Breakdown of Hiermit bestätigen wir das Ergebnis.
wir
we
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
das Ergebnis
the result
bestätigen
to confirm
hiermit
with this / hereby
Questions & Answers about Hiermit bestätigen wir das Ergebnis.
How does hiermit function in this sentence, and why wouldn't we just say mit diesem?
hiermit is a hier-compound (a proximate pronominal adverb). It combines hier (here) and mit (with) to mean 'with this' or 'hereby.' While you could technically say mit diesem Dokument (with this document), using hiermit is the standard, concise way to refer to the very statement or action you are currently making.
Could I use damit instead of hiermit here?
It would change the meaning. damit means 'with that' (referring to something previously mentioned or physically distant), whereas hiermit means 'with this' (referring to the immediate present or the statement itself). If you used damit, it would mean 'With that [previously mentioned thing], we confirm...' rather than 'We hereby confirm...'.
Why is the verb before the subject (bestätigen wir)?
Because hiermit occupies position 1 in the sentence. German is a V2 (verb-second) language, meaning the conjugated verb (bestätigen) must stay in position 2. Since an adverb took the first spot, the subject (wir) is forced into position 3. This is a common pattern to review when bringing adverbs to the front for emphasis.
Is hiermit only used for formal language like 'hereby'?
No, while it frequently translates to 'hereby' in business or formal contexts (like confirming a result or canceling a subscription), it is also used in everyday speech to simply mean 'with this.' For example, if you hand someone a cloth to clean a spill, you could say: Du kannst es hiermit saubermachen (You can clean it with this).
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