Breakdown of Ich überprüfe das Dokument erneut.
ich
I
das Dokument
the document
überprüfen
to check
erneut
again
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Questions & Answers about Ich überprüfe das Dokument erneut.
What tense, person, and number is überprüfe, and how is the present tense of überprüfen conjugated?
überprüfe is the first-person singular (ich) present indicative form of the verb überprüfen. Because überprüfen is a regular (weak) verb, its present-tense paradigm is:
- ich überprüfe
- du überprüfst
- er/sie/es überprüft
- wir überprüfen
- ihr überprüft
- sie/Sie überprüfen
The form überprüfe is simply the stem überprüf- plus the ending -e for "ich."
Why doesn’t the prefix über- separate from prüfen in Ich überprüfe das Dokument erneut?
In German, some verbs have inseparable prefixes (like über-, be-, ver-, ent-). überprüfen is one of these inseparable-prefix verbs, so über- always stays attached. You will never see Ich prüfe das Dokument über; instead, überprüfen functions as one unit in all tenses and word orders.
What is the difference in meaning between überprüfen, prüfen, and kontrollieren?
All three can translate as "to check," but they differ in nuance:
- prüfen: a general "to test" or "to examine" (e.g., eine Maschine prüfen = test a machine).
- überprüfen: "to verify" or "to review carefully," often implying a second look or thoroughness (e.g., den Bericht überprüfen = verify the report).
- kontrollieren: "to inspect" or "to control," often with an official or regulatory sense (e.g., Polizei kontrolliert Fahrzeuge).
What case and gender is das Dokument, and why do we use das?
Dokument is a neuter noun in German. As the direct object of überprüfen, it takes the accusative case. The neuter singular definite article is das in both nominative and accusative, so you get das Dokument.
What does erneut mean, and how is it different from nochmal, noch einmal, or wieder?
erneut means again or once more, often with a slightly formal tone. Compare:
- nochmal / noch einmal (colloquial, "one more time")
- wieder (also "again" but more general for repetition)
Example nuances:
- Ich überprüfe das Dokument erneut. (I’m reviewing the document once more – fairly neutral/formal.)
- Ich schaue es mir nochmal an. (I’ll take another quick look – more casual.)
Can I move erneut to another position in the sentence?
Yes, German adverbs have some flexibility, though each position has a different emphasis:
- Ich überprüfe erneut das Dokument. (Adverb in the mid-field – slightly more emphasis on erneut.)
- Erneut überprüfe ich das Dokument. (Adverb in the first position – strong emphasis on the repetition.)
- Ich überprüfe das Dokument erneut. (Most neutral: adverb at the end.)
All are grammatically correct; choose the position based on the nuance you want.
Why are there two ü letters in überprüfe, and what do they indicate?
There are two separate elements each with its own ü:
- The prefix über- (meaning “over” or “again” in compounds).
- The root prüf- from prüfen (“to test/check”), which itself is spelled with an ü.
When combined into überprüfen, both umlauts remain, giving überprüf-, and in the first-person form you write überprüfe.
Can I drop the article and say Ich überprüfe Dokument erneut?
No. In German, singular countable nouns normally require an article (definite das, or indefinite ein). You must say either Ich überprüfe das Dokument erneut (the document) or Ich überprüfe ein Dokument erneut (a document). Omitting the article is ungrammatical in this context.