Learn German: Es geht um die Sicherheit, weil der tiefe Riss in der Eisfläche hat ausgebessert werden müssen. - It is about safety, because the deep crack in the ice surface has had to be mended.

Es geht um die Sicherheit, weil der tiefe Riss in der Eisfläche hat ausgebessert werden müssen.

It is about safety, because the deep crack in the ice surface has had to be mended.

Breakdown of Es geht um die Sicherheit, weil der tiefe Riss in der Eisfläche hat ausgebessert werden müssen.

Questions & Answers about Es geht um die Sicherheit, weil der tiefe Riss in der Eisfläche hat ausgebessert werden müssen.

Why does hat come before ausgebessert werden müssen at the end of the weil clause?

Normally, weil sends the conjugated verb to the very end of the sentence. However, there is a special exception for the double infinitive construction. When you have a modal verb in the Perfekt tense acting on another verb in a subordinate clause, the conjugated helper verb (hat) is placed right before the entire cluster of infinitives and participles, rather than at the very end.

How exactly does the verb cluster hat ausgebessert werden müssen break down?

This is the passive voice with a modal verb in the Perfekt (present perfect) tense. hat is the conjugated helper verb. ausgebessert is the past participle of the main action. werden is the passive auxiliary verb. Finally, müssen is the modal verb, which takes its infinitive form instead of its past participle (gemusst) because it is used with other verbs. This is known as the double infinitive rule.

Why use ausbessern instead of reparieren for mending the crack?

While reparieren is the general word for mechanical repairs (like fixing a car or a machine), ausbessern specifically means to patch up, touch up, or mend a flaw, hole, or tear in a surface. It is the most natural choice for filling in a deep crack in an Eisfläche (ice surface).

Just as a refresher, is es geht um the standard way to say "it is about"?