Prolonged Agreement Deutsch

Posted by: admin | Posted on: oktober 28th, 2021 | 0 Comments

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Prolonged Agreement in Deutsch: How to Use the German Infinitive to Express Ongoing Actions

If you are learning German, you may have encountered the concept of “prolonged agreement” or “Ersatzinfinitiv” in grammar books or language courses. In short, this refers to the use of the infinitive form of a modal or auxiliary verb instead of the past participle in some cases where the action described is not completed or in the past tense. This usage can create confusion or errors if not understood properly, but it is also a useful and versatile tool for expressing nuances of meaning in German. In this article, we will explain the rules and examples of prolonged agreement in Deutsch and give some tips for writing SEO-friendly texts with this feature.

Before we dive into the details, let`s clarify the basic concept of agreement in German. Unlike English, where the main verb in a sentence usually stays in the same form regardless of the subject or tense (except for irregular verbs and auxiliaries), German verbs have different endings depending on the person, number, and tense of the subject. For example, the present tense of “to be” in English is always “am, is, are,” while in German, it changes to “bin, bist, ist, sind, seid, sind” for ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie respectively. This means that German speakers can omit the subject more often than English speakers, as the ending already implies it.

However, some verbs in German do not follow this pattern of agreement, especially when used in combination with another verb. These verbs can be called modal verbs (Modalverben) or auxiliary verbs (Hilfsverben), depending on their function. Modal verbs express a certain attitude or possibility towards the main verb, while auxiliary verbs help to form the compound tenses or passive voice. Some common examples of modal verbs in German are “können” (can), “müssen” (must), “sollen” (should), “wollen” (want), “dürfen” (may), “mögen” (like), while auxiliary verbs include “haben” (have), “sein” (be), and “werden” (become).

In normal agreement, the modal or auxiliary verb follows the subject and takes the appropriate ending, while the main verb appears at the end of the clause in its infinitive form (unconjugated), as in the following examples:

Ich kann singen. (I can sing)

Wir haben geschlafen. (We have slept)

Er wird gehen. (He will go)

However, in some cases where the action expressed by the main verb is ongoing or incomplete, German allows the use of the infinitive form of the modal or auxiliary verb instead of the past participle (or the ge-form in German), as in the following examples:

Ich habe ihn schlafen sehen. (I have seen him sleeping)

Sie soll das Buch lesen können. (She should be able to read the book)

Wir werden unseren Freunden helfen wollen. (We will want to help our friends)

Note that in these cases, the modal or auxiliary verb retains its normal position and ending, while the infinitive is put after the main verb, often with “zu” (to) before it. This creates a kind of compound infinitive that describes an ongoing or potential action that has not yet reached its end or result. The choice of the particular modal or auxiliary verb depends on the context and the meaning you want to convey.

For example, using “werden” in prolonged agreement can indicate a future intention or probability, as in “Ich werde Deutsch lernen müssen” (I will have to learn German), while using “lassen” (let) can imply permission or causation, as in “Er lässt das Kind allein spielen” (He lets the child play alone). Using “haben” in prolonged agreement can indicate simultaneous actions, as in “Ich habe ihn lesen und schreiben gehört” (I have heard him read and write).

Prolonged agreement can also be used in combination with other verb forms, such as the passive voice (with “werden” plus the infinitive), the imperative mood (with the modal verbs), or the subjunctive mood (with “möchten” or “würden” plus the infinitive). In each case, the meaning will vary depending on the tense, voice, and mood of the verbs involved.

Now, how can you use prolonged agreement in your SEO writing for German audiences? One way is to add more variety and precision to your descriptions of ongoing or potential actions, as well as to your calls to action or advice. For example, instead of saying “Wir müssen uns umweltfreundlicher verhalten” (We have to behave more environmentally friendly), you could say “Wir werden uns umweltfreundlicher verhalten müssen” (We will have to behave more environmentally friendly), which implies a stronger motivation or a future challenge.

Another way is to use a related keyword or phrase that includes the modal or auxiliary verb in its infinitive form, such as “Deutsch lernen müssen” instead of “Deutsch lernen” or “allein spielen lassen” instead of “allein spielen”. This can help your text to rank higher in the relevant search results and attract more attention from users who are looking for specific information or solutions.

Of course, as with any grammar feature, prolonged agreement should be used judiciously and appropriately according to the context and register of your text. In some cases, using the past participle or another verb form may be more suitable or correct. Therefore, it is important to consult reliable sources of German grammar and style, as well as to proofread your text carefully before publishing it. With these precautions in mind, prolonged agreement can become a valuable tool in your German writing arsenal.