Complex Syntax: Verbal Bracket and Extraposition
Explicação
Four-line German sentences work without ambiguity because the verb forms a bracket around the content. See the bracket and the sentence unpacks itself.
The verbal elements form the Verbalklammer: part in position 2, part at the end. Everything belonging to the verb sits inside.
The bracket
Er hat [gestern mit seiner alten Freundin …] telefoniert.
Ausklammerung — extraposition
Long elements may move past the closing bracket for clarity or emphasis.
In subordinate clauses
…, weil er gestern mit ihr telefoniert hat.
⚠️ Watch out
✗ …, weil er das Buch, das er gekauft hatte, wollte lesen.
✓ …, weil er das Buch, das er gekauft hatte, lesen wollte.
With a relative clause embedded in the middle it is easy to forget to close the bracket.
🧠 Find the two ends of the bracket first, read the middle second.
Exemplos
Es ist anzunehmen, dass die Kommission, die bereits seit Monaten tagt, zu einem Ergebnis kommen wird.
It is to be assumed that the committee, which has been meeting for months, will reach a result.
Er hat gestern mit seiner Kollegin telefoniert.
He spoke on the phone with his colleague yesterday. (bracket: hat … telefoniert)
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