Breakdown of Einer Studie zufolge müssen wir die Umwelt schützen, um den Klimawandel zu bremsen.
ein
a, an (eine)
wir
we
müssen
to have to, must
die Umwelt
the environment
schützen
to protect
um ... zu
in order to
bremsen
to brake / to slow down, curb
die Studie
the study
zufolge
according to (often follows the noun)
der Klimawandel
the climate change
Questions & Answers about Einer Studie zufolge müssen wir die Umwelt schützen, um den Klimawandel zu bremsen.
Why is zufolge placed after Einer Studie?
The word zufolge is a special type of preposition called a postposition, meaning it is placed after the noun it refers to when citing a source. When used after the noun like this, it always requires the dative case. This is why the feminine noun Studie takes the dative article Einer.
Could I put zufolge before the noun instead?
Yes, but it changes the grammar! If you place zufolge before the noun, it requires the genitive case instead of the dative (so it would be zufolge einer Studie). However, placing it after the noun with the dative is the standard and most natural way to express "according to" for external sources.
Why does the verb müssen come right after zufolge?
The entire phrase Einer Studie zufolge acts as a single block that occupies the first position in the sentence. Since German main clauses follow the V2 rule (the conjugated verb must be in the second position), the verb müssen has to come directly after that phrase, pushing the subject wir to the third position.
Why do we use um ... zu bremsen instead of just zu bremsen?
The structure um ... zu combined with an infinitive expresses a purpose or a goal, translating directly to "in order to" in English. Using just zu bremsen wouldn't clearly convey the "in order to" meaning that connects protecting the environment with the goal of slowing down climate change.
Does bremsen literally mean "to brake"?
Yes, its literal translation is "to brake" (like in a vehicle). However, in German it is very commonly used figuratively to mean "to slow down" or "to put the brakes on" a negative abstract process, such as den Klimawandel (climate change).
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