Breakdown of Der Leichtigkeit zuliebe behalte ich nichts außer dem Wesentlichen.
ich
I
nichts
nothing
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
behalten
to retain
außer
except
zuliebe
for the sake of
die Leichtigkeit
the lightness
das Wesentliche
the essential
Questions & Answers about Der Leichtigkeit zuliebe behalte ich nichts außer dem Wesentlichen.
Why is zuliebe placed after Der Leichtigkeit, and what case is being used here?
zuliebe is a postposition, which means it is placed after the noun it governs rather than before it. It requires the dative case. Since Leichtigkeit (lightness) is a feminine noun, its article changes to the dative form der.
Why is the verb behalte placed before the subject ich?
German follows a strict verb-second (V2) rule in main clauses. The entire phrase Der Leichtigkeit zuliebe acts as a single block occupying the first position. Therefore, the verb behalte must take the second position, pushing the subject ich to the third position.
What case does the preposition außer require?
The preposition außer (meaning except or besides) always requires the dative case. This forces the noun phrase that follows it to take dative endings.
Why does the capitalized word Wesentlichen end in -en?
It is a nominalized adjective, meaning an adjective acting as a noun. Its base form is das Wesentliche (the essential thing). Because außer forces the dative case, the neuter article changes to dem. Following the rules of weak adjective declension after a definite article, the word takes the -en ending.
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