Breakdown of Selbst wenn die Lava unaufhaltsam ist, können wir die Stadt evakuieren.
sein
to be
wir
we
die Stadt
the city
können
can / to be able to
selbst wenn
even if
unaufhaltsam
unstoppable
evakuieren
to evacuate
die Lava
the lava
Questions & Answers about Selbst wenn die Lava unaufhaltsam ist, können wir die Stadt evakuieren.
How does selbst wenn affect the word order in this sentence?
The phrase selbst wenn acts as a subordinating conjunction, which forces the conjugated verb ist to the very end of its clause. Furthermore, because that entire concessive clause occupies the first position of the overall sentence, the main clause must begin immediately with its verb, können, to satisfy the standard verb-second rule.
Could I use auch wenn instead of selbst wenn here?
Yes, auch wenn means exactly the same thing and is fully interchangeable with selbst wenn. Both require the verb at the end of the clause. However, selbst wenn can sometimes sound a bit more emphatic or extreme, which fits a dramatic sentence about an unstoppable lava flow perfectly!
Why is this sentence in the regular indicative mood rather than the hypothetical Konjunktiv II?
We use the indicative (normal) mood here because the speaker treats the unstoppable lava as a real, imminent possibility. If they were talking about a purely hypothetical or highly unlikely scenario, they would use Konjunktiv II: Selbst wenn die Lava unaufhaltsam wäre, könnten wir die Stadt evakuieren.
How is the adjective unaufhaltsam formed?
It is built from the separable verb aufhalten (to stop or delay). The prefix un- means 'not', and the suffix -sam turns the verb into an adjective (similar to '-able' in English). Read literally, it translates directly to 'un-stop-able'.
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