthorized behavior on your patrol.
| Do you seriously have the suspicion that I am stealing? | Haben Sie etwa den Verdacht, dass ich stehle? |
| Are you actually entering this property unauthorized? | Betreten Sie dieses Grundstück etwa unbefugt? |
Shocking Failures
You can also use etwa in negative questions to express utter disbelief that someone failed to do something important. In these cases, place etwa right before nicht.
| Did you seriously not note down the license plate? | Haben Sie das Kennzeichen etwa nicht notiert? |