Questions & Answers about Der Apfel sieht frisch aus.
What is the structure of the verb aussehen, and why is it written as sieht … aus?
aussehen is a separable verb made up of the root sehen and the prefix aus-. In a main clause the conjugated part (sieht) occupies the second position, and the prefix (aus) moves to the end of the clause:
Der Apfel | sieht | frisch | aus.
Why is Der Apfel in the nominative case?
Why does frisch have no ending like frischer or frisches?
Could I replace frisch with another adjective, for example saftig?
Yes. Any adjective used predicatively stays uninflected. For example:
Der Apfel sieht saftig aus.
How would I form a yes/no question from this sentence?
Move the finite verb to the first position:
Sieht der Apfel frisch aus?
How can I express that the apple looks fresh to me personally?
Use the dative pronoun mir to indicate your impression:
Der Apfel sieht mir frisch aus.
Alternatively, you can say:
Der Apfel sieht für mich frisch aus.
Can I use scheinen or wirken instead of aussehen, and what’s the difference?
Yes, but with nuances:
- aussehen refers strictly to visual appearance.
- scheinen means “to seem” in a more general sense and often pairs with zu
- infinitive (Der Apfel scheint frisch zu sein).
- wirken implies the effect or impression something has on someone (Der Apfel wirkt frisch).
Why is the verb always in the second position, even though Der Apfel is two words?
How would the sentence look in a subordinate clause?
In subordinate clauses the prefix rejoins the verb at the end of the clause:
… dass der Apfel frisch aussieht.
More from this lesson
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning GermanMaster German — from Der Apfel sieht frisch aus to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions