Learn Hardcore German: Unsere Währung blieb damals stabil, aber der Journalist warnte, dass der Einfluss des Klimas auch die Preise ändern könnte. - Our currency stayed stable back then, but the journalist warned that the influence of the climate could also change prices.

Because in written German (and in narrated reports) verbs that describe states or conditions—like bleiben when it means “to remain”—often use the simple past (Präteritum). The perfect tense (ist geblieben) is more typical in spoken German, while the preterite is standard for formal or written narratives.

Why does the sentence use dass after warnte instead of another construction?

The verb warnen can introduce a clause with dass when you want to warn someone “that” something might happen. It’s a common verb + dass pattern. Alternatively, you could warn vor + Dative (e.g. vor Gefahren warnen), but here the speaker warns that the climate’s influence could change prices, so warnte, dass is the correct choice.

What is the rule for word order in the clause introduced by dass?

In any subordinate clause introduced by dass, the conjugated verb moves to the very end. That’s why we get dass der Einfluss des Klimas auch die Preise ändern könnte—with könnte as the final element.

Why is des Klimas in the genitive case?

German uses the genitive case to show possession or close relationships. Here des Klimas (“of the climate”) modifies Einfluss (“influence”), indicating the influence of the climate. Since das Klima is neuter, its genitive singular form is des Klimas.

Why is the adjective stabil not inflected (no ending) after blieb?

After linking verbs like bleiben, sein, or werden, adjectives function predicatively and remain uninflected. Thus you say blieb stabil (“remained stable”), not blieb stabile.

What does damals mean and why is it placed after blieb?

Damals means “at that time” or “back then.” In main clauses, German adverbs of time typically follow the finite verb, so blieb damals stabil (“remained stable back then”) is the natural order.

Why is könnte used instead of kann or würde ändern?

Könnte is the Konjunktiv II (subjunctive) form of können, used to express a hypothetical possibility (“could change”). Using kann would state a real ability (“can change”), and würde ändern is another subjunctive option but shifts the nuance slightly. Könnte ändern highlights the uncertainty.

What role does auch play in auch die Preise ändern könnte?

Auch means “also” (or “too”) and indicates that the prices are an additional thing that could be affected. It sits directly before the element it modifies—in this case, die Preise.

Why is der Journalist definite (“the journalist”) instead of indefinite (ein Journalist)?

Using der Journalist implies a specific, previously known or contextually identified journalist. If the speaker wanted to introduce a journalist for the first time, they could say ein Journalist warnte, but der Journalist points to someone the listener is expected to recognize.