Breakdown of Die freiwillige Veröffentlichung macht uns verantwortlich für jede Zahl.
machen
to make
für
for
uns
us
jede
every
die Zahl
the number
freiwillig
voluntary
die Veröffentlichung
the publication
verantwortlich
responsible
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Questions & Answers about Die freiwillige Veröffentlichung macht uns verantwortlich für jede Zahl.
Why is Die used at the beginning rather than Der or Das?
Because Veröffentlichung is a feminine noun in German. In the nominative case (as the subject), feminine nouns take the article die.
Why does freiwillige end with –e instead of appearing as freiwillig?
Here freiwillige is an attributive adjective modifying Veröffentlichung, and since it follows a definite article (die), it takes the weak adjective ending –e for nominative feminine singular.
How do we know that Die freiwillige Veröffentlichung is the subject of the sentence?
It’s in the nominative case: the article die plus the adjective ending –e mark it as nominative feminine. That signals it’s the doer of the action “macht.”
Why is the verb macht and not machen?
The verb must agree with its subject in person and number. Die freiwillige Veröffentlichung is third-person singular, so machen is conjugated as macht.
Why is uns used here? Could we use wir instead?
uns is the accusative form of wir, serving as the direct object “us” in “makes us responsible.” wir is nominative and would not fit as an object.
What role does verantwortlich play in this sentence?
It’s a predicative adjective functioning as an object complement: when you “make someone responsible,” the adjective verantwortlich completes the meaning of machen plus object.
Why is für jede Zahl used, and why is jede Zahl in the accusative?
The adjective verantwortlich requires the preposition für, which always takes the accusative case. jede Zahl is singular feminine, so jede is in accusative feminine singular.
Could we say für alle Zahlen instead of für jede Zahl?
Yes, but that changes the nuance. für jede Zahl stresses responsibility for each individual number, while für alle Zahlen would mean collectively for all numbers.
Is it possible to move für jede Zahl before verantwortlich, as in “macht uns für jede Zahl verantwortlich”?
Grammatically you can split the phrase, but standard German prefers verantwortlich für jede Zahl as one block. Rearranging it can sound stilted or emphatic.
Could we replace Veröffentlichung with Publikation, and would that change anything?
Both words mean “publication,” but Veröffentlichung is more common in legal or reporting contexts, while Publikation sounds more formal or academic. The grammar remains the same.