Breakdown of Sie steigern den Ertrag dadurch, dass Sie das Feld düngen.
Sie
you (formal)
das Feld
the field
dadurch, dass
by the fact that
der Ertrag
the yield
steigern
to increase (value, performance)
düngen
to fertilize
Questions & Answers about Sie steigern den Ertrag dadurch, dass Sie das Feld düngen.
How exactly does dadurch, dass translate to "by fertilizing"?
In English, we usually express a method or means using "by + -ing" (like "by fertilizing"). German doesn't use an "-ing" form for this. Instead, it uses a two-part construction: dadurch (literally "through that") in the main clause, which points forward to a dass ("that") clause. Literally, the sentence means: "You increase the yield through that, that you fertilize the field."
Can I use indem instead of dadurch, dass in this sentence?
Yes, absolutely! indem and dadurch, dass are almost perfectly interchangeable when expressing how something is achieved. You could just as easily say: Sie steigern den Ertrag, indem Sie das Feld düngen. Using dadurch, dass simply places a slightly stronger emphasis on the method.
Why is the verb düngen at the very end of the sentence?
The word dass is a subordinating conjunction. This means it creates a subordinate clause and "kicks" the conjugated verb to the very end of that clause. Because dass Sie das Feld düngen is a subordinate clause, the verb düngen must go last.
What case is den Ertrag, and why?
It is in the accusative case. The noun Ertrag (yield/output) is masculine (der Ertrag). Because it is the direct object of the sentence—the thing that is being increased by the verb steigern—the article changes from der to den.
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