Questions & Answers about Er leugnet die Schuld und will unschuldig sein.
Wait, doesn't will mean "wants to"? Why is it translated as "claims to" here?
You are right that wollen usually expresses a desire. However, this sentence showcases the subjective use of wollen. In this structure, it means the subject is making a personal claim about themselves, often one that others might doubt. So, Er will unschuldig sein translates to "He claims to be innocent."
Could I use the regular verb for "to claim" (behaupten) instead of will?
Yes! You could completely rewrite it as ..., und behauptet, unschuldig zu sein. Using wollen is just a concise, advanced way to express this. It is very common in journalism, legal contexts, or everyday gossip to report what someone is asserting, especially when there is a hint of skepticism.
If I actually wanted to say "He wants to be innocent", how would people know the difference?
Context is everything! While Er will unschuldig sein could technically mean "He wants to be innocent" in a different situation, the first half of the sentence (Er leugnet die Schuld) makes it clear that he is defending his current legal or moral status, not expressing a wish.
I know Entschuldigung means "apology". Is it related to die Schuld?