Breakdown of Dass das Wetter unbeständig ist, ist nervenaufreibend.
sein
to be
das Wetter
the weather
dass
that
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
unbeständig
unsettled
nervenaufreibend
nerve-wracking
Questions & Answers about Dass das Wetter unbeständig ist, ist nervenaufreibend.
Why does the second half of the sentence begin with the verb ist?
The entire first clause, Dass das Wetter unbeständig ist, acts as the subject of the main sentence. In German, the conjugated verb must take the second position in a main clause. Since the whole dass-clause occupies Position 1, the verb ist immediately follows it to take Position 2.
Could I phrase this sentence with a dummy es instead of putting the dass-clause first?
Yes, and in everyday speech, it is actually much more common to use es as a placeholder subject. You would say Es ist nervenaufreibend, dass das Wetter unbeständig ist. Putting the dass-clause in Position 1 like in this sentence elevates the tone and emphasizes the fact that the weather is unsettled.
How is the adjective nervenaufreibend formed?
It is a compound built from a present participle. It combines the plural noun die Nerven (the nerves) and the verb aufreiben (to wear down or exhaust). By adding -d to the infinitive, we get the present participle aufreibend (wearing down). Put together, it literally means nerve-wearing, which translates to nerve-wracking.
Can unbeständig be used for things other than the weather?
Absolutely. The word comes from der Bestand (continuance, stability, existence). Adding the prefix un- and the suffix -ig creates an adjective meaning unstable, volatile, or inconsistent. While very common for weather, you can also use it to describe a person's mood, the stock market, or any unpredictable situation.
Learn Dass das Wetter unbeständig ist, ist nervenaufreibend 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