Breakdown of Ist die Alarmanlage etwa kaputt?
sein
to be
kaputt
broken
etwa
seriously / really (in questions)
die Alarmanlage
the alarm system
Questions & Answers about Ist die Alarmanlage etwa kaputt?
How does the word etwa change the meaning of this question?
As a modal particle, etwa expresses disbelief, concern, or a negative expectation. The speaker isn't just neutrally asking if the alarm is broken; they are worried it might be and are hoping the answer is no.
Doesn't etwa usually mean 'approximately' or 'about'?
Yes, when used with numbers or quantities, like etwa zehn Minuten, it means 'approximately'. However, in a yes/no question like this, it acts as a modal particle to show the speaker's emotional attitude.
Why does the English translation use 'seriously broken'?
The English word 'seriously' captures the disbelief and concern added by etwa. Without etwa, the sentence would simply be a neutral question asking if the alarm is broken.
What makes up the word Alarmanlage?
It is a compound noun made of Alarm (alarm) and Anlage (system, facility, or equipment). Anlage is very common in German for technical systems, such as Klimaanlage (air conditioning).