Breakdown of Hat sie die Absicht, die neue Energiequelle mit der Gemeinschaft zu teilen?
sie
she
haben
to have
neu
new
mit
with
zu
to (infinitive marker)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
teilen
to share
die Gemeinschaft
the community
die Absicht
the intention
die Energiequelle
the energy source
Questions & Answers about Hat sie die Absicht, die neue Energiequelle mit der Gemeinschaft zu teilen?
How does die Absicht haben replace a modal verb in this sentence?
die Absicht haben (to have the intention) is a formal, noun-based alternative to the modal verb wollen (to want). If we used the modal verb, the sentence would simply be Will sie die neue Energiequelle mit der Gemeinschaft teilen? without a comma or zu. Because we use the noun die Absicht instead, we must connect the action using an extended zu-infinitive clause.
Why is there a comma before die neue Energiequelle?
The comma separates the main clause (Hat sie die Absicht) from the extended zu-infinitive clause. In German, when an infinitive clause contains objects or additional information like die neue Energiequelle, you must separate it from the main clause with a comma to clarify the sentence structure.
Why does the sentence use der Gemeinschaft when the noun is feminine (die Gemeinschaft)?
The preposition mit always requires the dative case. The word Gemeinschaft is feminine, and in the dative case, the feminine definite article die changes to der.
Why does zu come right before teilen at the very end?
In an infinitive clause, the verb phrase (zu teilen) is always pushed to the very end. Everything else related to that action, such as the direct object (die neue Energiequelle) and the prepositional phrase (mit der Gemeinschaft), must be placed before it.
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