Breakdown of Manchmal habe ich keine Lust, für die Prüfung zu lernen, aber ich denke an meinen Grund für Erfolg.
ich
I
haben
to have
aber
but
manchmal
sometimes
für
for
mein
my
die Prüfung
the exam
die Lust
the desire
lernen
to learn
denken an
to think about
der Grund
the reason
der Erfolg
the success
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Questions & Answers about Manchmal habe ich keine Lust, für die Prüfung zu lernen, aber ich denke an meinen Grund für Erfolg.
What does "keine Lust haben" mean, and how is it used in this sentence?
It literally means "to have no desire" or "to not feel like doing something." In this sentence, it expresses that the speaker doesn’t feel like studying for the exam. This expression is quite common in German when someone wants to say they’re not in the mood for a particular activity.
Why is the adverb "manchmal" placed at the beginning of the sentence, and what effect does it have on word order?
In German, time-related adverbs like "manchmal" (meaning "sometimes") can start a sentence to set the context. When an adverb occupies the first position, it triggers the verb-second rule, meaning the finite verb "habe" immediately follows, ensuring that the sentence follows proper German word order.
Why is there a comma before the infinitive phrase "für die Prüfung zu lernen"?
The comma is used to separate the main clause "Manchmal habe ich keine Lust" from the following infinitive clause "für die Prüfung zu lernen." German punctuation rules recommend using a comma to clearly set off extended infinitive clauses—especially when they add additional context or detail—to help the reader parse the sentence correctly.
Why do we say "meinen Grund" instead of "mein Grund" in "ich denke an meinen Grund für Erfolg"?
The phrase "ich denke an" requires an object in the accusative case. Since "Grund" is a masculine noun (nominative "der Grund"), it becomes "meinen Grund" in the accusative. Thus, "meinen" is used to correctly mark the object of the preposition "an."
What is the purpose of using "zu" in "zu lernen" at the end of the sentence?
The particle "zu" is used to form the infinitive construction "zu lernen," much like the English "to study." It completes the idea started by "keine Lust haben" by specifying the activity (studying for the exam) that the speaker is not in the mood for.
Why are the words "Lust," "Prüfung," "Grund," and "Erfolg" capitalized in this sentence?
In German, all nouns are capitalized by rule. This is why "Lust," "Prüfung," "Grund," and "Erfolg" each begin with a capital letter, regardless of their position in the sentence.