Breakdown of Ich wusste, dass es schmerzhaft wurde, aber der Mann blieb still liegen.
ich
I
der Mann
the man
es
it
aber
but
bleiben
to stay
liegen
to lie
wissen
to know (a fact)
werden
to become / to get (change of state)
dass
that
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
schmerzhaft
painful
still
still (quiet, motionless)
Questions & Answers about Ich wusste, dass es schmerzhaft wurde, aber der Mann blieb still liegen.
Why is there no zu before liegen?
In German, the verb bleiben (to stay) is one of a few special verbs that take a bare infinitive, much like modal verbs do. This means the second verb (liegen) simply goes to the end of the sentence without a zu in front of it. You will also see this rule with verbs of motion like gehen and perception verbs like sehen.
Why use wurde instead of war here?
wurde is the simple past tense of werden (to become or to get). While war would just mean the situation 'was painful', using wurde emphasizes a process: the situation 'became' or 'was getting' painful.
Why does wurde go to the end of its clause, but blieb stays near the front?
This shows the difference between two types of connecting words. The word dass creates a subordinate clause, forcing its verb (wurde) to the very end. However, aber is a coordinating conjunction. It sits at 'position zero' outside the next clause, so the subject (der Mann) takes position one and the verb (blieb) takes its normal spot in position two.
Does still mean 'quiet' or 'motionless' in this sentence?
It can actually mean both! The German word still translates to 'quiet' (making no noise) but also 'still' (making no movements). In the phrase still liegen, it implies he is lying completely motionless, and likely quietly, despite the pain.
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