Breakdown of Einerseits ist die Wohnung schön, andererseits ist sie teuer.
sein
to be
schön
beautiful
teuer
expensive
die Wohnung
the apartment
einerseits ... andererseits
on the one hand ... on the other
Questions & Answers about Einerseits ist die Wohnung schön, andererseits ist sie teuer.
Why does the verb ist come immediately after Einerseits and andererseits?
Both einerseits and andererseits are adverbs that take up the first position in their respective clauses. Because German main clauses follow the strict verb-second rule, the verb (ist) must take position two, right after the adverb.
Can I put einerseits later in the first clause instead of at the very beginning?
Yes, you can start with the subject instead. If you do, the verb stays in the second position, and einerseits moves after it. For example: Die Wohnung ist einerseits schön, andererseits ist sie teuer.
Since both halves use ist, can I skip the subject and verb in the second part and just say andererseits teuer?
No, you usually need a complete clause here. Because andererseits is an adverb rather than a coordinating conjunction (like und or aber), you cannot easily drop the subject and verb. You must say andererseits ist sie teuer.
Why is the pronoun sie used in the second half to mean it?
In German, pronouns must match the gender of the noun they replace. Because die Wohnung (the flat) is a feminine noun, you have to use the feminine pronoun sie when referring back to it.
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