Breakdown of Sowohl der Tierpfleger als auch der Tierarzt haben die Symptome zu dokumentieren.
haben
to have
der Tierarzt
the veterinarian
sowohl ... als auch
both ... and
der Tierpfleger
the zookeeper
das Symptom
the symptom
dokumentieren
to document
Questions & Answers about Sowohl der Tierpfleger als auch der Tierarzt haben die Symptome zu dokumentieren.
Why does this sentence use haben ... zu dokumentieren instead of müssen ... dokumentieren?
The structure haben + zu + infinitive is a slightly more formal or official way to express an active obligation. It means exactly the same thing as using the modal verb müssen (must / have to), but you will often see it in written instructions, rules, or formal speech.
How does the phrase sowohl ... als auch work here?
Sowohl ... als auch ... is a two-part conjunction that means "both ... and ...". Here, it connects the two subjects, der Tierpfleger (the zookeeper) and der Tierarzt (the vet), showing that the obligation applies equally to both of them.
Why is the verb haben in the plural form when Tierarzt and Tierpfleger are both singular nouns?
When you use sowohl ... als auch to connect two singular subjects, they combine to form a plural subject. Since you are talking about two people together, the verb must take the plural form haben, rather than the singular hat.
Why is zu dokumentieren placed at the very end of the sentence?
The haben + zu + infinitive structure behaves a lot like a modal verb. The conjugated verb (haben) takes the normal second position in the sentence, and it kicks the zu + infinitive part (zu dokumentieren) all the way to the end.
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