Breakdown of Der Versuch war extrem kompliziert.
sein
to be
kompliziert
complicated
extrem
extremely
der Versuch
the experiment (attempt, trial)
Questions & Answers about Der Versuch war extrem kompliziert.
"Der Versuch" translates to "the experiment" here. Doesn't it normally mean "the attempt"?
Yes! Versuch comes from the verb versuchen (to try or attempt), so its basic, everyday meaning is "attempt." However, in scientific or technical contexts, it is the standard German word for "experiment" (used interchangeably with the loanword das Experiment).
How could I use a proximate pronominal adverb from this lesson to say "We struggled WITH THIS" (referring to the experiment)?
You would use hiermit (with this). For example: Wir hatten hiermit Probleme (We had problems with this). Because der Versuch is an inanimate concept rather than a person, you combine hier + mit to refer back to it closely, rather than saying mit ihm.
Why doesn't the word extrem take any grammar endings here?
Because it is functioning as an adverb modifying the adjective kompliziert (translating to "extremely complicated"). In German, adjectives used as adverbs never take declension endings and always stay in their bare dictionary form.
Could I use schwer or schwierig instead of kompliziert?
You could, but it slightly changes the nuance. Schwer and schwierig mean "hard" or "difficult" in a general sense, whereas kompliziert specifically means "complicated" (implying the experiment had many tricky, intricate steps or interacting parts).
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