Breakdown of Du kannst die Behauptung ruhig hinterfragen.
du
you (informal singular)
können
can / to be able to
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
ruhig
go ahead / feel free to (reassurance particle)
hinterfragen
to scrutinize
die Behauptung
the claim (assertion)
Questions & Answers about Du kannst die Behauptung ruhig hinterfragen.
Why use hinterfragen instead of just fragen here? What does the hinter- prefix do?
The prefix hinter- shifts the meaning from simply asking a question to scrutinizing or challenging something. While fragen is used to request information, hinterfragen figuratively means to look 'behind' something to see if it is true or justified.
Since hinterfragen is inseparable, how would I form the past participle to say 'I have questioned the claim'?
Because the prefix hinter- is inseparable and unstressed, you do not add the normal ge- prefix to form the past participle. To say 'I have questioned the claim', you would say: Ich habe die Behauptung hinterfragt.
Why is ruhig translated as 'safely' instead of 'quietly'?
In this sentence, ruhig is acting as a modal particle rather than a standard adjective or adverb. When used with a modal verb like können to give permission or advice, it means 'go ahead and do it' or 'safely'. It reassures the listener that questioning the claim is perfectly fine and will not cause problems.
Where does the word Behauptung come from?
It is derived from the verb behaupten, which means 'to claim' or 'to assert'. The -ung suffix turns the verb into a feminine noun, making die Behauptung mean 'the claim' or 'the assertion'.
Learn Du kannst die Behauptung ruhig hinterfragen and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free