Breakdown of Wenn möglich, schneiden Sie das Geflügel auf einem anderen Schneidebrett.
ein
a, an (eine)
Sie
you (formal)
auf
on / to (down/up to a level)
andere
other, different
schneiden
to cut
möglich
possible
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
das Geflügel
the poultry
das Schneidebrett
the cutting board
Questions & Answers about Wenn möglich, schneiden Sie das Geflügel auf einem anderen Schneidebrett.
What exactly is left out of the shortened phrase Wenn möglich?
This is an elliptical subordinate clause. The full version is Wenn es möglich ist. Just like in English, German allows you to drop the dummy subject (es) and the verb (ist) when the context makes the meaning completely obvious.
Why does the main clause start with the verb schneiden right after the comma?
Even though Wenn möglich is shortened, it still acts as a full clause occupying the first position of the entire sentence. Since German requires the conjugated verb in the second position, the verb schneiden must come immediately after the comma.
Why do we use the dative case in auf einem anderen Schneidebrett? Doesn't cutting involve movement?
The two-way preposition auf takes the dative here because it answers the question of location (wo?). Even though your hands and the knife are moving, the entire action of cutting takes place in one fixed location: on the board. If you were transferring the poultry from the counter onto the board, you would use the accusative (wohin?).
Why does the adjective anderen end in -en here?
Schneidebrett is a neuter noun (das Brett). Because it is in the dative case following the dative indefinite article einem, the adjective must take the standard dative ending -en.
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