Breakdown of Wie kann er so unbemerkt in das Haus eingebrochen sein?
sein
to be
er
he
das Haus
the house
in
in
wie
how
können
can / to be able to
so
so, such (intensifier)
einbrechen
to break in
unbemerkt
unnoticed (unperceived)
Questions & Answers about Wie kann er so unbemerkt in das Haus eingebrochen sein?
Why is the sentence using kann ... eingebrochen sein instead of konnte ... einbrechen?
Using kann plus the Perfekt Infinitive (eingebrochen sein) expresses a present deduction or disbelief about a past event. It means 'How is it possible that he broke in?' If you used the simple past modal konnte einbrechen, it would merely ask about his past ability, meaning 'How was he able to break in?'
Why is the auxiliary verb at the very end sein instead of haben?
The main verb einbrechen (to break in) involves a change of location, so it forms its normal Perfekt tense with sein (as in Er ist eingebrochen). When you form the Perfekt Infinitive to use with a modal verb, you must keep that exact same auxiliary, which gives us eingebrochen sein.
Why is it in das Haus (accusative) and not in dem Haus (dative)?
The verb einbrechen implies movement or a forced entry into a location. Because there is a clear change of location directed towards a destination, the two-way preposition in must take the accusative case here.
How exactly is the past participle eingebrochen formed?
The verb einbrechen is a separable verb. To form its past participle, the standard -ge- is inserted directly between the separable prefix ein- and the strong participle form brochen, resulting in eingebrochen.
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