Breakdown of Das Bekenntnis überrascht uns alle.
alle
all, everyone
uns
us
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
überraschen
to surprise
das Bekenntnis
the confession
Questions & Answers about Das Bekenntnis überrascht uns alle.
What is the plural of das Bekenntnis?
To form the plural of nouns ending in -nis, you add -se and double the s. So the plural is die Bekenntnisse (the confessions). This doubling happens so the consonant is strong and the vowel sound in the suffix stays short.
Bekenntnis is neuter (das). Are all words ending in -nis neuter?
Most of them are neuter, like das Ergebnis (the result) or das Geheimnis (the secret). However, a few common ones are feminine (die), such as die Kenntnis (the knowledge) or die Erlaubnis (the permission). It is best to memorize the feminine exceptions!
Is Bekenntnis related to the verb kennen (to know)?
Yes! It comes from the verb bekennen, which means to confess or to acknowledge. Adding the suffix -nis turns it into an abstract noun, das Bekenntnis (the confession).
Why is it uns alle and not wir alle?
The verb überraschen (to surprise) takes a direct object in the accusative case. Since the confession is surprising us, we use the accusative uns. The word alle simply tags along and matches that case, giving us uns alle (us all).
Why does the über- prefix not split off to the end of the sentence?
The prefix über- is usually inseparable when used in abstract or figurative verbs like überraschen (to surprise) or übersetzen (to translate). Because it is inseparable, the verb stays together as überrascht.
Learn Das Bekenntnis überrascht uns alle 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