Word
Die Taste klemmt auch, was ein Problem ist.
Meaning
The button is stuck too, which is a problem.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Die Taste klemmt auch, was ein Problem ist.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
auch
also, too
das Problem
the problem
Questions & Answers about Die Taste klemmt auch, was ein Problem ist.
Why do we use was here instead of das?
In this sentence, was doesn't refer to a specific neuter noun. Instead, it refers to the entire situation described in the first half of the sentence: the fact that the button is stuck. When a relative pronoun points back to a whole clause rather than a single noun, you must use was (which translates to "which" in this context) instead of a regular relative pronoun like der, die, or das.
Why does ist go at the very end of the sentence?
The word was introduces a relative clause here. Relative clauses are a type of subordinate clause, which means the conjugated verb (ist) must be pushed to the very end of that clause.
Can klemmen be used for things other than buttons?
Yes! The verb klemmen means to be stuck, jammed, or to pinch. You can use it for anything mechanical that won't move properly, like a door (Die Tür klemmt), a drawer, a zipper, or paper jammed in a printer.
Is the comma before was mandatory?
Yes, it is strictly required. In German, subordinate clauses (including relative clauses like the one starting with was here) must always be separated from the main clause by a comma.