Breakdown of Der Kenner sagt, wir können ruhig an dem Pilz riechen.
wir
we
sagen
to say
können
can / to be able to
an
at, on (vertical) / to (addressee) / of (in quantity/stock expressions)
riechen
to smell
der Pilz
the mushroom
ruhig
go ahead / feel free to (reassurance particle)
der Kenner
the expert (connoisseur)
Questions & Answers about Der Kenner sagt, wir können ruhig an dem Pilz riechen.
Why is ruhig translated as "safely" instead of "quietly"?
In this sentence, ruhig is used as a modal particle rather than a normal adjective. Instead of meaning "quietly", it is used to reassure the listener. It signals "go ahead" or "don't worry." Translating it as "safely" captures this reassuring conversational tone perfectly.
Why use an dem Pilz riechen instead of just den Pilz riechen?
The verb riechen behaves slightly differently depending on the grammar. Etwas riechen (to smell something) means you passively notice a scent in the air. But an etwas riechen means you are actively leaning in to sniff it. Since the expert is telling them to actively sniff the mushroom, we use an plus the dative dem Pilz.
After the comma, why is the word order wir können? Shouldn't the conjugated verb go to the end?
This is a case of indirect speech where the word dass (that) has been left out. If we included it, the verb would indeed go to the end: Der Kenner sagt, dass wir ... riechen können. When you drop dass, which is very common in everyday German, the clause uses normal main-clause word order: subject (wir) followed by the conjugated verb (können).
What is the literal meaning of the word Kenner?
Kenner comes from the verb kennen, which means "to know" or "to be familiar with" a person, place, or thing. By adding the -er suffix, it literally translates to "knower"—someone who is deeply familiar with a subject, making it the standard word for an expert or a connoisseur.
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