Reading · B2 · Text 5

Diskussion

39 words1 min read90% known at B2

Man versucht, den anderen Diskutanten von der eigenen Meinung zu überzeugen.

One tries to convince the other discussants of one's own opinion.

Oft gelingt das aber nicht.

But often that does not succeed.

Wenigstens will man Eindruck machen auf die Zuhörer einer Diskussion.

At least one wants to make an impression on the listeners of a discussion.

Manchmal finden die Diskutanten eine gemeinsame Meinung, mit der sie gut leben können.

Sometimes the discussants find a common opinion they can live with.

3 words above B2

anderen← andere

other, different (here: the other discussants) declined after definite article; weak adjective ending -en in plural dative

Zuhörer

listener, member of the audience plural: die Zuhörer (same form); no change in plural audience C1/ˈt͡suːˌhøːʁɐ/

Diskutanten← der Diskutant

discussant, participant in a discussion weak noun; plural: die Diskutanten; dative plural: den Diskutanten

Grammar in this text

Infinitive clause with 'zu'

Man versucht, den anderen Diskutanten von der eigenen Meinung zu überzeugen.

After verbs like 'versuchen', an infinitive clause with 'zu' is used. The infinitive (with 'zu') moves to the end of the clause, and the clause is separated by a comma.

Relative clause with preposition

mit der sie gut leben können

The relative pronoun combines with a preposition ('mit der' = with which). The finite verb ('können') moves to the end of the relative clause.

Verb-second word order with adverb fronting

Oft gelingt das aber nicht.

When a sentence starts with an adverb ('Oft'), the finite verb ('gelingt') stays in the second position, and the subject ('das') follows after the verb.

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

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