Das Problem kann gemeinsam leichter bewältigt werden.

The problem can be overcome more easily together.

Breakdown of Das Problem kann gemeinsam leichter bewältigt werden.

• gemeinsam: together
• können: can
• das Problem: the problem
• leichter: more easily
• bewältigt werden: to be overcome

Questions & Answers about Das Problem kann gemeinsam leichter bewältigt werden.

Why is it das Problem and not der Problem or die Problem?

In German, every noun has a grammatical gender that you simply have to learn with the word.

• Problem is neuter, so it always takes the article das in the nominative singular:
  
  • das Problem – the problem
• der is for masculine nouns (e.g. der Tisch)
• die is for feminine nouns (e.g. die Stadt) and for all plural nouns (e.g. die Probleme = the problems)

So das Problem is just the correct gender + case combination for Problem as the subject of the sentence.

What is the function of kann and bewältigt werden together? Why two verbs?

The sentence combines a modal verb and the passive voice.

• kann = can (modal verb)
• bewältigt werden = to be overcome (passive construction)

Structure:

• Das Problem (subject)
• kann (finite/modal verb in 2nd position)
• bewältigt werden (infinitive phrase at the end: past participle + werden)

So Das Problem kann … bewältigt werden literally = The problem can be overcome …

German rule: with modal verbs in the passive, you put:

• modal (conjugated) in position 2
• Partizip II (here: bewältigt) + werden at the very end.

Why is the word order kann gemeinsam leichter bewältigt werden and not something like English?

German main clauses follow verb-second word order:

1. Das Problem (slot 1)
2. kann (finite verb in slot 2)
3. gemeinsam leichter (the “midfield”: adverbials etc.)
4. bewältigt werden (non-finite verbs at the end)

Key points:

• The conjugated verb (kann) must be in second position.
• Other parts (adverbs like gemeinsam, leichter) go in the middle area.
• In constructions with a modal verb, the main verb in participle form (bewältigt) and werden are pushed to the very end.

That’s why you get:
Das Problem | kann | gemeinsam leichter | bewältigt werden.

Why is it leichter and not mehr leicht, like more easy?

German normally forms comparatives by adding -er to the adjective, not with a separate word like more:

• leicht → leichter = easy → easier
• groß → größer = big → bigger
• interessant → interessanter = interesting → more interesting

So leichter is the standard comparative form of leicht.
Mehr leicht is not correct German; you need leichter here.

What is the difference between gemeinsam and zusammen here? Could I say zusammen instead?

Both gemeinsam and zusammen can express doing something with others, but they have slightly different nuances:

• gemeinsam

  • often emphasizes shared responsibility or a joint effort
  • has a bit more formal or abstract feel
  • fits well with things like solving problems, planning, working on a project

• zusammen

  • more general together
  • very common in everyday speech
  • often used for being in the same place or doing something side by side

In this sentence:

• Das Problem kann gemeinsam leichter bewältigt werden.
  → Emphasizes joint effort in overcoming the problem.

You could say:

• Das Problem kann zusammen leichter bewältigt werden.

This is understandable and not “wrong”, but gemeinsam sounds more natural and idiomatic in the context of problem-solving, especially in written or somewhat formal German.

Can I change the order and say Das Problem kann leichter gemeinsam bewältigt werden?

Yes, that word order is grammatically possible:

• Das Problem kann leichtER gemeinSAM bewältigt werden.

However, native speakers strongly prefer gemeinsam leichter here. Why?

• German tends to put adverbs of manner or participation (like gemeinsam) before a simple comparative like leichter in this kind of sentence.
• gemeinsam leichter sounds like one natural block: more easily when done together.

Leichter gemeinsam doesn’t sound wrong, but it’s less idiomatic and feels a bit awkward stylistically.

Why is it bewältigt and not bewältigen at the end?

In the passive voice with werden, German uses the past participle (Partizip II):

• Active basic verb: bewältigen (to overcome, to cope with)
• Past participle: bewältigt

Passive construction:

• Das Problem wird bewältigt. = The problem is being overcome.

With a modal verb (kann), the pattern becomes:

• Das Problem kann bewältigt werden.

So the correct form at the end is bewältigt werden (participle + werden), not bewältigen werden.

Is bewältigen a separable verb? I don’t see a prefix splitting off.

bewältigen is not separable.

• Separable verbs usually have a stressed prefix that can move to the end, like aufmachen → Ich mache die Tür auf.
• bewältigen has the unstressed prefix be-, which is always inseparable (like bekommen, beginnen, bezahlen).

So:

• You never say wältige … be or anything like that.
• All finite forms keep the be- attached: ich bewältige, wir bewältigen, bewältigt, bewältigt werden, etc.

Could I use an active sentence instead, like Wir können das Problem gemeinsam leichter bewältigen?

Yes, that is perfectly correct German:

• Wir können das Problem gemeinsam leichter bewältigen.
  = We can overcome the problem more easily together.

Difference in focus:

• Passive version:

  • Das Problem kann gemeinsam leichter bewältigt werden.
  • Focus is on the problem and the fact that it can be overcome, not on who does it.
  • Useful when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

• Active version with wir:

  • Emphasizes the people (we) doing the overcoming.
  • More personal and direct.

So both are correct; choice depends on what you want to highlight.

Why does the sentence start with Das Problem? Could I start with Gemeinsam instead?

You can absolutely start with Gemeinsam for emphasis:

• Gemeinsam kann das Problem leichter bewältigt werden.

What changes:

• German only requires that the conjugated verb (kann) stays in second position.
• The first position (the “Vorfeld”) can contain almost any element you want to emphasize.

So you have options:

1. Das Problem kann gemeinsam leichter bewältigt werden.

   • Focus on the problem itself.

2. Gemeinsam kann das Problem leichter bewältigt werden.

   • Strongly emphasizes togetherness as the key factor.

Both are grammatical; they just shift the nuance.

Could I just say Das Problem kann leichter bewältigt werden and leave out gemeinsam?

Yes, grammatically that’s fine:

• Das Problem kann leichter bewältigt werden.
  = The problem can be overcome more easily.

But then you lose the idea of doing it together. The original sentence specifically contrasts:

• Overcoming it alone (harder)
• Overcoming it together (easier)

Without gemeinsam, you only say it’s easier, but you don’t say why or in what circumstance.

Is there any difference between Das Problem kann gemeinsam leichter bewältigt werden and Das Problem lässt sich gemeinsam leichter bewältigen?

Both are natural and very close in meaning.

• Das Problem kann gemeinsam leichter bewältigt werden.

  • Passive with kann … werden
  • Very direct: The problem can be overcome together more easily.

• Das Problem lässt sich gemeinsam leichter bewältigen.

  • Reflexive construction with lässt sich
  • Often feels a bit more idiomatic and stylistically smooth in modern German.
  • Literally: The problem lets itself be more easily overcome together. → means “it is possible/easy to overcome”.

In everyday and written German, lässt sich … bewältigen is very commonly used to express that something is doable/manageable, slightly avoiding a heavy passive form. Both are correct; the choice is mostly stylistic.