Breakdown of Es bleibt zu hoffen, dass dieser Wirkstoff ein echtes Heilmittel ist.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
es
it
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
bleiben
to stay
hoffen
to hope
dass
that
zu
to (infinitive marker)
echt
really (intensifier); genuine
der Wirkstoff
the active ingredient
das Heilmittel
the cure
Questions & Answers about Es bleibt zu hoffen, dass dieser Wirkstoff ein echtes Heilmittel ist.
Why does 'Es bleibt zu hoffen' translate as 'It remains to be hoped' instead of 'It remains to hope'?
In German, the construction es bleibt + zu + infinitive is used to express that something still needs to be done or is expected to happen. It carries an inherent passive meaning, similar to the English 'to be [verb]ed.' Therefore, es bleibt zu hoffen naturally translates to 'it remains to be hoped.'
Could I express the exact same idea using a standard passive sentence?
Yes, you could technically say Es muss gehofft werden, dass... (It must be hoped that...). However, Es bleibt zu hoffen is a much more elegant and extremely common set phrase for this exact sentiment in German.
What is the distinction between Wirkstoff and Heilmittel in this medical context?
Wirkstoff specifically means 'active ingredient' or 'active substance' - the chemical component in a drug that actually does the work. Heilmittel translates to 'cure' or 'remedy.' The sentence is hoping that this specific chemical component will turn out to be a definitive cure.
Why does the adjective echt get the ending -es here?
This is a quick refresher on adjective declension! Heilmittel is a neuter noun (das Heilmittel). Because it is preceded by the plain indefinite article ein, which doesn't show the neuter gender, the adjective must step up and take the strong ending -es to show the gender itself.
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