Breakdown of Dieser Rekordversuch hätte gerettet werden können.
haben
to have
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
können
can / to be able to
retten
to save (rescue)
werden
to be (passive auxiliary + past participle)
der Rekordversuch
the record attempt
Questions & Answers about Dieser Rekordversuch hätte gerettet werden können.
Why does this sentence end with a cluster of three verbs (gerettet werden können)?
This is the standard word order for a passive voice sentence with a modal verb in the past conditional. The verbs gerettet werden form the passive infinitive meaning to be saved, and the modal verb können always goes at the very end of this cluster.
Why do we use the infinitive können here instead of its past participle gekonnt?
This happens because of the double infinitive rule, sometimes called the replacement infinitive. When a modal verb is used in a perfect tense alongside another verb, it drops its normal past participle form (gekonnt) and takes its infinitive form (können) instead.
Passive voice usually uses sein as its helper verb in the past. Why does this sentence use hätte instead of wäre?
While a normal passive sentence in the past conditional uses a form of sein (like wäre gerettet worden), this sentence includes the modal verb können. Modal verbs always use haben to form their perfect tenses, so the conjugated helper verb must be hätte.
If this were a subordinate clause starting with dass, where would the conjugated verb hätte go?
In a subordinate clause with a double infinitive, the conjugated helper verb does not go to the very end. Instead, it must sit right in front of the verb cluster. You would say: dass dieser Rekordversuch hätte gerettet werden können. This is a famous exception to normal German word order rules!
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