Reading · B2 · Text 7

Verfassung

48 words1 min read100% known at B2

In einer Demokratie hat das Volk das Sagen.
In a democracy, the people have the say.
Die Verfassung der Bundes-Republik Deutschland von 1949 heißt Grund-Gesetz.
The constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 is called the Basic Law.
In Österreich gibt es mehrere Gesetze, die zusammen die Verfassung bilden.
In Austria, there are several laws that together form the constitution.
Damals schlossen sich die Kantone zu einem Bundes-Staat zusammen.
Back then, the cantons united to form a federal state.
Seither gibt es eine Verfassung für die ganze Schweiz.
Since then, there has been a constitution for the whole of Switzerland.

16 words above B2

die Verfassung← die Verfassung

constitution plural: die Verfassungen constitution; condition, state; writing, composition, drafting B2/fɛɐ̯ˈfasʊŋ/

das Grund-Gesetz← das Grundgesetz

Basic Law (constitution of Germany) compound of 'Grund' and 'Gesetz'; often written as one word constitution (formal or informal system of primary principles and laws regulating a government or other institutions); basic law C1/ˈɡʁʊntɡəˌzɛts/

die Bundes-Republik← die Bundesrepublik

Federal Republic compound of 'Bund' and 'Republik' federal republic; Federal Republic of Germany B2/ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk/

die Kantone← der Kanton

cantons (Swiss states) plural form; singular: der Kanton canton (state of Switzerland); canton; canton (military enrollment district of Prussia, made obsolete by introduction of universal conscription in… B2/kanˈtoːn/

der Bundes-Staat← der Bundesstaat

federal state compound of 'Bund' and 'Staat' A state which consists of multiple relatively autonomous substates; a federal state, a federation.; A state which is a relatively autonomous part of… C1[ˈbʊndəsˌʃtaːt]

die Schweiz← die Schweiz

Switzerland proper noun, always with definite article Switzerland (a country in Western Europe and Central Europe) A1/ʃvaɪ̯ts/

das Volk← das Volk

people, nation plural: die Völker people, nation, folk, tribe, race (group united by culture, history, descent, and/or language); people, population, citizens; common people, the… B1/fɔlk/

die Demokratie← die Demokratie

democracy plural: die Demokratien B1/demokʁaˈtiː/

das Gesetz← das Gesetz

law plural: die Gesetze law, legal act, bill, statute; a bill by the parliamentary legislator according to the procedures devised in the state’s constitution; any formally… B1/ɡəˈzɛt͡s/

zusammen

together together, jointly; together, in the same place; in a romantic relationship with each other A1/tsuˈzamən/

schlossen sich ... an← sich anschließen

joined, united (with) reflexive, separable; stem forms: schloss an, angeschlossen

bilden

to form, constitute regular verb to form, to train; to educate oneself B2/ˈbɪldən/

heißt← heißen

is called, means irregular: heißt, hieß, geheißen to have a name; to be named; to be called; but implying that one “owns” this name, not necessarily that one goes by it; to mean, to signify; to have… A1/ˈhaɪ̯sən/

gibt← geben

there is/are (in phrase 'es gibt') irregular: gibt, gab, gegeben; used with accusative to give (changing ownership); to hand, to pass, to put within reach; Used to indicate that something exists (often with a certain property and/or in… A2[ˈɡeːb(ə)n]

Seither← seither

since then since then (from that point in time onwards) B2/ˌzaɪ̯tˈheːɐ̯/

Damals← damals

at that time, then at that time (in the past); at the time, then A2/ˈdaːmaːls/

Grammar in this text

Word order in main clauses with adverbs of time

Damals schlossen sich die Kantone zu einem Bundes-Staat zusammen.

In German main clauses, the finite verb is in second position. Here, the adverb 'Damals' occupies the first position, so the verb 'schlossen' comes second, and the subject 'die Kantone' follows. This is a common pattern for emphasizing time.

Separable verb in a main clause

Damals schlossen sich die Kantone zu einem Bundes-Staat zusammen.

The verb 'sich anschließen' is separable. In the main clause, the prefix 'an' is placed at the end of the sentence, while the finite part 'schlossen' is in second position. This is typical for separable verbs in German.

Reflexive verb with dative reflexive pronoun

Damals schlossen sich die Kantone zu einem Bundes-Staat zusammen.

The verb 'sich anschließen' is reflexive. The reflexive pronoun 'sich' is in the accusative case here (since it refers to the subject 'die Kantone'). Note that the pronoun follows the verb in this word order.

Prepositional phrase with 'zu' + dative

Damals schlossen sich die Kantone zu einem Bundes-Staat zusammen.

The preposition 'zu' is always followed by the dative case. Here, 'einem Bundes-Staat' is dative masculine. This is a common pattern for expressing 'to become' or 'into'.

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

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