Breakdown of Entweder berechnen wir die Route neu, oder der Lastwagen durchbricht die Absperrung.
wir
we
neu
new
oder
or
entweder
either
die Absperrung
the barrier
die Route
the route (planned path)
der Lastwagen
the truck
durchbrechen
to break in two / to break through
berechnen
to calculate
Questions & Answers about Entweder berechnen wir die Route neu, oder der Lastwagen durchbricht die Absperrung.
Why is durchbricht not separated like a normal separable prefix verb?
durchbrechen is a verb with a variable prefix. When it means to physically snap something into two pieces, it is separable. However, when it means to forcefully cross or penetrate an obstacle like a barrier (die Absperrung), the prefix is inseparable. That is why it stays together as durchbricht.
Why does the verb berechnen come immediately after Entweder, but durchbricht does not come right after oder?
In the first clause, Entweder acts as the first element (Position 1), so the verb berechnen must follow in Position 2. In the second clause, oder is a coordinating conjunction that takes Position 0. It does not count toward the sentence structure, so the subject der Lastwagen takes Position 1 and the verb durchbricht takes Position 2.
Is neu just an adjective floating at the end of the first clause?
No, it is actually the prefix of the separable verb neuberechnen (to recalculate). Because this clause is in the present tense, the conjugated core (berechnen) takes the second position, and the separable prefix (neu) gets pushed to the very end of its clause.
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