Breakdown of Laut dieser Studie wächst der Anteil der alten Menschen.
alt
old
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
der Mensch
the human, person
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
wachsen
to grow
laut
according to
die Studie
the study
der Anteil
the proportion
Questions & Answers about Laut dieser Studie wächst der Anteil der alten Menschen.
Is dieser Studie in the dative or genitive case after the preposition laut?
It can actually be either! The preposition laut (according to) can be used with both the dative and the genitive case. Because Studie is a feminine noun, its dative and genitive forms are exactly the same (dieser Studie). In modern German, using the dative with laut is very common in everyday speech, while the genitive is preferred in formal writing.
Why is the verb wächst placed right after Studie?
In a German main clause, the conjugated verb must always take the second position. The entire phrase Laut dieser Studie occupies the first position. Therefore, the verb wächst must come second, which pushes the subject of the sentence (der Anteil) into the third position.
Why does the sentence use der alten Menschen instead of die alten Menschen?
The phrase der alten Menschen is in the genitive case, which is used to show possession or a close relationship (translating to "of the old people"). Because Menschen is plural, its plural definite article die changes to der in the genitive case.
What determines the -en ending on the adjective alten?
Adjectives change their endings based on the gender, case, and article of the noun they describe. Because Menschen is plural and in the genitive case, and it follows the definite article der, the adjective gets the "weak" ending -en. As a helpful rule at this level: adjectives in the genitive plural after a definite article will always end in -en.
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