Breakdown of Eines Nachts sind wir aufgebrochen, um den Neuanfang zu wagen.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
wir
we
die Nacht
the night
um ... zu
in order to
wagen
to dare
aufbrechen
to set out (depart)
der Neuanfang
the new beginning
Questions & Answers about Eines Nachts sind wir aufgebrochen, um den Neuanfang zu wagen.
Why is it eines Nachts if Nacht is a feminine noun? Shouldn't a feminine genitive be einer Nacht?
You are absolutely right that die Nacht is feminine. However, eines Nachts is a fixed expression. Historically, it took on the masculine/neuter genitive -s ending by analogy to common phrases like eines Tages or eines Morgens. When using the adverbial genitive for indefinite time, this specific feminine noun breaks the standard gender rules.
Why use sind instead of haben for the past tense of aufbrechen?
The verb aufbrechen here means to set out or depart. Because it describes a change of location or a transition from staying to going, it takes sein as its helping verb in the perfect tense, just like gehen or fahren.
Is the comma before um strictly required in this sentence?
Yes. This sentence uses an um ... zu (in order to) infinitive clause. In German, infinitive clauses that are introduced by the words um, ohne, or anstatt must always be separated from the main clause by a comma.
How does wagen differ from a similar verb like versuchen in this context?
While versuchen simply means to try or attempt something, wagen carries the heavier meaning of to risk or to dare. Using wagen emphasizes that the new beginning requires courage and involves a level of uncertainty or danger.
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