Reading · B2 · Text 16

Wurzel

30 words1 min read100% known at B2

Mit den Wurzeln hält sich ein Baum fest.

A tree holds itself fast with its roots.

Mit den Wurzeln kann die Pflanze auch Wasser und Nahrung aus dem Boden aufnehmen.

With its roots, the plant can also take up water and nutrients from the soil.

Die gehen tief und gerade in den Boden.

They go deep and straight into the ground.

10 words above B2

Wurzeln← die Wurzel

root (of a plant) plural: die Wurzeln root; root, the primary source, origin; root, especially square root B2/ˈvʊʁt͡sl̩/

hält ... fest← festhalten

to hold (something) firmly irregular: hält fest, hielt fest, festgehalten; separable verb to hold on (to) (to keep another object or person in place); to hold on (to) [with an (+ dative) ‘to something’] (to keep oneself in place by… B1[ˈfɛstˌhaltn̩]

Baum

tree plural: die Bäume tree; boom; a surname A1/baʊ̯m/

Pflanze

plant plural: die Pflanzen A2/ˈpflan(t)sə/

Wasser

water uncountable in this context water (H₂O); water, waters (body of water, especially a river or lake); alcoholic beverage, similar to brandy, made from fermented fruit A1/ˈva.sər/

Nahrung

food, nourishment uncountable nourishment, food B2[ˈnaːʁʊŋ]

Boden

ground, soil plural: die Böden ground, soil; sea bottom (typically called Meeresboden); any defined type of soil B1/ˈboːdn̩/

aufnehmen

to take in, absorb separable: nimmt auf, nahm auf, aufgenommen to pick up, lift up; to receive, to accommodate, to take in (guests), to admit (to a hospital etc.); to accept (into a country, a group of people),… B1/ˈʔaʊ̯fneːmən/

tief

deep deep (having a long distance to the bottom; of bodies of water, wells, etc.); deep, profound (intense or significant); low (situated close to, or… A2/tiːf/

gerade

straight even; now (at the moment); just (a short while ago, typically less than an hour) A1/ɡəˈraːdə/

Grammar in this text

Prepositional phrase with 'mit' + dative

Mit den Wurzeln hält sich ein Baum fest.

'Mit' is a dative preposition; 'den Wurzeln' is dative plural. It indicates means or instrument.

Modal verb 'können' + infinitive

Mit den Wurzeln kann die Pflanze auch Wasser und Nahrung aus dem Boden aufnehmen.

'Kann' is a modal verb; the main verb 'aufnehmen' appears as an infinitive at the end of the sentence.

Separable verb in a main clause

Mit den Wurzeln hält sich ein Baum fest.

'Festhalten' is separable; in a main clause, the prefix 'fest' is separated and placed at the end, while the conjugated verb 'hält' is in second position.

Prepositional phrase with 'aus' + dative

aus dem Boden

'Aus' is a dative preposition; 'dem Boden' is dative masculine singular. It indicates origin or source.

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

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