Breakdown of Es bleibt zu bedenken, dass die langfristigen Nebenwirkungen unbekannt sind.
sein
to be
es
it
bleiben
to stay
dass
that
zu
to (infinitive marker)
unbekannt
unknown
bedenken
to consider (take into account)
langfristig
long-term
die Nebenwirkung
the side effect
Questions & Answers about Es bleibt zu bedenken, dass die langfristigen Nebenwirkungen unbekannt sind.
Why does es bleibt zu bedenken translate to a passive phrase ('remains to be considered') when the German verbs look active?
The structure es bleibt + zu + infinitive is a fixed impersonal expression. In German, this combination automatically carries a passive meaning, expressing that something still needs to be done or can be done. You do not need to use a clunky passive construction like bedacht zu werden here.
What is the difference between bedenken and denken?
While denken simply means 'to think', adding the inseparable prefix be- changes the meaning to 'to consider', 'to take into account', or 'to keep in mind'. The be- prefix often turns an intransitive verb into a transitive one that takes a direct object.
Why does the adjective langfristigen end in -en in this sentence?
This is a quick refresher on adjective declension. The noun Nebenwirkungen is plural. Because the adjective comes directly after a definite plural article (die), it takes the weak ending -en.
How is the adjective langfristigen (long-term) formed?
It is built by combining lang (long) and the noun die Frist (period of time or deadline). The suffix -ig turns this combination into an adjective. You will also frequently see its opposite, kurzfristig, which means short-term or on short notice.
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