Breakdown of Es ist ein Irrtum, den sie tatsächlich bedauert.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
sie
she
es
it
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
bedauern
to regret (feel pity, find unfortunate)
tatsächlich
actually
der Irrtum
the error
Questions & Answers about Es ist ein Irrtum, den sie tatsächlich bedauert.
How does using a cleft sentence (Spaltsatz) here change the meaning?
A standard, non-emphasized version of this sentence would be Sie bedauert tatsächlich einen Irrtum (She actually regrets a mistake). By "cleaving" or splitting the sentence into two parts starting with Es ist..., the speaker puts a heavy spotlight on ein Irrtum. It signals to the listener: "It is a mistake that she actually regrets" (as opposed to something else she might regret, or as opposed to her feeling a different emotion about the mistake).
Why is the relative pronoun den used here instead of der or dem?
The relative pronoun has to match the gender of the noun it refers back to, which is masculine (der Irrtum). Its case, however, is determined by its role in the new clause. In the relative clause den sie tatsächlich bedauert, the pronoun acts as the direct object of the verb bedauern (she regrets the mistake). Therefore, it must take the masculine accusative form, which is den.
What is the difference between ein Irrtum and ein Fehler?
While both translate to "a mistake," they have slightly different flavors. Ein Fehler is typically a practical, mechanical, or rule-based error—like a typo, a calculation mistake, or a grammatical error. Ein Irrtum refers more to an error in judgment, a misconception, or a false belief. It comes from the verb sich irren (to be mistaken).
Is tatsächlich a false friend here?
It depends on what you mean by "actually"! tatsächlich means "actually" in the sense of "really," "indeed," or "as a matter of fact." However, English speakers often use "actually" to mean "currently" or "at the moment." If you want to say "currently" in German, you must use aktuell or derzeit. In this sentence, tatsächlich is used correctly to emphasize that her regret is genuine or perhaps surprising.
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