Breakdown of Der Entwickler bietet gegebenenfalls eine kostenpflichtige Lizenz an.
ein
a, an (eine)
anbieten
to offer
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
die Lizenz
the license
der Entwickler
the developer
gegebenenfalls
where applicable
kostenpflichtig
subject to a charge
Questions & Answers about Der Entwickler bietet gegebenenfalls eine kostenpflichtige Lizenz an.
How does the word gegebenenfalls work as a conditional connector here?
Gegebenenfalls translates to "if necessary" or "where applicable". It literally comes from gegebenen Falls, meaning "in a given case". Instead of using a full conditional clause like Wenn es nötig ist, you can use this single adverb to express a condition concisely and formally.
Where else could I put gegebenenfalls in this sentence?
Like most adverbs, you can move it to the first position to emphasize the condition: Gegebenenfalls bietet der Entwickler eine kostenpflichtige Lizenz an. Notice that the verb bietet stays in the second position, pushing the subject der Entwickler to the third position.
How is the adjective kostenpflichtige formed?
It is a compound of die Kosten (the costs) and the suffix -pflichtig (obligatory or liable to). Together, it is a formal way to say "paid" or "chargeable". Because it describes the feminine noun die Lizenz in the accusative case, it takes the standard mixed-inflection adjective ending -e after the indefinite article eine.
Why does the English translation use the future tense ("will offer") when the German separable verb bietet ... an is in the present tense?
German frequently uses the present tense to express future actions, especially when the context makes it clear that the event hasn't happened yet. The conditional nature of gegebenenfalls inherently points to a potential situation in the future, so no explicit future tense is needed in German.
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