Breakdown of Angenommen, dass jede Aktie riskant ist, kauft niemand etwas.
sein
to be
etwas
something
kaufen
to buy
niemand
no one
jeder
everyone / each
dass
that
angenommen
assuming (that)
die Aktie
the share
riskant
risky
Questions & Answers about Angenommen, dass jede Aktie riskant ist, kauft niemand etwas.
Can I drop dass after angenommen in this sentence?
Yes, you can! If you drop dass, the word order in the condition changes to standard main-clause order: Angenommen, jede Aktie ist riskant, ... instead of pushing the verb to the end.
Why does the main clause start with the verb kauft instead of niemand?
In German, the conjugated verb must be in the second position of the main clause. The entire conditional clause (Angenommen, dass jede Aktie riskant ist) acts as a single block occupying position 1. Therefore, position 2 is the verb kauft, followed by the subject niemand.
Is angenommen related to a specific verb?
Yes, it is the past participle of the separable verb annehmen (to assume or to accept). In this context, it acts as a fixed expression to introduce a conditional clause, much like 'assuming' or 'supposing' in English.
Why does the English translation use the future tense for 'will buy' when the German sentence uses the present tense kauft?
German frequently uses the present tense to talk about the future, especially when the context makes it clear that it is a hypothetical or future outcome. Because of this, kauft translates naturally to 'will buy' here.
Why is it niemand etwas? Doesn't etwas mean 'something'?
Yes, etwas means 'something' or 'anything'. German avoids double negatives, so because niemand (nobody) already makes the sentence negative, you pair it with the positive word etwas. Literally, the phrasing equates to 'nobody buys something'.
Learn Angenommen, dass jede Aktie riskant ist, kauft niemand etwas 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