Breakdown of Niemand hat das Gehege ohne die Erlaubnis zu betreten.
haben
to have
ohne
without
niemand
no one
die Erlaubnis
the permission
das Gehege
the enclosure
betreten
to enter
Questions & Answers about Niemand hat das Gehege ohne die Erlaubnis zu betreten.
How does hat ... zu betreten express an obligation here?
In German, using haben + zu + an infinitive is a formal way to express an active obligation or an absolute rule. It is very similar in meaning to using a modal verb like müssen (must) or sollen (is to). Therefore, Niemand hat ... zu betreten means that no one must enter or no one is to enter.
Why is it written as zu betreten as two words, instead of bezutreten?
Betreten (to enter) is an inseparable verb, meaning the prefix be- is permanently attached to the root word. When you use an inseparable verb with zu, the zu stands as a separate word in front of it. You only tuck the -zu- inside the word if the prefix is separable, like in aufzumachen.
What case is die Erlaubnis in and why?
It is in the accusative case. The preposition ohne (without) always forces the following noun into the accusative case. Since Erlaubnis is a feminine noun, its accusative article is simply die.
Why does niemand take the singular verb form hat?
The pronoun niemand (nobody or no one) is always treated as a third-person singular subject in German, just like in English. Therefore, it pairs with the singular verb form hat, rather than the plural haben.
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