Breakdown of Dem Wetterbericht zufolge kommt morgen ein Orkan.
ein
a, an (eine)
kommen
to come
morgen
tomorrow
zufolge
according to (often follows the noun)
der Wetterbericht
the weather report
der Orkan
the hurricane
Questions & Answers about Dem Wetterbericht zufolge kommt morgen ein Orkan.
Why does zufolge come after dem Wetterbericht instead of before it?
zufolge is a special type of preposition called a postposition when it is used with the dative case. This means it is placed after the noun it refers to. When used this way to mean according to a source, the source must take the dative case, which is why we see dem Wetterbericht here.
Can I put zufolge before the noun, like we say according to in English?
Yes, but it changes the grammar! If you put zufolge before the noun, it requires the genitive case instead of the dative. You would have to say Zufolge des Wetterberichts kommt morgen ein Orkan. However, placing it after the noun with the dative case is much more common in everyday spoken and written German.
Why is the verb kommt placed right after zufolge instead of after morgen?
The entire phrase Dem Wetterbericht zufolge acts as a single block of information that occupies the first position in the sentence. Because German main clauses follow the V2 rule (the conjugated verb must be in the second position), the verb kommt has to immediately follow this first block.
What is the difference between an Orkan and a Sturm or Hurrikan?
An Orkan refers specifically to a severe hurricane-force windstorm, usually one that hits Europe. A Hurrikan specifically describes a tropical cyclone in the Americas, while a Sturm is a more general word for a storm or strong wind. You will often hear Orkan used in German weather reports to warn of extreme, damaging winds.
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