Breakdown of Die Parade gegen die Klinge ist taktisch, wenngleich schwierig.
sein
to be
gegen
against
schwierig
difficult
wenngleich
although
taktisch
tactical
die Parade
the parry
die Klinge
the blade
Questions & Answers about Die Parade gegen die Klinge ist taktisch, wenngleich schwierig.
Why is there no verb after wenngleich here?
Wenngleich is an advanced concessive conjunction meaning albeit or even though. While it can introduce a full subordinate clause, it is frequently used for elliptical (shortened) clauses where the subject and verb are dropped because they are obvious. Here, wenngleich schwierig is short for wenngleich sie schwierig ist.
Could I use obwohl instead of wenngleich in this exact sentence?
Yes, you could say taktisch, obwohl schwierig. However, wenngleich is an elevated synonym that sounds much more natural when attaching short adjective phrases like this, mapping perfectly to the English word albeit. You will see wenngleich a lot in formal writing.
Is the comma before wenngleich mandatory even if it just attaches a single word?
Yes, in German you must place a comma before concessive conjunctions like wenngleich, obgleich, or obwohl, even when they introduce an incomplete clause. It sets off the contrast, much like placing a comma before albeit in English.
Doesn't die Parade normally mean a street parade or march?
It can mean a festive march, but it is also the standard German word for a parry or block in fencing and combat sports. The context clue here is die Klinge, meaning the blade, which tells you this sentence is about sword fighting rather than a street festival.
Learn Die Parade gegen die Klinge ist taktisch, wenngleich schwierig and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free