Word
Da Plastik der Umwelt schadet, reduzieren wir den Konsum.
Meaning
Since plastic harms the environment, we reduce consumption.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Da Plastik der Umwelt schadet, reduzieren wir den Konsum.
wir
we
die Umwelt
the environment
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
da
since, because
Questions & Answers about Da Plastik der Umwelt schadet, reduzieren wir den Konsum.
What is the difference between da and weil in this sentence?
Both function to give a reason, but da translates better to since or as. We often use da at the beginning of a sentence, especially when the reason is already general knowledge or obvious to the listener.
Why is the verb schadet at the very end of the first part of the sentence?
The word da is a subordinating conjunction. Whenever you start a clause with da, the conjugated verb (in this case, schadet) gets kicked to the very end of that clause, right before the comma.
Why does the second part of the sentence start with the verb reduzieren instead of the subject wir?
Main clauses in German follow the verb-second rule. Because the entire first clause (Da Plastik der Umwelt schadet) acts as position one, the verb of the main clause (reduzieren) must immediately follow the comma to take position two.
Why does the sentence use der Umwelt? Isn't Umwelt a feminine noun?
Yes, die Umwelt is a feminine noun. However, the verb schaden (to harm or damage) always requires its object to be in the dative case. In the dative case, the feminine article die changes to der.