Breakdown of Hat sie die falsche Behauptung widerlegt?
sie
she
falsch
wrong
haben
to have
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
widerlegen
to refute
die Behauptung
the claim (assertion)
Questions & Answers about Hat sie die falsche Behauptung widerlegt?
Why is the past participle widerlegt and not gewiderlegt or widergelegt?
The prefix wider- is inseparable in the verb widerlegen (to refute). Because it is inseparable, the verb does not take the -ge- prefix when forming the past participle.
Does the prefix wider- mean the same thing as wieder- (again)?
No, even though they sound exactly the same, they are different prefixes. The prefix wieder- means 'again', while wider- means 'against' or 'contrary to'. In widerlegen, you are metaphorically 'laying evidence against' a claim to prove it wrong.
Are verbs with the prefix wider- always inseparable?
Not always, but mostly. In verbs with an abstract or figurative meaning like widerlegen (to refute) or widersprechen (to contradict), it is inseparable. In a few verbs with a more literal or visual meaning, like widerspiegeln (to reflect), it is separable.
Why does falsche end in just -e here if it is the direct object (accusative)?
The noun Behauptung is feminine. In the accusative case, feminine adjectives following a definite article (die) simply take the -e ending, exactly as they do in the nominative case.
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