Breakdown of Die Sätze lassen sich so vereinfachen, dass sie für jeden Laien verständlich sind.
sein
to be
sie
they
für
for
lassen
to let, to leave (something)
so
so, such (intensifier)
jeder
everyone / each
sich
oneself / himself / herself / themselves (reflexive pronoun)
dass
that
der Satz
the sentence
vereinfachen
to simplify
der Laie
the layperson
verständlich
comprehensible
Questions & Answers about Die Sätze lassen sich so vereinfachen, dass sie für jeden Laien verständlich sind.
How does the dass clause here relate to the lesson's topic of verbalization?
The subordinate clause dass sie für jeden Laien verständlich sind is a verbalized consequence. If we were to use a nominalized style (often found in formal written texts), we would replace the clause with a prepositional phrase like bis zur Verständlichkeit für jeden Laien (up to the comprehensibility for every layperson). As you can see, the verbalized version with dass flows much better in speech!
Why use lassen sich vereinfachen instead of können vereinfacht werden?
The structure sich lassen plus an infinitive is a very common active-voice alternative to the passive voice with a modal verb. It means exactly the same thing (can be simplified) but avoids stacking auxiliary verbs at the end of the sentence. Mastering this structure is a key B2 skill for making your German sound more natural.
Why is an -n added to Laie in the phrase für jeden Laien?
The word der Laie (layperson or amateur) is a weak masculine noun, meaning it undergoes N-declension. Since it follows the preposition für, it must be in the accusative case. In N-declension, masculine nouns add an -n or -en to the end of the word in every case except the nominative singular.
Could we write sodass as one word here instead of separating so and dass?
No, because so refers directly to the manner of the action in the main clause: they can be simplified in such a way (so), that (dass). If you used sodass as one word, it would just introduce a general consequence (The sentences can be simplified, so that they are comprehensible), losing the emphasis on the specific way they are being simplified.
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