Word
Die Pioniere haben die Absicht, autark im Ökodorf zu leben.
Meaning
The pioneers have the intention to live self-sufficiently in the eco-village.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Die Pioniere haben die Absicht, autark im Ökodorf zu leben.
haben
to have
im
in the (used with months) / in the (contraction of in + dem)
leben
to live/reside (in a place)
zu
to (infinitive marker)
Questions & Answers about Die Pioniere haben die Absicht, autark im Ökodorf zu leben.
How does die Absicht haben act as an alternative to a modal verb in this sentence?
It acts as a formal alternative to the modal verb wollen (to want). Instead of simply saying Die Pioniere wollen autark leben (The pioneers want to live self-sufficiently), using die Absicht haben (to have the intention) elevates the tone and emphasizes a deliberate, planned goal. Notice that it requires a zu-infinitive clause to explain what that intention is.
Could I use a regular verb instead of the noun phrase die Absicht haben?
Yes, you can use the verb beabsichtigen (to intend). The sentence would become: Die Pioniere beabsichtigen, autark im Ökodorf zu leben. Using nominal structures (noun-based phrases) like die Absicht haben is a stylistic choice common in B2-level texts to make the language sound a bit more formal or official.
Why is there a mandatory comma after Absicht?
In German, when an infinitive clause with zu directly depends on a noun in the main clause (in this case, the noun die Absicht), you must separate it with a comma. This punctuation rule helps clarify that the entire second half of the sentence is expanding upon that specific noun.
The word autark looks unusual. Is it a common term for "self-sufficient"?
Yes, autark (derived from Greek) is the standard B2/C1-level adjective for being self-sufficient, self-reliant, or independent regarding resources. You will frequently encounter it in German media when reading about green energy, agriculture, economics, and off-grid living.