Breakdown of Wann kann das Wohnzimmer tapeziert werden?
das Wohnzimmer
the living room
können
can / to be able to
wann
when
werden
to be (passive auxiliary + past participle)
tapezieren
to wallpaper
Questions & Answers about Wann kann das Wohnzimmer tapeziert werden?
How do we form the passive voice with a modal verb in this sentence?
We use the conjugated modal verb (kann) in the second position, while the actual passive phrase (tapeziert werden) goes at the very end. The formula for this is: modal verb + past participle + werden.
Why are there two verbs at the end (tapeziert werden)?
In a normal sentence with a modal verb, the main verb goes to the end in its infinitive form. Because this is a passive sentence (meaning 'be wallpapered'), that 'main verb' concept requires two words: the past participle of the action (tapeziert) and the infinitive of the passive auxiliary verb (werden).
Why doesn't the past participle tapeziert start with ge-?
German verbs that end in -ieren (like tapezieren, studieren, or reparieren) do not take a ge- prefix in their past participle form.
What is the grammatical subject of this sentence?
The subject is das Wohnzimmer. In a passive sentence, the thing receiving the action becomes the subject. The modal verb kann is conjugated to match this singular neuter noun.
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