Breakdown of Sie haben das Kindergeld beantragt.
haben
to have
sie
they
beantragen
to apply for
das Kindergeld
the child benefit
Questions & Answers about Sie haben das Kindergeld beantragt.
Why is there an "er" in the middle of Kindergeld?
Kindergeld is a compound noun made of Kind (child) and Geld (money). The -er- is a linking element (Fugenlaut). For nouns that form their plural with -er (like das Kind becoming die Kinder), this -er is very often used as the glue to connect it to the next word in a compound.
Why is beantragen used here instead of sich bewerben for "applied"?
The verb beantragen is used specifically when you are formally requesting or applying for something administrative, like a grant, a visa, or a financial benefit (Kindergeld). In contrast, sich bewerben is used when competing for a position, such as applying for a job or a spot at a university.
Why doesn't the past participle beantragt have a "ge-" prefix?
The verb beantragen starts with the inseparable prefix be-. Verbs with inseparable prefixes (like be-, ent-, er-, ver-) never take the ge- prefix in their past participle form. It simply takes the regular -t ending for weak verbs, making it beantragt.
Is it possible to say "Sie haben beantragt das Kindergeld" instead?