Breakdown of Die Mitarbeiter stehen unter Druck.
stehen
to stand
unter
under, below
der Mitarbeiter
the employee (male)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
der Druck
the pressure
Questions & Answers about Die Mitarbeiter stehen unter Druck.
Why does this sentence use stehen instead of sind?
This is a fixed expression called a Nomen-Verb-Verbindung (noun-verb combination). While you might literally translate 'are' as sind, unter Druck stehen is the standard, idiomatic way to express this state in German. You have to learn the verb stehen as a package deal with the phrase unter Druck.
Why is there no article before Druck?
In many of these fixed noun-verb constructions, the noun is used without an article. Because unter Druck stehen describes an abstract, general state rather than a specific, measurable physical pressure, Druck stands completely alone without dem or einem.
Which case is unter Druck in this sentence?
It is in the dative case. Unter is a two-way preposition. Because the employees are already in a static state of pressure (answering the question 'in what state?' or 'where?'), it takes the dative. The noun Druck does not change its spelling in the dative, but grammatically, that is the case being used.
The noun Mitarbeiter looks like a singular word. How do we know it is plural here?
Learn Die Mitarbeiter stehen unter Druck and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free