Breakdown of Die Schule verfügt über eine große Bibliothek.
groß
big / tall
die Schule
the school
die Bibliothek
the library
verfügen über
to have at one's disposal
Questions & Answers about Die Schule verfügt über eine große Bibliothek.
Why use verfügen über instead of just haben?
While haben simply means to have, verfügen über is a slightly more formal B2-level verb that means to have at one's disposal or to feature. It is frequently used when describing institutions, hotels, or products that boast specific amenities and resources.
Why does über take the accusative case (eine große Bibliothek) here instead of the dative?
Even though über is a two-way preposition, it almost always requires the accusative case when it is hard-wired to a specific verb, such as verfügen über or sprechen über. The famous location-versus-motion rule only applies when you are talking about physical space, not abstract verb connections.
Does verfügen mean something else if I drop the über?
Yes. Used on its own, verfügen means to decree, dictate, or enact something. It is mostly used in official, legal, or administrative contexts. To express having possession of or access to a resource, the preposition über is strictly required.
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