Breakdown of Die Kommune hat die Absicht, völlig autark zu leben.
haben
to have
leben
to live (be alive, exist)
zu
to (infinitive marker)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
die Absicht
the intention
völlig
completely
autark
self-sufficient
die Kommune
the commune
Questions & Answers about Die Kommune hat die Absicht, völlig autark zu leben.
How does die Absicht haben change the sentence structure compared to using a normal modal verb?
The phrase die Absicht haben (to have the intention) is a formal, noun-based alternative to the modal verb wollen (to want). Instead of using a modal verb with a simple infinitive at the end, such as Die Kommune will völlig autark leben, we use the noun Absicht in the main clause. This requires us to attach the rest of the thought as an extended infinitive clause, placing zu directly before the final verb (zu leben).
Is the comma before völlig strictly required in this sentence?
Yes. The comma separates the main clause (Die Kommune hat die Absicht) from the extended infinitive clause (völlig autark zu leben). While commas with infinitive clauses are sometimes optional in German, they are mandatory when the infinitive clause refers back to a specific noun in the main clause, which in this case is Absicht.
The word autark looks unusual. What exactly does it mean and when is it used?
autark translates to self-sufficient or self-reliant. It is commonly used in contexts like energy, agriculture, economics, or alternative living to describe a state of independence from outside resources. It is the standard, precise vocabulary word for this concept at the B2 and C1 levels.
Could I use komplett or ganz instead of völlig here?
Yes, you could easily say komplett autark or ganz autark and the meaning would remain the same. However, völlig is an excellent choice when you want to emphasize that something is entirely or utterly the case. It pairs perfectly with absolute concepts like being self-sufficient and sounds slightly more sophisticated than ganz.
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