Breakdown of Wir diskutieren darüber, ob jener Rubin lupenrein ist.
sein
to be
wir
we
diskutieren
to discuss
darüber
about it, over it
ob
whether / if
jener
that (m)
lupenrein
flawless (diamonds, gemstones)
der Rubin
the ruby
Questions & Answers about Wir diskutieren darüber, ob jener Rubin lupenrein ist.
Why do we use jener here instead of der or dieser?
jener translates to 'that' and is used to emphasize distance or to contrast with something closer (dieser, meaning 'this'). Since Rubin (ruby) is a masculine noun and acts as the subject of the second clause, jener takes the masculine nominative ending -er.
Why is darüber necessary before the comma? Can't we just say Wir diskutieren, ob...?
The verb diskutieren is usually paired with the preposition über (to discuss about). When the topic of discussion is an entire subordinate clause (the ob clause) rather than a simple noun, German uses the placeholder word darüber in the main clause to point forward to it.
What is the literal translation of the word lupenrein?
It literally means 'magnifying glass pure.' It combines die Lupe (magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe) and rein (pure or clean). It is the standard term used for 'flawless' when talking about gemstones.
Why is the verb ist pushed to the very end of the sentence?
The word ob (whether or if) is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a dependent clause, which always forces the conjugated verb, in this case ist, to the very end of that specific clause.
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