Alles ist genau in das Protokoll zu schreiben.
Everything is to be written exactly into the protocol.
Breakdown of Alles ist genau in das Protokoll zu schreiben.
sein
to be
in
in
schreiben
to write
genau
exactly / precise, exact
Questions & Answers about Alles ist genau in das Protokoll zu schreiben.
Why does this sentence translate to 'is to be written' (passive) rather than 'is to write' (active)?
This is the passive alternative structure you are learning in this lesson! When you combine a form of sein (like ist) with zu and an infinitive verb (like schreiben), it expresses that something must be done or can be done. Here, it shows necessity: everything must be written down.
Why do we use the accusative in das Protokoll here instead of the dative in dem Protokoll?
The preposition in is a two-way preposition. We use the accusative case here because the action of writing directs the information into the record. If you were talking about text that is already sitting inside the record, you would use the dative (in dem Protokoll).
Does das Protokoll mean a set of rules, like a security protocol?
It can, but in everyday business and official German, das Protokoll most commonly refers to the minutes of a meeting, an official log, or a police record. The sentence is saying that everything must be logged or recorded exactly.
Could I say Alles muss genau in das Protokoll geschrieben werden instead?
Yes, absolutely! That is the standard passive voice with a modal verb, meaning the same thing. The sein + zu + infinitive structure used in this sentence is just a slightly more formal, elegant way to express that necessity.