Question 1

Why isn't the verb separated here, like Wir holen den Test mehrmals wieder?

Accepted Answer

The verb wiederholen can be either separable or inseparable depending on its meaning! When it means "to repeat," it is inseparable, so the prefix stays attached (Wir wiederholen). When it means "to fetch back," it is separable (wiederholen, emphasis on wieder). Since we are repeating a test here, it is inseparable.

Question 2

Could I use mehrfach instead of mehrmals in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you could say Wir wiederholen den Test mehrfach, and the meaning would be almost identical. However, mehrmals specifically means "several times" (focusing on the number of occurrences), while mehrfach leans slightly more toward "multiple" or "manifold" (focusing on the multiplicity of the action or object). For a simple repetition of an event like a test, mehrmals is the most natural choice.

Question 3

I know words like einmal and zweimal don't end in "s". Why does mehrmals have an "s" at the end?

Accepted Answer

The suffix -mal is generally used with exact numbers (like einmal, dreimal). The suffix -mals, on the other hand, is often combined with indefinite quantities to form adverbs of frequency. That is why you see the "s" added in words like mehrmals (several times), oftmals (often), and ehemals (formerly).

Question 4

Why is mehrmals at the very end of the sentence? Shouldn't the adverb come before the object?

Accepted Answer

In German, an adverb usually comes before the direct object only if that object is indefinite (for example, einen Test). Because the object here is definite (den Test), it claims a higher priority and is placed before the adverb of frequency. Therefore, Wir wiederholen den Test mehrmals is the standard, neutral word order.

Wir wiederholen den Test mehrmals.

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