Question 1

Why are gekauft and werden pushed to the end of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

This is the standard word order for a modal verb with the passive voice. The conjugated modal verb (muss) takes the first position because it is a yes/no question. The passive infinitive—which consists of the past participle (gekauft) plus the infinitive werden—is always pushed to the very end of the clause.

Question 2

Wait, isn't the thing being bought usually in the accusative case? Why is it diese Tapete (nominative) here?

Accepted Answer

In an active sentence, it would be the accusative direct object (for example: Wir müssen diese Tapete kaufen). But in a passive sentence, the thing receiving the action becomes the grammatical subject of the sentence. Since subjects are always in the nominative case, we use the feminine nominative diese Tapete.

Question 3

Is Tapete a false friend? It looks like "tape" or "tapestry".

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is a classic false friend! Die Tapete specifically means "wallpaper". If you want to say "tape" (like adhesive tape), you would use das Klebeband. A "tapestry" is der Wandteppich.

Question 4

English uses "to be bought". Why isn't it translated with the verb sein (to be)?

Accepted Answer

English builds the passive voice with the verb "to be", which might tempt you to use sein in German. However, the standard German passive requires the verb werden. So, "to be bought" translates to gekauft werden, not gekauft sein (which would imply the buying process is already completely finished and you are just describing its state).

Muss diese Tapete wirklich gekauft werden?

Breakdown of Muss diese Tapete wirklich gekauft werden?

Questions & Answers about Muss diese Tapete wirklich gekauft werden?

Learn Muss diese Tapete wirklich gekauft werden and more in German