Breakdown of Ob die Koordination klappt, ist entscheidend.
sein
to be
ob
whether / if
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
klappen
to work out
die Koordination
the coordination
entscheidend
crucial
Questions & Answers about Ob die Koordination klappt, ist entscheidend.
Why does the verb ist come immediately after the comma?
In German, the verb in a main clause must be in the second position. Here, the entire indirect question Ob die Koordination klappt acts as the subject of the sentence, taking up the first position. Therefore, the main verb ist must follow immediately as the second element.
Is it possible to put the main clause first, like 'It is crucial whether...'?
Yes! You would use es as a placeholder subject: Es ist entscheidend, ob die Koordination klappt. When you put the ob-clause at the very beginning of the sentence, the es disappears because the clause itself is now filling that subject slot.
Could I use Wenn instead of Ob here, since both can mean 'if' in English?
No, you must use ob here. Ob is used for indirect yes/no questions meaning 'whether or not'. Wenn is used for conditions meaning 'in the event that'. Since this sentence evaluates 'Whether or not the coordination works out,' ob is the only correct choice.
Why use klappt instead of arbeitet for 'works'?
Arbeiten specifically means to perform labor or do a job. When you mean that a plan, situation, or abstract process goes successfully, you use klappen. For a physical machine, you would use funktionieren. Since coordination is a process, klappt is the most natural fit.
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