Breakdown of Das Budget muss freigegeben sein, weil der Chef die Technik braucht.
sein
to be
brauchen
to need
der Chef
the boss (male)
müssen
to have to, must
weil
because (subordinating)
die Technik
the technology
das Budget
the budget
freigeben
to approve (to release, clear)
Questions & Answers about Das Budget muss freigegeben sein, weil der Chef die Technik braucht.
Why do we use freigegeben sein instead of freigegeben werden here?
This is the state passive (Zustandspassiv). Using sein instead of werden focuses on the completed state or result of an action. The sentence means the budget must already be in an approved status for the boss to proceed, rather than focusing on the action of someone approving it.
How does the word order work with muss freigegeben sein?
In a main clause, the conjugated modal verb (muss) takes the second position. The rest of the verb phrase is pushed to the very end. For a state passive with a modal, that end piece consists of the past participle (freigegeben) followed by the infinitive sein.
Why is the -ge- in the middle of freigegeben?
The verb freigeben (to approve or release) is a separable verb made of frei + geben. To form the past participle of a separable verb, the -ge- is sandwiched directly between the separable prefix and the root verb.
I usually translate die Technik as 'technology'. Why does it mean 'equipment' here?
In everyday workplace German, die Technik is often used as a collective noun for the technical gear, hardware, or equipment needed for a project or event. It is much more natural in this context than a word like die Ausrüstung.
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