Breakdown of Die neue Partnervermittlung weiß den Klienten zu überzeugen.
neu
new
zu
to (infinitive marker)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
überzeugen
to convince
die Partnervermittlung
the dating agency
wissen
to know how to (do something)
der Klient
the male client
Questions & Answers about Die neue Partnervermittlung weiß den Klienten zu überzeugen.
How does weiß ... zu überzeugen work here? Doesn't wissen usually mean "to know" a fact?
When wissen is combined directly with zu and an infinitive, it means "to know how to do something" or "to be capable of doing something." It is an elegant, slightly formal alternative to using the modal verb können (to be able to). Therefore, weiß zu überzeugen translates smoothly to "knows how to convince."
Why is there no comma before zu überzeugen, and why is den Klienten placed in the middle?
In this specific construction, wissen acts almost exactly like a modal verb. It forms a single, tightly knit clause with the infinitive, creating the classic German "sentence bracket" (Satzklammer). The conjugated verb weiß takes the second position, the infinitive zu überzeugen goes to the very end, and the object den Klienten sits between them. Because it functions as a single clause, no comma is used.
Why does Klienten have an -en ending here?
Klient (client) belongs to a group of masculine nouns that undergo "n-declension" (often called weak masculine nouns). This means the noun must take an -en or -n suffix in every case except the nominative singular. Because the client is the accusative direct object being convinced, der Klient changes to den Klienten.
Does Partnervermittlung literally mean "dating agency"?
Literally, it translates to "partner mediation" or "partner placement" (from Partner + Vermittlung). It is the standard, somewhat professional term for a matchmaking service or dating agency in German. Its professional tone pairs perfectly with the slightly elevated weiß ... zu grammatical structure.
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