Breakdown of Es handelt sich um eine zweifache Prüfung der Stichprobe.
ein
a, an (eine)
es
it
die Prüfung
the exam
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
sich handeln um
to be about
zweifach
twofold
die Stichprobe
the sample
Questions & Answers about Es handelt sich um eine zweifache Prüfung der Stichprobe.
Why use zweifache here instead of zweimalige?
The suffix -fach translates closely to "-fold" (as in twofold, double), focusing on the structure of the noun. A zweifache Prüfung implies an examination that has two parts or layers. In contrast, the suffix -malig focuses on frequency, so eine zweimalige Prüfung would mean the examination happens twice on separate occasions.
Why does zweifach have an -e at the end in this sentence?
Words ending in -fach function as standard adjectives and must be declined. The preposition um always forces the following noun phrase into the accusative case. Since Prüfung is feminine and preceded by the indefinite article eine, the adjective zweifach takes the accusative feminine ending -e.
Why use the phrase Es handelt sich um instead of just saying Es ist?
Es handelt sich um is a slightly more formal, professional way to say "it is," "it is a matter of," or "it concerns." At the B2 level, using this phrase elevates your German, especially in academic or business contexts like discussing a Stichprobe (sample or random sample).
Stichprobe is a feminine noun. Why does it say der Stichprobe instead of die Stichprobe?
This is a great reminder of the genitive case, which shows possession or association (translating here as "of the sample"). For feminine nouns, the definite article changes from die to der in the genitive case.
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