Breakdown of Einerseits ist die Landwirtschaft wichtig, andererseits schadet sie dem Klima.
sein
to be
sie
she
wichtig
important
schaden
to harm
einerseits
on the one hand
andererseits
on the other hand
das Klima
the climate
die Landwirtschaft
the agriculture
Questions & Answers about Einerseits ist die Landwirtschaft wichtig, andererseits schadet sie dem Klima.
How do you use the pair einerseits and andererseits?
They are adverbs that mean "on the one hand" and "on the other hand." You use them together to contrast two opposing points or ideas.
Why is the verb placed before the subject in both halves of the sentence?
Because einerseits and andererseits take up the first position in their respective clauses. To keep the conjugated verb in its strict second position, the subjects (die Landwirtschaft and sie) must move to position three, right after the verbs (ist and schadet).
Why does the sentence use dem Klima instead of das Klima?
The verb schaden (to harm or damage) is a dative verb, meaning it always requires its object to be in the dative case. Since Klima is a neuter noun (das Klima), its article changes to dem.
Why is the pronoun sie used for "it" in the second clause?
Grammatical gender! In English, agriculture is an "it", but in German, die Landwirtschaft is a feminine noun. Therefore, you must use the feminine pronoun sie to refer back to it.
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