Breakdown of Wir konnten nicht glauben, dass die Verarbeitung so solide ist.
sein
to be
wir
we
nicht
not
können
can / to be able to
glauben
to believe
so
so, such (intensifier)
dass
that
die Verarbeitung
the build quality
solide
solid
Questions & Answers about Wir konnten nicht glauben, dass die Verarbeitung so solide ist.
Why is there no dafür in this sentence, since this lesson is about dafür, dass?
The verb glauben (to believe) directly takes a simple dass clause as its object. You use dafür, dass to express a contrast or surprise relative to a specific condition, like 'For the fact that it is cheap...' (Dafür, dass es billig ist, ist die Verarbeitung solide.). Here, we are just stating the specific fact that we couldn't believe.
Why does the subordinate clause use the present tense ist when the main clause is in the past tense (konnten)?
Unlike English, German doesn't require strict tense agreement or 'backshifting' across clauses. Because the build quality is still solid right now, using the present tense ist is completely natural, even though the inability to believe it happened in the past.
I usually see Verarbeitung translated as 'processing'. How does it mean 'build quality' here?
While Verarbeitung does mean 'processing' when talking about data or food, in the context of physical goods it is the standard term for 'workmanship', 'finish', or 'build quality'. It describes how well the raw materials were processed into the final product.
Since this sentence expresses disbelief, could we use the subjunctive sei or wäre instead of ist?
Yes, you could use the subjunctive (wäre or sei) to emphasize your doubt at the time. However, using the indicative ist shows that the speaker now acknowledges the fact as objectively true: they couldn't believe it then, but the build quality really is that solid.
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