Breakdown of Im Hinblick auf den Preis ist der Plan schwierig.
sein
to be
der Preis
the price
der Plan
the plan
schwierig
difficult
im Hinblick auf
with a view to, regarding
Questions & Answers about Im Hinblick auf den Preis ist der Plan schwierig.
Why does this sentence use both the dative (im) and the accusative (den Preis) in the same introductory phrase?
The phrase im Hinblick auf is built in two steps. First, the preposition in takes the dative case here (in dem Hinblick, contracted to im). Second, the preposition auf connects to the actual subject of your focus. In this abstract usage (pointing 'onto' the price), auf requires the accusative case, making it den Preis.
Could I use in Bezug auf instead of im Hinblick auf here?
Yes, they are very similar and often interchangeable in everyday use. In Bezug auf means 'in reference to' or 'regarding,' while im Hinblick auf translates closer to 'in view of' or 'considering.' In this sentence, both work perfectly to express that the price is the factor being considered.
Is there a way to express this same idea using a single genitive preposition?
Yes! At the B2 level, a great alternative is the preposition angesichts (in face of / considering), which requires the genitive case. You could rewrite this sentence more elegantly as: Angesichts des Preises ist der Plan schwierig.
Since Im Hinblick auf den Preis is such a long block of words, why does ist come immediately after it?
In standard German main clauses, the conjugated verb must always take the second position. Even though Im Hinblick auf den Preis is six words long, it functions grammatically as one single adverbial unit occupying position 1. Therefore, the verb ist correctly takes position 2, pushing the subject der Plan to position 3.
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