Breakdown of Die Bücher sollen heute noch eingepackt werden.
heute
today
das Buch
the book
noch
still
eingepackt werden
to be packed
Questions & Answers about Die Bücher sollen heute noch eingepackt werden.
Why is Die Bücher in the nominative, even though they are the things being packed?
Because this is a passive sentence. In the passive, the thing that would be the direct object in an active sentence becomes the subject and therefore takes nominative:
- Active: Jemand packt die Bücher ein. (die Bücher = accusative object)
- Passive: Die Bücher werden eingepackt. (die Bücher = nominative subject)
What does sollen mean here, and why not müssen?
Sollen often expresses that something is expected / supposed / intended—frequently based on a plan, instruction, or someone else’s expectation. It can feel slightly less “hard necessity” than müssen.
- Die Bücher sollen … eingepackt werden. = they are supposed to be packed (plan/instruction)
- Die Bücher müssen … eingepackt werden. = they must be packed (strong necessity)
In context, sollen can also imply “according to what someone says/has ordered.”
Why are there two verbs at the end: eingepackt werden?