Breakdown of Der Chef ist immer sehr gespannt auf das Ergebnis.
sein
to be
sehr
very
immer
always
der Chef
the boss (male)
auf
on / to (down/up to a level)
das Ergebnis
the result
gespannt
eager
Questions & Answers about Der Chef ist immer sehr gespannt auf das Ergebnis.
Why do we use auf when the English translation says "about"?
The adjective gespannt (curious / in suspense) has a fixed partnership with the preposition auf. Prepositions rarely translate one-to-one between English and German. When learning adjectives with fixed prepositions, you should memorize the preposition as part of the vocabulary: gespannt auf.
What case does auf take here, and why?
It takes the accusative case, which is why we say auf das Ergebnis. Auf is a two-way preposition, meaning it can take either the dative or the accusative. When it is used as a fixed preposition for feelings directed toward a target or future outcome, it almost always takes the accusative.
Does gespannt mean exactly the same thing as neugierig?
Not quite. While both can translate to "curious," neugierig is the general word for wanting to know things (often playfully or nosily). Gespannt comes from the verb for stretching or tightening, so it specifically implies being in a state of suspense, excitement, or eager anticipation about a specific outcome.
Why is gespannt in the middle of the sentence instead of at the very end?
You actually have two choices here! Standard German grammar rules often push the main adjective to the very end: Der Chef ist immer sehr auf das Ergebnis gespannt. However, placing the prepositional phrase after the adjective, as seen in this sentence, is perfectly correct and very common in everyday German because it creates a more natural rhythm.
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