Der Lehrer sagt, dass eine gute Entscheidung Zeit braucht.

The teacher says that a good decision needs time.

Breakdown of Der Lehrer sagt, dass eine gute Entscheidung Zeit braucht.

• brauchen: to need
• die Zeit: the time
• dass: that
• gut: good
• sagen: to say
• der Lehrer: the teacher
• die Entscheidung: the decision

Questions & Answers about Der Lehrer sagt, dass eine gute Entscheidung Zeit braucht.

Why is there a comma before dass?

In German, a comma is mandatory before dass because it marks the start of a subordinate clause. Any clause introduced by subordinating conjunctions like dass, weil, wenn etc. must be separated from the main clause with a comma.

What is the difference between dass and das?

• dass (double s) is a subordinating conjunction meaning that.
• das (single s) can be the definite article the (neuter), a relative pronoun that/which, or a demonstrative pronoun this/that.
  Context and spelling tell them apart. A handy trick: if you can replace dass with damit without breaking the sense, you’re dealing with the conjunction dass.

Why does braucht appear at the end of the clause?

German subordinate clauses follow the verb-final rule. Whenever a clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction like dass, the conjugated verb moves to the very end.

Why is Entscheidung capitalized?

In German, all nouns are capitalized. Entscheidung is a noun, so it always starts with a capital letter.

Why is it eine gute Entscheidung and not der gute Entscheidung?

• Entscheidung is a feminine noun.
• In the nominative case with an indefinite article, you use eine.
• The adjective gute takes the weak ending ‑e after an indefinite article in nominative feminine.

Why is there no article before Zeit?

Here Zeit is an uncountable noun. In German, when you speak about uncountable things in general statements, you often omit the article:
Entscheidung braucht Zeit (a decision needs time).

Can I use another verb instead of braucht to say takes time?

Yes. Common alternatives include:

• Eine gute Entscheidung erfordert Zeit. (requires time)
• Eine gute Entscheidung nimmt Zeit in Anspruch. (takes/claims time)
  Each choice brings a slightly different nuance, but they all express that time is needed.

Could this be phrased as direct speech instead?

Yes. You can quote it directly without dass:
Der Lehrer sagt: Eine gute Entscheidung braucht Zeit.
Using a colon and quotation style, you keep the main-clause word order inside the quote.