Breakdown of Wir kämpfen gegen die Trockenheit dadurch, dass wir das Feld oft bewässern.
oft
often
wir
we
gegen
against
das Feld
the field
kämpfen
to fight
dadurch, dass
by the fact that
die Trockenheit
the drought
bewässern
to irrigate
Questions & Answers about Wir kämpfen gegen die Trockenheit dadurch, dass wir das Feld oft bewässern.
How exactly does dadurch, dass translate in this sentence?
It translates to "by [doing something]". We use it to express the means or method used to achieve a goal. The word dadurch sits in the first clause pointing forward, while the dass clause explains the actual method (irrigating the field). Because it is a dass clause, it forces the conjugated verb bewässern to the very end of the sentence.
Could I use indem instead of dadurch, dass?
Yes, absolutely! indem wir das Feld oft bewässern means the exact same thing and also sends the verb to the end. The two structures are mostly interchangeable, though dadurch, dass puts a slightly stronger emphasis on the method.
Why do we use gegen die after kämpfen?
The verb kämpfen (to fight) is commonly paired with the preposition gegen to mean "to fight against". The preposition gegen always forces the following noun into the accusative case. Since Trockenheit is a feminine noun, we use the accusative feminine article die. If you wanted to say "fight for", you would use kämpfen für, which also takes the accusative case.
Are the words Trockenheit and bewässern related to other common German words?
Yes, both are built from basic words you probably know! die Trockenheit comes from the adjective trocken (dry). Adding the suffix -heit turns an adjective into a feminine noun, just like adding "-ness" in English. bewässern is built around das Wasser (water). The prefix be- turns it into an action verb meaning "to provide with water" or "to irrigate".
Learn Wir kämpfen gegen die Trockenheit dadurch, dass wir das Feld oft bewässern and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free