Breakdown of Entschuldigen Sie, könnten Sie mir sagen, ob dieser Zug Verspätung hat?
haben
to have
können
can
mir
me
der Zug
the train
die Verspätung
the delay
Entschuldigen Sie
excuse me
Sie
you
sagen
to tell
ob
if
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Questions & Answers about Entschuldigen Sie, könnten Sie mir sagen, ob dieser Zug Verspätung hat?
What does "Entschuldigen Sie" mean, and why is it placed at the beginning of the sentence?
"Entschuldigen Sie" translates to "Excuse me" in English. It is used at the start of the sentence to politely get the listener’s attention before posing a question.
Why is the modal form "könnten Sie" used here instead of "können Sie"?
"Könnten Sie" employs the subjunctive (Konjunktiv II) form of "können". This form makes the request sound more courteous and less direct—similar to saying "could you" rather than "can you" in English.
What is the function of "ob" in this sentence?
The word "ob" introduces an indirect yes/no question, which translates to "if" or "whether" in English. It signals that what follows is a subordinate clause that verifies a condition or fact.
Why does the verb "hat" appear at the end of the clause "ob dieser Zug Verspätung hat"?
In German subordinate clauses, the finite verb is typically placed at the end due to word order rules. That’s why "hat" (meaning "has") is found at the end of the clause.
What does "Verspätung" mean, and how is it used in this context?
"Verspätung" means "delay". In this sentence, it is used to ask whether the train is delayed. The noun is used without an article here, which is common when referring to the concept of delay in general.