Breakdown of Der Kenner kennt sich aus, also können wir ihm ruhig vertrauen.
wir
we
können
can / to be able to
vertrauen
to trust
ihm
him / it / to him / to it (dative)
also
so, therefore
ruhig
go ahead / feel free to (reassurance particle)
der Kenner
the expert (connoisseur)
sich auskennen
to know one's way around
Questions & Answers about Der Kenner kennt sich aus, also können wir ihm ruhig vertrauen.
Why is ruhig used here? Does it mean we should trust him quietly?
No, in this context ruhig is a modal particle used for reassurance. Instead of meaning "quiet", it translates more closely to "safely", "go ahead and", or "without hesitation". It reassures the listener that trusting the expert is a safe bet.
What does kennt sich aus mean?
It comes from the separable reflexive verb sich auskennen, which means "to know one's way around" or "to be an expert in something". The prefix aus moves to the end of the first clause, and the reflexive pronoun sich matches the subject Der Kenner.
Why is the verb können right after also?
The word also (meaning "so" or "therefore") acts as an adverb here, not a coordinating conjunction like und or aber. Because it occupies the first position in its clause, the conjugated verb können must take the second position, pushing the subject wir to the third position.
Why do we use ihm instead of ihn here?
The verb vertrauen (to trust) always takes a dative object. In German, you give your trust to someone, which is why we must use the dative pronoun ihm rather than the accusative ihn.
Is the German word also used like the English word "also"?
No, also is a classic false friend. In German, it means "so", "thus", or "therefore", which explains the logical jump from the expert's knowledge to why we can trust him. If you wanted to say "also" in the English sense, you would use auch.
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