Breakdown of Eine neue Perspektive motiviert einen, das Problem zu lösen.
ein
a, an (eine)
das Problem
the problem
neu
new
man
one / you (impersonal)
Questions & Answers about Eine neue Perspektive motiviert einen, das Problem zu lösen.
Why does this sentence use einen instead of man?
The pronoun man (meaning 'one' or the general 'you') can only be used as the subject of a sentence. Since the perspective is doing the motivating, the general 'you' is the direct object receiving the action. Therefore, we have to use the accusative form of man, which is einen.
Doesn't einen usually mean 'a' or 'one' as an article?
Yes, it looks exactly like the masculine accusative word for 'a' (as in einen Hund). But when used on its own as a pronoun, einen acts as the accusative form of man. You can think of it as 'motivates a person' or 'motivates one'.
Why is there a comma before das Problem?
That comma separates the main clause from the infinitive clause (das Problem zu lösen). In German, when an infinitive phrase includes an object or extra details, you usually need a comma to separate it from the main sentence.
Why is zu lösen at the very end of the sentence?
In an infinitive clause (a phrase using zu plus the dictionary form of a verb), the zu and the verb must be placed at the very end of that clause. Any objects, like das Problem, must come before them.