Reading · A2 · Text 8

Ruine

49 words1 min read82% known at A2

Ähnlich sieht es aus, wenn man einen Teil von alten Gebäuden wiederaufbaut.

It looks similar when one rebuilds a part of old buildings.

Man errichtet nur einen kleinen Teil, weil es zu teuer wäre, das gesamte Gebäude neu zu bauen.

One only builds a small part, because it would be too expensive to rebuild the entire building.

Es geht darum, annähernd zu zeigen, wie es ausgesehen haben kann.

The aim is to show approximately what it might have looked like.

Das nennt man dann aber eine Rekonstruktion oder Teilrekonstruktion.

But that is then called a reconstruction or partial reconstruction.

9 words above A2

bauen
to build regular verb
darum
about that, for that reason in phrase 'es geht darum' – it's about
Ähnlich← ähnlich
similar, likewise used adverbially at the start of the sentence similar, alike, resembling B1/ˈɛːnlɪç/
gesamte← gesamt
entire, whole inflected form after 'das'
approximately, roughly approximately B2[ˈannɛːɐnt]
errichtet← errichten
erects, builds 3rd person singular present to build, to erect (a building or permanent structure, especially a large or individually significant one); to erect, to set up (a barricade,… C1/ɛˈʁɪçtən/
wiederaufbaut← wiederaufbauen
rebuilds separable verb, 3rd person singular, prefix 'wiederauf-'
reconstruction plural: Rekonstruktionen C1
Teilrekonstruktion← die Teilrekonstruktion
partial reconstruction plural: Teilrekonstruktionen

Grammar in this text

Subordinate clause with 'wenn' – verb at the end

wenn man einen Teil von alten Gebäuden wiederaufbaut

In subordinate clauses introduced by 'wenn', the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause.

Infinitive with 'zu' after 'es geht darum'

Es geht darum, annähernd zu zeigen

The phrase 'es geht darum' ('it is about') is followed by an infinitive clause with 'zu' (to) to express the topic or purpose.

Indefinite pronoun 'man'

Man errichtet nur einen kleinen Teil

'man' is used as an impersonal subject meaning 'one/you/people in general', and the verb is conjugated in the third person singular.

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Text from Ruine — Klexikon, used under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources.

Translation, glossary and grammar notes are machine-generated and inherit the same licence.