Breakdown of Die Straßenkunst wird von der zuständigen Behörde genehmigt.
von
from, of / by (agent in passive clauses)
werden
to be (passive auxiliary + past participle)
die Behörde
the authority
genehmigen
to approve
die Straßenkunst
the street art
zuständig
responsible (in charge)
Questions & Answers about Die Straßenkunst wird von der zuständigen Behörde genehmigt.
This lesson focuses on formal phrases for permission like die Erlaubnis haben. How does this sentence express that idea?
The verb genehmigen means to officially approve or grant permission. Using the passive wird genehmigt (is approved) is a formal alternative to using the modal verb dürfen (to be allowed to). It conveys the exact same bureaucratic tone as a nominal phrase like die Erlaubnis haben.
Why use wird genehmigt instead of ist genehmigt?
Using wird creates the dynamic passive (Vorgangspassiv), which focuses on the action taking place: the authority is actively approving it. If you used ist genehmigt (the state passive), it would describe a completed status, meaning the street art has already been approved.
Could I use verantwortlich instead of zuständig for 'responsible' here?
Not quite. While both translate to 'responsible', zuständig specifically refers to having the official administrative authority, jurisdiction, or assignment to handle a task. Verantwortlich is used more broadly for moral accountability or being to blame for an outcome.
Why does the adjective zuständig have an -en ending here?
In a passive sentence, the doer of the action is introduced with von, which always forces the dative case. Because Behörde is a feminine noun, the article becomes der. Whenever you have a definite article in the dative case, the following adjective must take the weak ending -en.
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