Breakdown of Der Hund ist alt, trotzdem läuft er schnell im Garten.
sein
to be
in
in
der Hund
the dog
alt
old
Questions & Answers about Der Hund ist alt, trotzdem läuft er schnell im Garten.
What does trotzdem mean and what part of speech is it?
trotzdem is a conjunctive adverb (often called a “linking adverb”) meaning nevertheless or even so. It connects two independent clauses and introduces a contrast.
Why is there a comma before trotzdem?
You’re joining two main clauses with a conjunctive adverb. In German, you must place a comma before trotzdem when it links two independent clauses: Der Hund ist alt, trotzdem läuft er schnell.
Why is the verb läuft placed before the subject er in the second clause?
German main clauses follow the V2 (verb-second) rule. Since trotzdem occupies the first position, the finite verb läuft must come next, pushing the subject er into third position.
Why is im Garten in the dative case, and why not in den Garten?
- in
- dative expresses location (“where?”): in dem Garten → im Garten.
- in den Garten (accusative) would express motion “into the garden.” Here the dog is running around inside the garden, so you use the dative.