Learn Hardcore German: Es ist deine Pflicht, die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen. - It is your duty to pick up the children on time.

It’s a dummy/anticipatory subject (an expletive). German often uses Es with copular sentences like Es ist …. You can rephrase to focus on the predicate: Deine Pflicht ist es, die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen. But you can’t just drop it and say “Ist deine Pflicht …” in standard German.

Why is it deine Pflicht and not deiner Pflicht?

With sein (to be), both sides are in the nominative (predicate nominative). So it’s nominative feminine singular: die Pflicht → deine Pflicht, not dative (deiner Pflicht). Compare: Es ist dein Buch.

Why deine and not dein?

Because Pflicht is feminine. Possessive determiners agree with the noun’s gender, number, and case. Nominative feminine adds -e: deine Pflicht; nominative masculine/neuter would be dein Vater / dein Kind.

Is the comma before die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen required?

Yes. The infinitive group depends on a noun (Pflicht), so the comma is mandatory. Without the noun trigger, commas with “zu”-infinitives are often optional, but here they’re required.

Why abzuholen and not zu abholen or just abholen?

With separable verbs like abholen, zu goes between prefix and verb: ab + zu + holen → abzuholen. Writing zu abholen is wrong; writing bare abholen would be missing the required zu in this construction.

When can I leave out zu with an infinitive?

Mainly with modal verbs and a few causative/perception verbs. For example: Du musst die Kinder pünktlich abholen. But after a noun like Pflicht, you need the zu-infinitive: … die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen.

What is the role of pünktlich, and where can it go?

It’s an adverb modifying the action (“on time”). Default placement in the infinitive group is before the verb and after the object: die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen. You can also say pünktlich die Kinder abzuholen, but the given order sounds more neutral.

What case is die Kinder here, and how can I tell?

Accusative plural (direct object of abholen). In plural, nominative and accusative articles look the same (die), so you can’t see it from the form alone, but the verb abholen is transitive and takes a direct object.

Can I say Es ist deine Pflicht, dass du die Kinder pünktlich abholst?

Grammatically possible, but stylistically heavy/less idiomatic. The zu-infinitive (… deine Pflicht, die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen) is the natural choice here.

What’s the nuance of Pflicht vs alternatives like Aufgabe or Verantwortung?

Pflicht = duty/obligation (quite strong, even moral/legal).
Aufgabe = task/assignment (neutral).
Verantwortung = responsibility (focus on being accountable). Alternatives: Du musst die Kinder pünktlich abholen. (modal, straightforward) or Du bist verpflichtet, die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen. (formal/legal tone).

Difference between pünktlich and rechtzeitig?

pünktlich = at the exact agreed time (on the dot).
rechtzeitig = in time/early enough (not necessarily exact). In this sentence, pünktlich stresses the scheduled time.

Difference between abholen and holen?

abholen = pick up (someone/something) from a place at a set time. Typical for people: die Kinder abholen.
holen = go get/fetch (more general), often without the “pick-up at a location/time” nuance.

How would this look in a normal main clause (no zu)?

Main clause: Du holst die Kinder pünktlich ab.
Subordinate with dass: …, dass du die Kinder pünktlich abholst. Note how the separable prefix ab- moves to the end in main clauses.

How do I pronounce Pflicht and abzuholen?

Pflicht: [ˈpflɪçt] — pronounce the initial pf together; ch is the “ich” sound [ç].
abzuholen: [ˈaptsuˌhoːlən] — zu is [tsu]; the cluster abzu- sounds like [aptsu].

Why isn’t it pünktliche here?

Because pünktlich is an adverb modifying the verb phrase. The -e ending would be for an attributive adjective before a noun, e.g., die pünktliche Abholung (“the punctual pick-up”).

Can I front or restructure the sentence?

Yes:

Deine Pflicht ist es, die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen. (emphasizes “your duty”)
Die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen, ist deine Pflicht. (fronts the action; more formal/emphatic)

How would this change in formal address?

Use Ihre (capitalized): Es ist Ihre Pflicht, die Kinder pünktlich abzuholen. The possessive is capitalized with formal Sie.

What if I can’t type ü in pünktlich?

Write puenktlich. Standard replacements: ä → ae, ö → oe, ü → ue, ß → ss.