Breakdown of Meiner Meinung nach verkürzt diese Operation das Gesicht zu sehr.
sehr
very
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
zu
too (e.g., too big)
das Gesicht
the face
meiner Meinung nach
in my opinion
die Operation
the surgery
verkürzen
to shorten (time, distance)
Questions & Answers about Meiner Meinung nach verkürzt diese Operation das Gesicht zu sehr.
How is the verb verkürzt formed, and what does the ver- prefix do here?
verkürzt comes from the infinitive verkürzen. It is formed from the adjective kurz (short). By adding the prefix ver-, the verb ending -en, and an umlaut (u becomes ü), it turns into a causative verb meaning to make something short or to shorten. In this pattern, the prefix ver- indicates causing a change of state.
Why is nach placed after Meiner Meinung instead of before it?
When nach means according to or in the opinion of, it is often used as a postposition, meaning it goes right after the noun rather than before it. The fixed phrase meiner Meinung nach (in my opinion) always follows this pattern. nach also triggers the dative case, which is why we use the feminine dative form meiner Meinung.
Why does the verb verkürzt come before the subject diese Operation?
This is a great example of the strict V2 (verb-second) rule. The entire phrase Meiner Meinung nach acts as a single block occupying the first position in the sentence. Because the conjugated verb verkürzt must take the second position, the subject diese Operation is pushed to the third position.
Why does the sentence use zu sehr instead of zu viel to say too much?
You use zu sehr when describing the intensity or degree of an action or feeling, such as how drastically the face is being changed in this sentence. You use zu viel for measurable, physical quantities or amounts, like eating too much food or spending too much money.
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