Breakdown of Trotzdem schmeckt der Kopfsalat mit süßer Soße gut zu den Haferflocken.
mit
with
zu
to
gut
good
schmecken
to taste
trotzdem
nevertheless
süß
sweet
die Haferflocke
the oat flake
der Kopfsalat
the lettuce
die Soße
the sauce
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Questions & Answers about Trotzdem schmeckt der Kopfsalat mit süßer Soße gut zu den Haferflocken.
What is the function of Trotzdem, and why is it at the beginning of the sentence?
Trotzdem is a sentence adverb (Modaladverb) meaning “nevertheless,” “still,” or “anyway.” When you place an adverb like Trotzdem in the first position (Vorfeld) of a German main clause, it triggers the verb–second (V2) rule: the finite verb must follow immediately, causing inversion of subject and verb.
Why does schmeckt appear before der Kopfsalat?
Because Trotzdem occupies the first spot, German grammar demands the finite verb in second position. So schmeckt (the verb) comes next, and only then does the subject der Kopfsalat follow.
What case is mit süßer Soße, and why is there no article before Soße?
The preposition mit always takes the dative case. Here the noun phrase is indefinite—there’s no article—so the adjective süß must bear the strong declension ending for dative feminine singular, which is -er. Hence: mit süßer Soße (“with sweet sauce,” indefinite).
Could you also say mit der süßen Soße?
Yes. If you include the definite article der (dative feminine), the adjective takes the weak ending -en: mit der süßen Soße. That means “with the sweet sauce.”
Why is it gut zu den Haferflocken rather than gut mit den Haferflocken?
In German, schmeckt zu + dative expresses that one food “goes well with” or “accompanies” another. While mit simply means “with,” zu highlights the favorable pairing.
What case and number are den Haferflocken, and why isn’t there an extra -n on the noun?
Zu requires the dative case. Haferflocken is plural, so the dative plural article is den. In dative plural most German nouns gain an -n, but Haferflocken already ends in -n, so you don’t add another.
What do Kopfsalat and Haferflocken mean?
Kopfsalat literally “head lettuce” refers to a type of lettuce (singular). Haferflocken means “oat flakes” or “rolled oats” and is used only in the plural.
Is there a comma after Trotzdem at the start?
No. Trotzdem is a single-word adverb, not a clause-introducing phrase, so you do not put a comma after it in a simple main clause.