Question 1

Why is the German sentence in the present tense (leidet) when the English translation uses the present perfect ("has suffered")?

Accepted Answer

In German, when an action started in the past and is still continuing into the present, you use the present tense combined with a time word like seit (since/for). English uses the present perfect ("has suffered") for this, which is a common trap for native English speakers.

Question 2

Why use an for "from"? Could I use von or unter?

Accepted Answer

The verb leiden (to suffer) pairs with very specific prepositions depending on the context. You use leiden an (always followed by the dative case) for physical illnesses or medical conditions, like Schmerzen (pain). You use leiden unter when someone is suffering from external circumstances, like stress, bad weather, or a bad boss.

Question 3

Why is it seit Jahren instead of just seit Jahre?

Accepted Answer

The preposition seit always forces the following noun into the dative case. The plural of Jahr (year) is Jahre. In the dative plural, German adds an extra -n to the end of almost all nouns that don't already end in -n or -s. Therefore, Jahre becomes Jahren.

Question 4

Why does the adjective stark take the -en ending in starken Schmerzen?

Accepted Answer

The phrase an starken Schmerzen is in the dative plural. Because there is no article (like a plural "den" or "seinen") before the adjective to show the grammatical case, the adjective itself has to do the heavy lifting by taking a "strong" ending. For the dative plural, that strong ending is -en.

Er leidet seit Jahren an starken Schmerzen.

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