Breakdown of Der Mann im Schatten nannte ein Alibi, aber das Rätsel blieb.
ein
a, an (eine)
der Mann
the man
aber
but
bleiben
to stay
Questions & Answers about Der Mann im Schatten nannte ein Alibi, aber das Rätsel blieb.
Why is the past tense of nennen spelled as nannte?
nannte is the simple past (Präteritum) of nennen (to name). It is a mixed verb, meaning it combines features of both weak and strong verbs. Like a strong verb, its stem vowel changes (from e to a). However, like a regular weak verb, it still takes the standard -te ending.
Is the other past tense verb in this sentence, blieb, also a mixed verb?
No, blieb (from bleiben, to remain) is a strong verb. You can tell the difference because strong verbs have a vowel change (here, from ei to ie) but do not take the -te ending that mixed verbs like nannte use.
Why does the sentence use im Schatten instead of in den Schatten?
im is a contraction of in dem, which is the dative case for the masculine noun der Schatten (the shadow). The dative case is used here with the two-way preposition in to show a fixed location (where the man is), rather than movement toward a destination. If he were stepping into the shadow, you would use the accusative in den Schatten.
Why is the verb blieb at the very end of the sentence?
It looks like it is at the end, but it is actually in the standard second position of its own clause. The conjunction aber (but) connects two main clauses and counts as position zero. The subject das Rätsel (the mystery) is in position one, so the verb blieb correctly sits right after it in position two.