Breakdown of Was sie verlangt, ist mehr Privatsphäre und ein neuer Leibwächter.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
sie
she
und
and
neu
new
was
what
mehr
more
verlangen
to demand
die Privatsphäre
the privacy
der Leibwächter
the bodyguard
Questions & Answers about Was sie verlangt, ist mehr Privatsphäre und ein neuer Leibwächter.
How does the "Was ..., ist ..." structure change the emphasis in this sentence?
This is a pseudo-cleft sentence. Instead of simply saying Sie verlangt mehr Privatsphäre... (She demands more privacy...), we wrap the action in a Was-clause at the beginning. This builds anticipation and puts a strong, dramatic spotlight on the specific things she is asking for: the privacy and the bodyguard.
Since she is demanding a bodyguard, why is it ein neuer Leibwächter (nominative) and not einen neuen Leibwächter (accusative)?
This is the biggest trap with this structure! While the verb verlangen normally takes the accusative, the noun Leibwächter is no longer the direct object of verlangen in this sentence layout. Instead, it is linked to the main clause by the verb ist. The verb sein always connects two nominative phrases, meaning both its subject (the Was-clause) and its complement (ein neuer Leibwächter) must be in the nominative case.
Why do we use the singular verb ist when she is demanding two things (privacy and a bodyguard)?
The verb must agree with the subject of the main clause. Here, the subject isn't the list of things; the subject is the entire subordinate clause Was sie verlangt. Since a clause acts as a single, abstract idea (essentially meaning "The thing that she demands"), it takes the singular verb ist, regardless of how many items follow it in the sentence.
Could I use fordert instead of verlangt in this sentence?
Yes, fordern and verlangen both mean to demand and are often interchangeable. Verlangen can sometimes sound a bit more personal or emotional, whereas fordern is frequently used for official, legal, or workplace demands. In the context of someone demanding privacy and security, both verbs work perfectly.
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