Eine schnelle Lösung hilft uns, ruhig zu bleiben.

A quick solution helps us stay calm.

Breakdown of Eine schnelle Lösung hilft uns, ruhig zu bleiben.

• bleiben: to stay
• ruhig: calm
• helfen: to help
• uns: us
• die Lösung: the solution
• schnell: fast/quick(ly)

Questions & Answers about Eine schnelle Lösung hilft uns, ruhig zu bleiben.

Why is it eine schnelle Lösung and not ein schnelles Lösung?

Because Lösung is a feminine noun: die Lösung.
So the indefinite article is eine, and the adjective ending in nominative feminine is -e:

• eine schnelle Lösung (nom. fem.)

If it were a neuter noun (like das Problem), you’d get:

• ein schnelles Problem (nom. neut.)

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What case is eine schnelle Lösung in, and how can I tell?

It’s nominative, because it’s the subject of the sentence—the thing doing the “helping.”
The verb is hilft (from helfen), so “X helps (us) ...” → X is the subject.

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Why is it hilft uns and not hilft wir or hilft uns as the subject?

uns is the dative form of wir (we). The verb helfen takes a dative object (it “helps” to someone).
So:

• helfen + Dativ → jemandem helfen
• uns = dative “to us”

Not:

• wir (nominative) = “we” as a subject

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Is uns always dative? How do I know it isn’t accusative here?

uns can be accusative or dative (same form). You identify the case by the verb or structure.
Here the verb helfen requires dative, so uns must be dative.

Compare:

• Er sieht uns. (sehen takes accusative) → uns = accusative
• Er hilft uns. (helfen takes dative) → uns = dative

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Why does German use zu bleiben instead of something like bleiben or zu ruhig bleiben?

After helfen, German typically uses an infinitive with zu to express “help (to) do something”:

• jemandem helfen, etwas zu tun

So:

• hilft uns, ruhig zu bleiben = helps us to stay calm

You can’t say hilft uns, bleiben because zu is required in this construction.

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Why is ruhig not ending in -e or -en (like an adjective)?

Because ruhig here isn’t an adjective modifying a noun; it describes a state connected to the verb bleiben.
With sein/werden/bleiben, German often uses an adjective as a predicate adjective, and it doesn’t take endings:

• Wir bleiben ruhig. (not ruhige/ruhigen)

Adjective endings show up when an adjective comes before a noun:

• ein ruhiger Mensch
• die ruhige Stimme

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What’s the function of the comma: hilft uns, ruhig zu bleiben?

The comma separates the main clause from the infinitive phrase (Infinitivgruppe) introduced by zu.
With zu + infinitive phrases, a comma is very common and often recommended—especially when it improves readability or when there’s a reference word like dabei, darum, etc. In practice, you’ll usually see the comma here.

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Could I also say Eine schnelle Lösung hilft uns ruhig zu bleiben without the comma?

You might see it without a comma in informal writing, but the comma is the standard and clearer choice. In careful writing, keep the comma:

• ..., ruhig zu bleiben.

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Does Eine schnelle Lösung imply “one quick solution” (a specific one) or “a quick solution” (any)?

It usually means “a quick solution” in a general sense (not necessarily a particular one already identified). Context can make it specific, but on its own it’s often generic: a quick solution (any quick solution) helps us stay calm.

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Why is the verb hilft singular?

Because the subject eine schnelle Lösung is singular. German verbs agree with the subject in person and number:

• Eine Lösung hilft. (singular)
• Schnelle Lösungen helfen. (plural)

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Could this sentence be rewritten using damit or a subordinate clause?

Yes. A common alternative uses damit (“so that”) with a subordinate clause:

• Eine schnelle Lösung hilft uns, damit wir ruhig bleiben.

But the original infinitive construction is very natural and often more concise:

• ..., ruhig zu bleiben.