Breakdown of Auch wenn es schwierig ist, kannst du das Problem überwinden.
sein
to be
du
you (informal singular)
es
it
das Problem
the problem
können
can / to be able to
schwierig
difficult
auch wenn
even if
überwinden
to overcome
Questions & Answers about Auch wenn es schwierig ist, kannst du das Problem überwinden.
What is the difference between wenn and auch wenn in this sentence?
While wenn alone means "if" or "when", adding auch changes it to "even if" or "even though". It introduces a contrast, showing that the difficulty exists but won't prevent you from solving the problem.
Why does ist go at the end of the first clause?
The phrase auch wenn acts as a subordinating conjunction. This creates a dependent clause and forces the conjugated verb, ist, to the very end of that clause right before the comma.
Why is the word order kannst du instead of du kannst after the comma?
In German, the conjugated verb in a main clause must be in the second position. The entire auch wenn clause counts as the first position. Therefore, the verb kannst must take position two immediately after the comma, pushing the subject du to position three.
Why is überwinden at the very end of the sentence?
The main clause uses the modal verb können, conjugated here as kannst. Modal verbs always push the main action verb—in this case, überwinden—to the very end of the sentence in its infinitive form.
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