Breakdown of Wir sind gefangen, aber wir werden entkommen.
sein
to be
aber
but
wir
we
werden
will (future auxiliary)
entkommen
to escape
gefangen
trapped
Questions & Answers about Wir sind gefangen, aber wir werden entkommen.
Why is it Wir sind gefangen instead of using werden for the passive voice?
Because Wir sind gefangen describes a current state (we are currently in the state of being trapped). This is called the state passive. If you said Wir werden gefangen, which is the action passive, it would mean the action is happening right now: We are being caught.
Why doesn't the word order change after the comma and aber?
The word aber is a coordinating conjunction. These types of conjunctions sit in position zero of the clause. This means the normal subject-verb order applies right after it, which is why the subject wir is in position 1 and the verb werden is in position 2.
Is entkommen a separable verb?
No, verbs starting with the prefix ent- are always inseparable. That means if you used it in the present tense, it would stay together (Wir entkommen), and its past participle doesn't take a -ge- in the middle.
Why use werden in the second half of the sentence?
Here, werden is used as a helping verb with the infinitive entkommen at the end to form the future tense, translating to 'will escape'. While German often uses the present tense to talk about the future, using werden here emphasizes a strong intention or promise.
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