Breakdown of Meine Erwartung ist eigentlich, dass du nicht durchfällst.
sein
to be
du
you (informal singular)
nicht
not
mein
my
dass
that
eigentlich
actually, really
durchfallen
to fail
die Erwartung
the expectation
Questions & Answers about Meine Erwartung ist eigentlich, dass du nicht durchfällst.
The current lesson is about the preposition entgegen. How could I use it with Erwartung to say 'Contrary to my expectation, you failed'?
You would use entgegen with the dative case. It can be placed either before or after the noun: Entgegen meiner Erwartung bist du durchgefallen or Meiner Erwartung entgegen bist du durchgefallen. Both are completely correct ways to express 'Contrary to my expectation'.
Why is the separable verb durchfällst written as one word at the end of the sentence?
The infinitive is durchfallen (to fail an exam). In a normal main clause, the prefix durch splits off and goes to the end (e.g., Du fällst nicht durch). However, because this is a dass subordinate clause, the conjugated verb is pushed to the very end, where it reconnects with its prefix to form a single word.
Does durchfallen apply to all types of failure?
No, durchfallen (literally 'to fall through') is specifically used for failing tests, exams, or classes. If you want to talk about failing a mission, a project failing, or a person failing in life, you would use other verbs like scheitern or versagen.
How does the word eigentlich change the tone of this sentence?
eigentlich translates to 'actually' or 'in reality.' Here, it softens the statement. Instead of sounding like a harsh, strict demand, it makes the expectation sound a bit more conversational, often implying an unspoken contrast (e.g., 'Despite your worries, I actually expect you to pass').
Could I just use the verb erwarten (to expect) instead of the noun Erwartung (expectation)?
Absolutely. You could just as easily say Ich erwarte eigentlich, dass du nicht durchfällst. Using the noun Erwartung just shifts the emphasis slightly, making it sound a bit more like a stated standard, but both are common and natural in everyday German.
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