Breakdown of Wenn die Nebenkosten sinken, möchte der Vermieter die Miete nicht erneut erhöhen.
nicht
not
möchten
would like to
wenn
if
erneut
again
die Miete
the rent
erhöhen
to raise
der Vermieter
the landlord
die Nebenkosten
the utility cost
sinken
to drop
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Questions & Answers about Wenn die Nebenkosten sinken, möchte der Vermieter die Miete nicht erneut erhöhen.
What does Nebenkosten mean in this sentence, and why is it plural?
Nebenkosten literally means “additional costs” or “operating costs” (for example heating, water, garbage collection) that tenants pay on top of the basic rent. It’s always used in the plural because it refers to multiple cost items bundled together.
Why is the verb sinken placed at the end of the clause Wenn die Nebenkosten sinken?
In German, subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like wenn follow the “verb-final” rule. The finite verb (sinken) must go to the very end of that clause.
Why is there a comma after sinken?
A comma separates the subordinate clause (Wenn die Nebenkosten sinken) from the main clause (möchte der Vermieter …). German requires a comma before and after a subordinate clause introduced by a word like wenn.
Why use möchte instead of will to express “wants”?
Möchte is the Konjunktiv II (subjunctive) form of mögen and softens the statement, making it more polite or hypothetical (“would like”). Will is stronger and more direct (“wants” as a firm intention).
Why does erhöhen remain in the infinitive at the end, and why isn’t there a zu?
Möchten is a modal (or modal-like) verb that requires a bare infinitive (without zu) to complete its meaning. All German modals put that infinitive at the end of the clause.
What case is die Miete, and how do you know?
Die Miete is in the accusative case because it’s the direct object of the transitive verb erhöhen (the rent is what the landlord would increase).
What role do nicht and erneut play, and where do adverbs go in German?
Nicht negates the verb phrase “would increase.” Erneut (“again”) is an adverb specifying repetition. In German, adverbs of manner or frequency typically appear directly before the main verb or verb group (here: before erhöhen).
What does Vermieter mean, and how is it different from Mieter?
Vermieter is the landlord (the person who rents out a property), whereas Mieter is the tenant (the person who rents it). They are opposites in the rental relationship.
What’s the difference between sinken and senken, since both can mean “to lower”?
Sinken is intransitive (“to go down by itself” – e.g. die Nebenkosten sinken: the costs drop on their own). Senken is transitive (“to lower something” – e.g. der Vermieter senkt die Nebenkosten: the landlord actively reduces them).
Can you replace erneut with wieder or nochmals, and is there a nuance?
Yes. Erneut, wieder, and nochmals all mean “again.” Erneut is a bit more formal or written; wieder is the most common in everyday speech; nochmals can add a slight emphasis or formality but is also perfectly acceptable.