Breakdown of Während des Besuchs haben wir diesen Bezirk gesehen.
haben
to have
wir
we
sehen
to see
der Besuch
the visit / the visitors
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
während
during
der Bezirk
the district
Questions & Answers about Während des Besuchs haben wir diesen Bezirk gesehen.
Why is it des Besuchs instead of der Besuch?
The preposition während (during) requires the Genitive case. Since Besuch (visit) is a masculine noun (der Besuch), the article changes to des, and we must add an -s to the end of the noun itself.
Why is the word order haben wir and not wir haben?
In German main clauses, the conjugated verb must always come in the second position. Because the prepositional phrase Während des Besuchs takes up the entire first position, the verb haben must immediately follow it, pushing the subject wir to the third position.
Why does the word for 'this' end in -en (diesen Bezirk)?
Bezirk (district) is a masculine noun (der Bezirk) and acts as the direct object in this sentence—the thing being seen. Therefore, it must be in the Accusative case. The demonstrative word for 'this' (dieser) changes to diesen in the masculine Accusative.
Can I use während as a conjunction instead of a preposition?
Yes! Here, während is a preposition meaning 'during' and is followed by a noun. But you can also use it as a subordinating conjunction meaning 'while.' For example: Während wir zu Besuch waren... (While we were visiting...). When used as a conjunction, it kicks the conjugated verb to the very end of its clause.
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