Breakdown of Dieser Beweis widerlegt den älteren Klatsch endgültig.
alt
old
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
der Beweis
the piece of evidence
widerlegen
to refute
der Klatsch
the gossip
endgültig
definitive
Questions & Answers about Dieser Beweis widerlegt den älteren Klatsch endgültig.
How does the prefix wider- work in the verb widerlegt?
The prefix wider- means 'against' or 'in opposition to.' Combined with legen (to lay), the verb widerlegen figuratively means 'to lay against,' which translates to 'to refute' or 'to disprove.' Because wider- is an inseparable prefix, the verb stays intact as one word in the present tense, and its past participle would also be widerlegt without adding a -ge-.
Why doesn't the verb split here? I've seen words like wiederkommen split before.
Be careful not to confuse wider- with wieder-, as they sound identical. The prefix wider- (without the e) means 'against' and is an inseparable prefix, so it never splits from the verb. The prefix wieder- (with an e) means 'again' and is usually a separable prefix, which is why verbs like wiederkommen split in a main clause.
Why does the adjective take the form älteren instead of just alten?
The phrase uses the comparative form of the adjective alt (old), which is älter (older). Because Klatsch (gossip) is a masculine noun acting as the direct object here, it requires the accusative case. Following the masculine accusative definite article den, the comparative adjective älter takes the weak ending -en, becoming älteren.
What does endgültig mean and how is it formed?
endgültig acts as an adverb here, modifying the verb widerlegt. It is formed by combining Ende (end) and gültig (valid), literally meaning 'valid in the end.' In this context, it translates to 'definitively' or 'once and for all,' emphasizing that the proof permanently shuts down the gossip.
Learn Dieser Beweis widerlegt den älteren Klatsch endgültig 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