Word
Wir müssen den Klatsch hinterfragen.
Meaning
We have to question the gossip.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Wir müssen den Klatsch hinterfragen.
wir
we
müssen
to have to, must
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
der Klatsch
the gossip
Questions & Answers about Wir müssen den Klatsch hinterfragen.
What exactly does the prefix hinter- add to fragen in this sentence?
While fragen just means to ask a question, the prefix hinter- adds the figurative meaning of looking behind something. The verb hinterfragen means to scrutinize, investigate, or critically question the truth of a matter. Instead of literally asking the gossip a question, you are critically examining it.
Is the verb hinterfragen separable or inseparable?
It is inseparable. The prefix hinter- never splits from the verb stem in a sentence, and the spoken stress is placed on the stem rather than the prefix. Because it is inseparable, its past participle also doesn't use a ge-, making it simply hinterfragt.
Why is it den Klatsch and not followed by a preposition like fragen nach?
The base verb fragen is usually used with a preposition when asking about a topic (nach etwas fragen). However, adding hinter- changes how the verb behaves. hinterfragen is a transitive verb, meaning it takes the thing being scrutinized directly as an accusative object. Since Klatsch is a masculine noun, it changes to the accusative den Klatsch.
What is the difference between Klatsch and a word like Gerücht?
Klatsch refers broadly to gossip, idle chatter, or people talking about others' private lives, often used in the phrase Klatsch und Tratsch. A Gerücht, on the other hand, is a specific rumor or piece of unverified hearsay. In this sentence, the speakers need to critically examine the general gossip going around.