Learn German: Mit einer neuen Garantie können wir das Handy umtauschen. - With a new warranty, we can exchange the cell phone.

Mit einer neuen Garantie können wir das Handy umtauschen.

With a new warranty, we can exchange the cell phone.

Breakdown of Mit einer neuen Garantie können wir das Handy umtauschen.

Questions & Answers about Mit einer neuen Garantie können wir das Handy umtauschen.

Why is the adjective neuen instead of neue?

The preposition mit always requires the dative case. Since Garantie is a feminine noun, the indefinite article becomes einer. In the dative case, any adjective following an indefinite article must end in -en. Therefore, the adjective becomes neuen.

Why does the verb können come before the subject wir?

German follows a strict verb-second rule in main clauses. The entire prepositional phrase Mit einer neuen Garantie occupies the first position. To keep the conjugated verb können in the second position, the subject wir has to move to the third position.

I thought umtauschen was a separable verb. Why is it written as one connected word here?

You are correct that umtauschen is a separable verb. However, because the sentence uses the modal verb können, the main verb is pushed to the very end of the sentence in its full infinitive form. Separable verbs only split when they act as the conjugated verb in the second position.

Why is the word Handy capitalized, and is it really German?

Handy is a noun, and all German nouns are capitalized. Even though it looks like an English adjective, das Handy is a pseudo-anglicism used as the standard German word for a cell phone or mobile phone.