Breakdown of Alle Fehler und Mängel sind schnell zu beheben.
sein
to be
und
and
schnell
fast, quickly
alle
all, everyone
der Fehler
the mistake
zu
to (infinitive marker)
der Mangel
the defect
beheben
to rectify
Questions & Answers about Alle Fehler und Mängel sind schnell zu beheben.
Why does sind ... zu beheben translate as a passive phrase like 'are to be rectified'?
In German, the combination of sein (here: sind) + zu + an infinitive (beheben) creates a passive alternative. Even though it looks active, it describes an action being done to the subject. We actually use a very similar structure in English, such as when a boss says 'These errors are to be fixed.'
Does sind ... zu beheben mean the errors CAN be fixed, or that they MUST be fixed?
It can mean either! The sein + zu + infinitive structure expresses either possibility ('can be fixed') or necessity ('must be fixed'). You have to rely on context to tell the difference. Here, in a professional or technical setting, it is clearly a directive meaning the errors must be rectified quickly.
Why is it zu beheben as two separate words? Doesn't the zu usually go inside the verb?
You are thinking of separable prefix verbs. For example, a separable verb like aufgeben becomes aufzugeben. However, beheben starts with the inseparable prefix be-. Because the prefix cannot be separated from the root verb, the zu simply stands as a separate word right in front of the infinitive.
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