Breakdown of Dass die Koordination so lange dauert, ist dem Hochzeitsplaner zu nervenaufreibend.
sein
to be
zu
too (e.g., too big)
lange
for a long time, long
so
so, such (intensifier)
dauern
to last / to take (time)
dass
that
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
die Koordination
the coordination
der Hochzeitsplaner
the wedding planner
nervenaufreibend
nerve-wracking
Questions & Answers about Dass die Koordination so lange dauert, ist dem Hochzeitsplaner zu nervenaufreibend.
Why does the second part of the sentence start immediately with the verb ist?
In German main clauses, the conjugated verb must sit in Position 2. Here, the entire dass-clause (Dass die Koordination so lange dauert) acts as the subject of the sentence, taking up the entirety of Position 1. Therefore, the main verb ist has to come right after the comma.
If I put the main clause first, where does the subject go?
If you flip the sentence, you need to introduce the "dummy" pronoun es to hold the subject spot in the main clause: Es ist dem Hochzeitsplaner zu nervenaufreibend, dass die Koordination so lange dauert. When you front the dass-clause like in this example, that es is dropped completely.
Why is it dem Hochzeitsplaner (dative) instead of für den Hochzeitsplaner?
While für den Hochzeitsplaner is also correct and means the same thing, German often uses a bare dative noun to show who is experiencing a state or feeling (a "dative of the experiencer"). You can think of it literally as "The coordination takes so long, which is to the wedding planner too nerve-wracking."
How is the word nervenaufreibend constructed?
It is a compound of die Nerven (the nerves) and the verb aufreiben (to chafe, wear out, or exhaust). The -d at the end turns the verb into a present participle (wearing out). So, it literally translates to "nerve-wearing," which perfectly matches the English "nerve-wracking."
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