Breakdown of Dieser Absatz lässt sich problemlos anpassen.
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
sich
oneself / himself / herself / themselves (reflexive pronoun)
der Absatz
the paragraph
sich lassen
can be done (sich lassen + infinitive)
problemlos
without problems
anpassen
to adjust
Questions & Answers about Dieser Absatz lässt sich problemlos anpassen.
How does lässt sich ... anpassen translate to "can be adjusted"?
This is a common alternative to the passive voice in German. The structure sich lassen plus an infinitive literally means "lets itself be [verb]ed". In English, we usually express this with "can be [verb]ed". So, lässt sich ... anpassen expresses the possibility that the paragraph can be adjusted.
Why is anpassen at the very end of the sentence?
In this passive-alternative structure, the verb lassen functions similarly to a modal verb (like können or müssen). The conjugated verb (lässt) takes the normal second position, and the main action verb (anpassen) gets pushed to the very end of the sentence in its infinitive (dictionary) form.
Why is it Dieser Absatz and not Dieses Absatz?
The word for paragraph, Absatz, is a masculine noun (der Absatz). Because it is the subject of the sentence (the thing "allowing itself" to be adjusted), it is in the nominative case. Therefore, the word for "this" must take the masculine nominative ending -er.
Could I use einfach or leicht instead of problemlos?
Yes, absolutely! Dieser Absatz lässt sich einfach anpassen would also perfectly translate to "can easily be adjusted". Problemlos literally means "without problems" or "hassle-free" and is a great, natural-sounding alternative to broaden your vocabulary.
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