Breakdown of Er möchte auch das falsche Kabel entfernen, was helfen könnte.
er
he
auch
also, too
falsch
wrong
können
can / to be able to
möchten
would like
helfen
to help
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
das Kabel
the cable
entfernen
to remove
was
which (referring to a whole clause)
Questions & Answers about Er möchte auch das falsche Kabel entfernen, was helfen könnte.
How does the prefix ent- affect the meaning of entfernen?
The prefix ent- usually indicates removal, separation, or taking something away. Here, it is combined with a base related to fern (far). So entfernen literally means to make something far away, or to remove it. Because it starts with ent-, it is an inseparable verb.
Why does the sentence use was instead of das for the word 'which'?
If 'which' referred back to a specific neuter noun like das Kabel, you would use the relative pronoun das. But here, 'which' refers to the entire preceding idea (the fact that he wants to remove the cable). When a relative pronoun refers back to a whole clause or situation, German uses was.
Why does the adjective falsche only have an -e ending?
This is a weak adjective ending. The definite article das already shows that the noun is neuter and in the accusative case (since the cable is the direct object being removed). Because the article does the grammatical heavy lifting, the adjective falsche only needs the basic -e ending.
Why is könnte at the very end of the sentence?
The word was introduces a relative clause, which is a type of subordinate clause. In German subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb is always pushed to the very end. Here, that verb is könnte, the Konjunktiv II (subjunctive) form of können, meaning 'could'.
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