Breakdown of Zuerst werden wir eine Skizze zeichnen.
ein
a, an (eine)
wir
we
zuerst
first
werden
will (future auxiliary)
die Skizze
the sketch
zeichnen
to draw (pictures, art)
Questions & Answers about Zuerst werden wir eine Skizze zeichnen.
We are currently learning about using 'Lass uns' for suggestions. How would I change this sentence to mean 'First, let's draw a sketch'?
You would replace the future tense verb werden and the subject wir with lass uns (if talking to one person informally) or lasst uns (for multiple people). The sentence becomes: Zuerst lass uns eine Skizze zeichnen. Notice that the main verb zeichnen stays in its infinitive form at the very end of the sentence.
Why is it werden wir and not wir werden?
Because the sentence starts with the adverb Zuerst (First). In German main clauses, the conjugated verb must always sit in the second position. Since Zuerst takes up position one, the verb werden takes position two, pushing the subject wir into the third position right after the verb.
Is this sentence a suggestion or a factual statement?
As written, it is a factual statement about a future plan. It uses the German future tense (Futur I), which is built with the helping verb werden plus the infinitive zeichnen at the end. It literally translates to 'we will draw'. To make it a collaborative suggestion, you would need to use the Lass uns structure.
How can I easily remember the gender of Skizze?
The word Skizze ends in -e. The vast majority of German nouns ending in -e are feminine. Because it is a feminine noun acting as the direct object (the thing being drawn), it takes the feminine accusative article eine.
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