Breakdown of Das Abkommen wurde bestätigt, ohne dass wir die Herkunft des Namens kannten.
wir
we
der Name
the name
kennen
to know (somebody/something)
bestätigen
to confirm
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
die Herkunft
the origin / the ancestry
werden
to be (passive auxiliary + past participle)
ohne dass
without (+ subordinate clause)
das Abkommen
the agreement
Questions & Answers about Das Abkommen wurde bestätigt, ohne dass wir die Herkunft des Namens kannten.
Why does Name become Namens here instead of just adding an -s?
der Name is part of a special group of masculine nouns that use a "mixed" n-declension. Most n-declension nouns add -n or -en in all cases except the nominative. However, this mixed group adds -ns in the genitive case. Since "origin of the name" requires the genitive, it becomes des Namens. Other examples include der Gedanke (thought) and der Wille (will).
Why is kannten used here for "knowing" instead of a form of wissen?
In German, wissen is used for knowing facts (often followed by a clause), while kennen is used for being familiar with a person, place, or thing (a noun). Since the sentence talks about knowing a specific noun-the origin (die Herkunft)-you must use kennen. Here it is conjugated in the simple past tense (kannten).
Why does the verb kannten go at the very end of the sentence?
The phrase ohne dass (without) is a subordinating conjunction. Just like dass or weil, it forces the conjugated verb in its clause (kannten) to move to the very end.
What grammar structure is wurde bestätigt?
This is the passive voice in the simple past tense (Präteritum). It is built using the simple past form of werden (wurde) plus the past participle of the main verb (bestätigt), translating to "was confirmed."
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