Breakdown of Unsere Pläne sind abhängig vom Wetter.
sein
to be
unser
our
das Wetter
the weather
der Plan
the plan
vom
from the; (neuter, dative)
abhängig
dependent
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Questions & Answers about Unsere Pläne sind abhängig vom Wetter.
What does “vom” mean here?
It’s the contraction of von dem (“from the” / “of the”). So vom Wetter = von dem Wetter. The contracted form is standard in speech and writing; the full form is possible but less common.
Which case does “von” take, and why is it “dem Wetter”?
“von” always takes the dative case. das Wetter (nominative) becomes dem Wetter (dative). That’s why von dem → vom. In the plural, dative usually adds -n to the noun if possible (e.g., von den Plänen).
Why is it “sind” and not “ist”?
Because the subject Pläne is plural. The verb agrees with the plural subject: Unsere Pläne sind …
Why doesn’t “abhängig” have an ending?
Here it’s a predicate adjective after sein (… sind abhängig …), and predicate adjectives don’t take endings. With a noun, it would: die abhängigen Pläne.
Can I say “Unsere Pläne sind vom Wetter abhängig” instead?
Yes. Both … sind abhängig vom Wetter and … sind vom Wetter abhängig are correct; the second slightly emphasizes the phrase vom Wetter.
Is there a verb alternative?
Yes: Unsere Pläne hängen vom Wetter ab. That uses the separable verb abhängen (present: hängt … ab) with von + dative. Meaning and register are neutral and equivalent.
Can I say “abhängig auf …” like English “dependent on”?
No. With abhängig, German uses von: abhängig von …. If you want to use auf, use the different verb: Es kommt auf das Wetter an (contraction: aufs Wetter).
How do I ask “What are our plans dependent on?” in German?
Use the wo-compound: Wovon sind unsere Pläne abhängig?
Alternative with the verb: Wovon hängen unsere Pläne ab?
Is “wetterabhängig” a real word?
Yes. You can say Unsere Pläne sind wetterabhängig. Attributively: die wetterabhängigen Pläne. It’s a concise, common compound.
Why is “Wetter” capitalized?
All nouns are capitalized in German: Wetter, Pläne. Adjectives and determiners (abhängig, unsere) are not capitalized mid-sentence.
What’s the plural of “Plan,” and why the umlaut?
Singular: der Plan. Plural: die Pläne (umlaut + -e). Don’t confuse with die Plane (singular), which means “tarpaulin.”
Do we always need the article with “Wetter”?
Not always. With some prepositions you often drop it for generic weather: bei gutem Wetter, je nach Wetter. But after von, vom Wetter is the natural idiom; von Wetter sounds odd.
Where does “nicht” go to negate the sentence?
Place it before the phrase you’re negating: Unsere Pläne sind nicht vom Wetter abhängig.
With the verb version: Unsere Pläne hängen nicht vom Wetter ab.
Is there any nuance difference between “abhängig von” and “Es kommt auf … an”?
Both are standard. abhängig von states a relationship; Es kommt auf … an is a very common idiom meaning the same in practice. Use either.
How can I intensify or qualify the dependence?
Add an adverb:
- stark/sehr abhängig von …
- weitgehend/teilweise abhängig von …
- überhaupt nicht abhängig von …
How does “unsere” change in other cases?
It inflects like an ein-word. Relevant here:
- Nominative plural: unsere Pläne
- Dative plural: mit unseren Plänen (note the noun gets -n: Plänen)
Is “von dem Wetter” wrong or too formal?
It’s not wrong. It can sound a bit heavier or emphatic. The contracted vom Wetter is the default in everyday usage.
Can I use a genitive like “abhängig des Wetters”?
No in modern standard German. abhängig governs von + dative. abhängig des is archaic/stilted; avoid it.
Any pronunciation tips?
- W in Wetter sounds like English “v.”
- ä in abhängig and Pläne is like the “e” in “bed” (often a bit longer).
- Final -ig in abhängig is commonly pronounced like “-ich.”
- vom sounds like “fom.”
Can I front the prepositional phrase for emphasis?
Yes: Vom Wetter sind unsere Pläne abhängig. This is marked for emphasis or contrast but grammatical.