Breakdown of Der Nachfolger unseres alten Chefs übernimmt die Verantwortung.
alt
old
der Chef
the boss (male)
unser
our
übernehmen
to take over
die Verantwortung
the responsibility
der Nachfolger
the successor
Questions & Answers about Der Nachfolger unseres alten Chefs übernimmt die Verantwortung.
Why do we say unseres alten Chefs with those specific endings?
This phrase is in the genitive (possessive) case, meaning "of our old boss". Chef is a masculine noun, so the possessive article unser takes the genitive masculine ending -es, becoming unseres. As a rule, after any possessive article in the genitive case, the following adjective (alt) must take the -en ending, giving us alten.
Why is there an -s at the end of Chefs? Is it plural?
No, it is singular here! In German, masculine and neuter nouns usually add an -s or -es in the genitive case. Because we are saying "of the boss", Chef becomes Chefs.
Wait, the plural of Chef is also Chefs. How do we know this one is singular?
Why doesn't the verb split into nimmt ... über?
The verb übernehmen (to take over / assume) has an inseparable prefix. While many prefixes separate and jump to the end of the sentence, über- is usually inseparable when used in an abstract or figurative sense, like taking on a new job or responsibility. Therefore, the prefix stays attached in übernimmt.
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