Breakdown of Der Anwalt wird das Patent anfechten.
der Anwalt
the lawyer
werden
will (future auxiliary)
das Patent
the patent
anfechten
to contest
Questions & Answers about Der Anwalt wird das Patent anfechten.
The verb anfechten is used here in its infinitive form. Is it a separable verb, and how would it look in the present tense?
Yes, anfechten is a separable verb made of an + fechten (to fence or fight). Because it is a strong verb, the stem vowel changes in the present tense. If we change this sentence to the present tense, the prefix moves to the end and it becomes: Der Anwalt ficht das Patent an.
In German, werden + infinitive is the standard Future tense, but doesn't it sometimes express something else?
Yes, at the B2 level you will often see werden + infinitive used to express an assumption about the present. Depending on the surrounding context, this exact sentence could also mean "The lawyer is probably contesting the patent." We usually rely on context or adding words like wohl or vermutlich to clarify if it is an assumption.
I know Anwalt means lawyer, but I also see Rechtsanwalt used a lot. Is there a difference?
In everyday German, they are used interchangeably. Rechtsanwalt is the formal, official title for an attorney in Germany, whereas Anwalt is just the shorter, more common everyday version.
What is the past participle of anfechten if I want to say the lawyer "has contested" the patent?