Breakdown of Man kann hier keinen Vergleich ziehen.
hier
here
kein
no, not any
können
can / to be able to
man
one / you (impersonal)
einen Vergleich ziehen
to draw a comparison
Questions & Answers about Man kann hier keinen Vergleich ziehen.
Is einen Vergleich ziehen a fixed expression?
Yes, it is a common noun-verb combination (Nomen-Verb-Verbindung). Just like in English where you 'draw' a comparison, in German you use ziehen (to pull or draw) with der Vergleich.
How would I link this sentence to an als comparative clause from this lesson?
You could use it to reject a comparison before stating the reality using an als clause. For example: Man kann hier keinen Vergleich ziehen, weil das neue Modell viel teurer ist, als ich dachte. (You can't draw a comparison here, because the new model is much more expensive than I thought.)
Could I put hier at the beginning of the sentence?
Yes, you can absolutely say Hier kann man keinen Vergleich ziehen. Moving hier to the first position emphasizes the situation. Just remember that the conjugated verb kann must remain in the second position, which pushes the subject man to the third position.
Why does the English translation use 'You' when the German uses man?
The German impersonal pronoun man translates to 'one' or the general 'you' in English. It refers to people in general rather than a specific person. Using du or Sie would sound like you are giving a specific limitation to the person you are directly talking to.
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