Breakdown of Unsere Worte vermögen sein Vermächtnis kaum zu würdigen.
sein
his
unser
our
zu
to (infinitive marker)
das Wort
the word
kaum
hardly, barely
das Vermächtnis
the legacy
würdigen
to honor
vermögen
to be able to (formal)
Questions & Answers about Unsere Worte vermögen sein Vermächtnis kaum zu würdigen.
Why do we need zu before würdigen if vermögen means the same thing as können?
This is the key grammatical difference between the two verbs. While vermögen expresses ability just like können and is used here in a formal register, it is not a true modal verb. Therefore, the second verb in the sentence must be formatted as a zu-infinitive (zu würdigen). If you used können, it would take the bare infinitive (würdigen).
What is the root of the verb würdigen?
würdigen comes from the noun die Würde (dignity). Literally, it means to treat something with the dignity or worth it deserves. In elevated contexts like this one, it translates beautifully as to honor, to fully appreciate, or to pay tribute to.
Could I use schwer instead of kaum here to mean "hardly"?
No, this is a common trap for English speakers! While English uses "hardly" (which looks related to "hard"), German uses kaum to mean barely, scarcely, or hardly. If you used schwer, it would mean difficult or heavy, which doesn't work as an adverb of degree here.
What is the gender of Vermächtnis and how can I remember it?
It is das Vermächtnis (neuter). A helpful B2 refresher is that most nouns ending in the suffix -nis are neuter (like das Geheimnis or das Ergebnis), though there are a few feminine exceptions like die Erlaubnis. In this sentence, sein (his) shows it is taking the accusative neuter ending.
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