Breakdown of Ich frage mich, ob das Brot frisch ist.
sein
to be
das Brot
the bread
ich
I
frisch
fresh
ob
if
sich fragen
to wonder
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Questions & Answers about Ich frage mich, ob das Brot frisch ist.
What is the literal word-for-word translation of Ich frage mich?
Literally it’s “I ask myself.” Idiomatically in English we say “I wonder.”
Why is mich used in Ich frage mich, with fragen reflexively?
Because sich fragen is a reflexive verb meaning “to wonder.” If you drop mich, fragen becomes a non-reflexive verb that needs a direct object (e.g. Ich frage meinen Lehrer).
What exactly does ob translate to, and why is it used here?
ob means “whether” or “if” in English and is used to introduce an indirect yes/no question. Anytime you turn a yes/no question into a subordinate clause, you use ob.
Could I use dass instead of ob? For example: Ich frage mich, dass das Brot frisch ist.
No. dass introduces a statement clause (like “that…”). For an indirect yes/no question you must use ob.
Correct: Ich frage mich, ob das Brot frisch ist.
Why does the verb ist move to the end in ob das Brot frisch ist?
In German subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions (here ob), the finite verb always goes to the very end of the clause.
Why is there no question mark at the end of the sentence?
Because it’s not a direct question but a declarative sentence containing an indirect question. Therefore you finish with a period.
How would I answer this in German if I know the bread is fresh?
You could reply with:
• Ja, das Brot ist frisch.
• or simply Es ist frisch.
Is there another way to express the same idea in German?
Yes, for example:
• Ich will wissen, ob das Brot frisch ist. (I want to know whether the bread is fresh.)
• Weißt du, ob das Brot frisch ist? (Do you know if the bread is fresh?)