Word
Aufgrund der Zugluft begann das Desaster plötzlich.
Meaning
Due to the draft, the disaster started suddenly.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Aufgrund der Zugluft begann das Desaster plötzlich.
plötzlich
suddenly
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
aufgrund
due to
beginnen
to begin (formal, more than anfangen)
Questions & Answers about Aufgrund der Zugluft begann das Desaster plötzlich.
Why is the feminine noun Zugluft preceded by der instead of die?
The preposition aufgrund (due to / because of) requires the genitive case. The genitive form of the feminine article die is der, making it aufgrund der Zugluft.
Why does the verb begann come before the subject das Desaster?
This is due to the German V2 (verb-second) rule. The prepositional phrase Aufgrund der Zugluft occupies the first position in the sentence. The verb begann must take the second position, which pushes the subject das Desaster into the third position.
Would native speakers use begann in everyday conversation?
Begann is the Präteritum (simple past) of beginnen. While spoken German generally favors the Perfekt tense (hat begonnen), beginnen is occasionally used in the Präteritum even in speech. However, in casual conversation, you are more likely to hear the Perfekt of a different verb, such as hat angefangen.
What are the component parts of the word Zugluft?
It is a compound noun made of der Zug (a pull, draft, or train) and die Luft (air). Literally meaning "pulling air," it perfectly describes a cold breeze blowing through a room.