Breakdown of Wir prüfen, ob das Ergebnis richtig ist.
sein
to be
richtig
right
wir
we
ob
whether / if
prüfen
to check / to test
das Ergebnis
the result
Questions & Answers about Wir prüfen, ob das Ergebnis richtig ist.
Why does the sentence end with ist?
The word ob (meaning whether or if) introduces a subordinate clause. In German, subordinate clauses always push the conjugated verb (in this case, ist) all the way to the end of the sentence.
Can I use wenn instead of ob here since both can mean "if" in English?
No, this is a common trap! Use ob for indirect yes/no questions (anytime you could use "whether" in English). Use wenn for conditions (like "if it rains") or time (like "whenever"). Because we are checking whether the result is correct, it must be ob.
Is the comma before ob required?
Yes! Unlike English, German has very strict comma rules. You must always use a comma to separate the main clause (Wir prüfen) from a subordinate clause (ob das Ergebnis richtig ist).
I know the word Prüfung (exam). Is that related to prüfen?
Yes, they share the same root! The verb prüfen means to check, to test, or to examine. A Prüfung is a test or examination.
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