Question 1

Why is the infinitive Berechnen at the very beginning of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Moving an infinitive to Position 1 (the topic position) adds strong emphasis or contrast. Here, putting Berechnen first stresses the action itself. The speaker is likely implying a contrast, such as: You can estimate it or measure it, but calculate it you cannot.

Question 2

I thought lassen means to let or to leave. Why does this translate to "cannot be calculated"?

Accepted Answer

The combination of sich lassen and an infinitive is a very common German alternative to the passive voice with können. So, lässt sich ... berechnen literally means "lets itself be calculated," but translates naturally to "can be calculated."

Question 3

Why does the reflexive pronoun sich come before the subject dieser Winkel?

Accepted Answer

In German word order, when the subject is a full noun phrase (like dieser Winkel) rather than a pronoun, it often yields its spot right after the conjugated verb to any pronouns. Since sich is a pronoun, it slips in before the noun subject. If the subject were a pronoun, it would come first: Berechnen lässt er sich nicht.

Question 4

Why is nicht at the very end of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Normally, nicht sits right before the infinitive at the end of a clause to negate the entire action, as in: Dieser Winkel lässt sich nicht berechnen. Because the verb berechnen was fronted to Position 1 for emphasis, nicht stays in its original spot, which leaves it hanging at the very end of the sentence.

Berechnen lässt sich dieser Winkel nicht.

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