Breakdown of Die Forscher werden wohl das Skelett ausgraben und es uns zeigen.
es
it
und
and
uns
us
zeigen
to show
werden
will (future auxiliary)
wohl
probably, I suppose
das Skelett
the skeleton
der Forscher
the researcher
ausgraben
to excavate
Questions & Answers about Die Forscher werden wohl das Skelett ausgraben und es uns zeigen.
Why does this sentence translate to 'are probably excavating' instead of the future tense 'will probably excavate'?
In German, the Futur I tense using werden isn't just for the future. When combined with a word like wohl (probably), it frequently expresses a strong assumption about something happening right now. You are guessing what the researchers are currently doing.
What is the exact purpose of wohl in this sentence?
wohl is a modal particle here. It flavors the sentence to mean 'probably' or 'I assume.' When you pair werden with wohl, it is the classic B1 way to show you are making a present-tense guess rather than a future promise.
Why doesn't the separable verb ausgraben split up in this sentence?
Because it is being used with the helping verb werden. When a helping verb takes the second position in a sentence, it pushes the main verb to the very end. When a separable verb is pushed to the end like this, it stays in its full, un-split infinitive form.
Why does the sentence say es uns zeigen instead of uns es zeigen?
This is the German rule for pronoun order. es is the direct object (the skeleton, accusative) and uns is the indirect object (to us, dative). When both objects are pronouns, the accusative pronoun always comes before the dative pronoun.
Does werden apply to both actions at the end of the sentence?
Yes! You only need to use the helping verb werden once. It applies to both infinitives linked by und: they are probably excavating (ausgraben) and showing (zeigen).
Learn Die Forscher werden wohl das Skelett ausgraben und es uns zeigen and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free