Breakdown of Wenn wir den Egoismus und den Altruismus vergleichen, löst Letzterer das Dilemma.
und
and
wir
we
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
lösen
to solve
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
vergleichen
to compare
der Egoismus
the egoism
der Altruismus
the altruism
letzterer
the latter
das Dilemma
the dilemma
Questions & Answers about Wenn wir den Egoismus und den Altruismus vergleichen, löst Letzterer das Dilemma.
Why does Letzterer end in -er here?
The word Letzterer (the latter) takes adjective endings to match the gender and case of the noun it refers back to. Here, it refers to Altruismus, which is masculine (der Altruismus). Since it acts as the subject of the main clause performing the action of solving (löst), it must be in the nominative case, giving us the masculine nominative ending -er.
Why is Letzterer capitalized in this sentence?
When words like ersterer (the former) and letzterer (the latter) stand alone to replace a noun, they function as nominalized adjectives. In German, any adjective acting as a noun in this way is capitalized.
Why does the verb löst come right before the subject Letzterer?
This is the standard verb-second rule. The entire dependent clause (Wenn wir den Egoismus und den Altruismus vergleichen) occupies the first position of the overall sentence. The main clause must place its verb (löst) in the second position, which pushes its subject (Letzterer) to the third position.
Why are there definite articles before Egoismus and Altruismus?
Unlike in English, German often requires definite articles for abstract concepts, broad categories, and general ideas. Because they are the direct objects being compared by the verb vergleichen, they take the masculine accusative article den.
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