Questions & Answers about Was ihn stört, ist die helle Beleuchtung im Flur.
Why does the verb ist come immediately after the comma?
In a pseudo-cleft sentence, the entire first clause (Was ihn stört) acts as the first position of the main sentence. Because German is a V2 (verb-second) language, the main verb (ist) must immediately follow this entire first block.
Why does this sentence use the accusative ihn instead of the dative ihm?
The verb stören (to bother or disturb) always takes a direct accusative object in German. It is a common trap for learners to use the dative here because many other verbs that express feelings or personal reactions (like gefallen or wehtun) require the dative.
What case is the phrase die helle Beleuchtung?
It is in the nominative case. The verb sein (here as ist) is a linking verb, which means it equates the subject (the Was clause) with a predicate noun. Therefore, the emphasized noun phrase must also be in the nominative.
Could you also say die Flurbeleuchtung instead of die Beleuchtung im Flur?
Yes, die Flurbeleuchtung is a perfectly valid and natural compound noun. However, separating it into die Beleuchtung im Flur adds a bit more weight to the specific location, which fits nicely with the emphatic tone of a pseudo-cleft sentence.