Breakdown of Wir vermögen die Anteilnahme zu würdigen, denn er bleibt unser Vorbild.
er
he
wir
we
unser
our
bleiben
to stay
denn
because
zu
to (infinitive marker)
das Vorbild
the role model
würdigen
to honor
vermögen
to be able to (formal)
die Anteilnahme
the sympathy
Questions & Answers about Wir vermögen die Anteilnahme zu würdigen, denn er bleibt unser Vorbild.
How does vermögen work here instead of können?
vermögen is a formal, elevated way to say you are able to do something. Unlike können (which is a true modal verb and takes a bare infinitive), vermögen requires a zu before the infinitive at the end of the clause, resulting here in zu würdigen.
Why does the verb bleibt come right after er, rather than at the very end of the sentence?
The conjunction denn (because) is a coordinating conjunction, which means it doesn't change the word order of the clause that follows it. If the sentence had used weil, the verb would be kicked to the end: weil er unser Vorbild bleibt.
What kind of sympathy does Anteilnahme usually refer to in this context?
Anteilnahme literally means taking part in someone's feelings. In formal contexts like this one, it is very commonly used to mean condolences or deep sympathy after a death or tragedy. This perfectly matches the solemn, elevated tone of using vermögen.
Why is it unser Vorbild and not unseren Vorbild after the verb bleibt?
The verb bleiben (to remain) is a copula verb, just like sein (to be) and werden (to become). It links the subject to an ongoing identity, so both the subject (er) and the noun phrase that follows (unser Vorbild) stay in the nominative case.
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