Question 1

This lesson is about conditional clauses starting with sollten. How could we rewrite this sentence to use that structure?

Accepted Answer

We can turn the 'in order to' part into a condition: 'If you should want to confirm...' -> Sollten Sie die Transaktion bestätigen wollen, müssen Sie die Geheimzahl eingeben. Putting Sollten in Position 1 replaces the 'if' (wenn), just like saying 'Should you wish to...' in formal English.

Question 2

eingeben is a separable verb. Why isn't the prefix split off at the end of the first clause?

Accepted Answer

Because of the modal verb müssen. Modal verbs push the main verb to the very end of the clause in its full, unsplit infinitive form. If you removed the modal verb, it would split normally: Sie geben die Geheimzahl ein.

Question 3

In the second half of the sentence, why is it zu bestätigen instead of sandwiching the zu inside the verb?

Accepted Answer

The verb bestätigen (to confirm) starts with the inseparable prefix be-. Because it cannot be split, the zu just sits in front of the whole verb as a separate word. If the second clause used a separable verb instead, the zu would be tucked inside (for example, um die Geheimzahl einzugeben).

Question 4

Is Geheimzahl the only way to say 'PIN' in German?

Accepted Answer

No, you will also frequently hear and read die PIN in everyday life. Geheimzahl (literally 'secret number') is simply the native German term, and it is very commonly used by banks on ATM screens and in official letters.

Sie müssen die Geheimzahl eingeben, um die Transaktion zu bestätigen.

Breakdown of Sie müssen die Geheimzahl eingeben, um die Transaktion zu bestätigen.

Questions & Answers about Sie müssen die Geheimzahl eingeben, um die Transaktion zu bestätigen.

Learn Sie müssen die Geheimzahl eingeben, um die Transaktion zu bestätigen and more in German