Breakdown of Es ist unhöflich, wenn man die Kollegen nicht begrüßt.
sein
to be
es
it
nicht
not
der Kollege
the colleague
man
one / you (impersonal)
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
unhöflich
impolite
begrüßen
to greet (to welcome)
Questions & Answers about Es ist unhöflich, wenn man die Kollegen nicht begrüßt.
Why is the verb begrüßt at the very end of the sentence?
The word wenn (if/when) introduces a subordinate clause. In German, this type of clause always kicks the conjugated verb (here, begrüßt) to the very end of the sentence.
Is Kollegen singular or plural here?
It is plural (die Kollegen). However, der Kollege is a weak noun (also called an N-declension noun), meaning it takes an -n ending in almost all forms, including the singular accusative (den Kollegen). The plural article die is your clue that it means multiple colleagues here.
What is the difference between grüßen and begrüßen?
Both mean to greet, but there is a slight difference in feel. Begrüßen often implies an active, welcoming greeting, like when you first arrive at work and say hello to everyone. Grüßen is more of a passing, casual greeting, like nodding to someone in the hallway.
Why does the sentence use man instead of a specific pronoun like du or ihr?
The word man is the German equivalent of the general 'one' or 'you' in English. It is the most natural way in German to state a general rule, societal norm, or expectation that applies to absolutely everyone.
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