Word
Der Nahverkehr ist zwar umweltfreundlich, aber unbequem.
Meaning
The public transport is admittedly environmentally friendly, but uncomfortable.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Der Nahverkehr ist zwar umweltfreundlich, aber unbequem.
sein
to be
aber
but
unbequem
uncomfortable
der Nahverkehr
the public transport
Questions & Answers about Der Nahverkehr ist zwar umweltfreundlich, aber unbequem.
Can zwar ... aber connect just two adjectives instead of two full sentences?
Yes! While zwar ... aber often connects two full clauses, it can also connect two words or phrases within a single sentence, like the two adjectives umweltfreundlich and unbequem here. You do not need to repeat the subject and verb for the second half.
Why is there a comma before aber if there is no second verb?
In German, you almost always put a comma before the coordinating conjunction aber, even when it simply connects two adjectives like it does in this sentence. The comma helps emphasize the contrast.
How is the word umweltfreundlich constructed?
It is a compound adjective made from the noun die Umwelt (the environment) and the adjective freundlich (friendly). Put together, it means environmentally friendly.
Does Nahverkehr mean the same thing as just Verkehr?
Not quite. Verkehr refers to traffic or transport in general. Nahverkehr specifically means local transport, combining nah (near) and Verkehr. It refers to city buses, trams, and local trains, as opposed to Fernverkehr for long-distance travel.