Breakdown of Sie ist auf fremde Hilfe angewiesen.
sein
to be
die Hilfe
the help
fremd
strange
angewiesen sein auf
to be dependent on
Questions & Answers about Sie ist auf fremde Hilfe angewiesen.
Why does fremde mean outside here instead of foreign?
In German, fremd has a broader meaning than just foreign (from another country). It often means belonging to someone else, unfamiliar, or external. In the phrase fremde Hilfe, it specifically refers to help from other people or outside sources.
Why is the preposition auf used here?
The word angewiesen (dependent or reliant) strongly pairs with the preposition auf. Just like in English you say dependent on, in German you need to memorize the set phrase angewiesen sein auf.
Is auf triggering the accusative or dative case in this sentence?
It takes the accusative case here. You can tell because fremde Hilfe has the accusative ending -e for a feminine noun with no preceding article. When auf is used abstractly with a verb or adjective like angewiesen, it almost always requires the accusative.
Could I use abhängig instead of angewiesen to mean dependent?
Yes, but the preposition changes: you would say Sie ist von fremder Hilfe abhängig. Meaning-wise, angewiesen auf focuses on a practical, necessary reliance to get by, whereas abhängig von is a more general dependency and is also used for things like financial dependence or addictions.