Breakdown of Er versucht, das Gerät zu entsperren, was leider nicht klappt.
er
he
nicht
not
leider
unfortunately
versuchen
to try
das Gerät
the machine / the equipment
zu
to (infinitive marker)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
klappen
to work out
was
which (referring to a whole clause)
entsperren
to unlock
Questions & Answers about Er versucht, das Gerät zu entsperren, was leider nicht klappt.
How does the prefix ent- change the meaning of the verb sperren here?
The root verb sperren means "to lock" or "to block". The inseparable prefix ent- usually indicates the removal or reversal of something. Therefore, adding it creates entsperren, which means "to remove the lock" or "to unlock".
Why is it written as two words (zu entsperren) rather than one (entzusperren)?
Because ent- is an inseparable prefix. If it were a separable prefix (like auf- in aufsperren), the zu would wedge right in the middle to form a single word (aufzusperren). With inseparable verbs, zu simply stays in front as a separate word.
Why does the second half of the sentence use was instead of the relative pronoun das?
Normally, you use a relative pronoun like das to refer back to a specific neuter noun. However, when the "which" refers back to an entire previous action or idea (in this case, the whole attempt to unlock the device), German requires you to use was.
Could I use arbeitet instead of klappt to say that it "doesn't work"?
No. The verb arbeiten means "to work" only in the sense of doing a job or performing labor. When you want to say that a plan, attempt, or action "works" (meaning it succeeds), you use klappen. You could also use funktionieren here, but klappen is very common and natural.
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