Breakdown of Der Imker öffnet den Bienenstock, obwohl ein Stich wehtut.
ein
a, an (eine)
wehtun
to hurt
öffnen
to open
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
obwohl
although
der Imker
the beekeeper
der Bienenstock
the beehive
der Stich
the sting
Questions & Answers about Der Imker öffnet den Bienenstock, obwohl ein Stich wehtut.
Why is wehtut written together as a single word at the end of the sentence?
The verb is wehtun (to hurt), which is a separable verb (normally tut ... weh). However, the conjunction obwohl (although) creates a subordinate clause, pushing the conjugated verb (tut) to the very end. When the conjugated part meets its prefix at the end of a clause, they reunite into a single word: wehtut.
How could we express this same contrast using our current lesson's grammar, einerseits ... andererseits?
Obwohl is a conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause, but einerseits and andererseits (on the one hand / on the other hand) are adverbs that connect two main clauses. You could rewrite this contrast as: Einerseits tut ein Stich weh, andererseits öffnet der Imker den Bienenstock. Notice that because andererseits takes up position 1 in the second clause, the verb öffnet must come immediately after it in position 2!
Why is it den Bienenstock instead of der Bienenstock?
The beekeeper is the subject (nominative), and the beehive is the direct object receiving the action of being opened. Therefore, it takes the accusative case. Since Bienenstock is a masculine noun (der Stock), der changes to den.
Stock usually means "stick" or "floor" (of a building). How does Bienenstock mean "beehive"?
While Stock commonly means stick or floor/story, historically it also referred to a tree trunk or a hollowed-out log. Early beekeepers used these hollowed-out log sections to house bees, which is why a beehive is still called a Bienenstock today.
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