Breakdown of Es ist eben ein Skandal, wenn niemand die Wahrheit sagt.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
es
it
sagen
to say
niemand
no one
die Wahrheit
the truth
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
der Skandal
the scandal
eben
just / simply (modal particle)
Questions & Answers about Es ist eben ein Skandal, wenn niemand die Wahrheit sagt.
What does the word eben add to this sentence?
eben is a modal particle here. It means 'just' or 'simply', expressing that something is an undeniable fact. It gives the feeling of 'that is just how it is' rather than meaning 'only' (which would be nur).
Why does the verb sagt go at the very end of the sentence?
The word wenn (when or if) is a subordinating conjunction. It connects two ideas, but it also acts like a 'verb kicker' that sends the conjugated verb (sagt) to the very end of its clause.
The English translation says 'when', so why not use wann instead of wenn?
In German, wann is a question word used only for asking about time (like 'When are we leaving?'). For statements that mean 'if' or 'whenever', you use wenn.
The translation says 'tells the truth', but does not sagt mean 'says'?
Yes! In German, the standard phrase is die Wahrheit sagen (literally 'to say the truth'). You do not use a word like erzählen (to narrate or tell a story) for telling the truth.
Is niemand treated as plural or singular here?
niemand (nobody) is always singular. That is why the verb sagt gets the third-person singular '-t' ending, exactly as it would for er (he) or sie (she).
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