Breakdown of Wir müssen sichergehen, dass das Brot frisch ist.
sein
to be
das Brot
the bread
wir
we
frisch
fresh
müssen
must
dass
that
sichergehen
to make sure
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Questions & Answers about Wir müssen sichergehen, dass das Brot frisch ist.
What is the role of the conjunction dass in this sentence?
Dass introduces the subordinate clause dass das Brot frisch ist. In German, when a subordinate clause is introduced by a conjunction like dass, the conjugated verb (here, ist) is placed at the end of the clause.
Why does the finite verb ist appear at the end of the clause dass das Brot frisch ist?
In German subordinate clauses, the rule is that the finite (conjugated) verb comes at the end of the clause. This is why after the subordinating conjunction dass, the verb ist is found at the very end.
What is the function of the modal verb müssen in this sentence?
Müssen is a modal verb that expresses necessity or obligation. In this sentence, it indicates that it is necessary to take the action of ensuring something—that is, making sure the bread is fresh.
What does the verb sichergehen mean, and why is it used here?
Sichergehen means “to make sure” or “to ensure.” It is used to describe the action that must be taken (i.e., verifying that the bread is fresh) after the modal verb müssen. The construction müssen sichergehen forms a common expression in German to emphasize the need for certainty.
Why is das Brot preceded by das, and why isn’t frisch altered by any ending?
In German, Brot is a neuter noun, so its definite article is das. The adjective frisch appears after the linking verb ist in a predicative position. In such cases, German does not require the adjective to take an ending—it stays in its base form.
How does the structure of this sentence illustrate typical German word order, especially regarding modal verbs and their complements?
In German, when using modal verbs, the conjugated modal (here, müssen) occupies the second position in the main clause, while the main action verb (here, sichergehen) remains in the infinitive form and is positioned at the clause’s end. This structure, together with the subordinate clause introduced by dass, demonstrates two key word-order rules in German: the positioning of the verb in the main clause and the verb-final rule in subordinate clauses.