Breakdown of Es ist gefährlich, hier zu klicken.
sein
to be
es
it
hier
here
gefährlich
dangerous
zu
to (infinitive marker)
klicken
to click
Questions & Answers about Es ist gefährlich, hier zu klicken.
Why is there a comma before "hier zu klicken"?
In German, you often use a comma to separate a main clause (Es ist gefährlich) from an extended infinitive clause (an infinitive with zu plus other words, like hier). While it is sometimes optional under modern spelling rules, using a comma makes the sentence much easier to read.
What is the purpose of "Es" at the beginning of the sentence?
Es acts as a placeholder or dummy subject here. The logical subject is the action itself: clicking here. You could actually rephrase the sentence as Hier zu klicken ist gefährlich, but starting with Es ist... (It is...) is much more common and natural, just like in English.
"Klicken" looks like an English word. How does it behave in German?
German has adopted many tech-related words from English and treats them as regular (weak) verbs. The verb klicken takes standard German endings, so you will see forms like er klickt (he clicks) and the past participle geklickt (clicked).
Why are "zu" and "klicken" written as two separate words here?
In infinitive clauses, zu is written as a separate word right before the infinitive verb, unless the verb is a separable prefix verb (like anklicken). If the sentence used anklicken (to click on), the zu would be sandwiched inside as one word: anzuklicken. Since klicken has no prefix, they remain separate.
If we put "sonst" (otherwise) right before this sentence, how would the word order change?
Sonst is an adverbial connector that takes up position 1. If you attached it to the beginning of this sentence to show a consequence, the verb ist would have to follow immediately in position 2 to maintain standard V2 word order: Sonst ist es gefährlich, hier zu klicken. (Otherwise it is dangerous to click here.)
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