Reading · C1 · Text 24

Missbrauch

57 words1 min read89% known at C1

Eltern sollten genügend Bescheid wissen über das Leben ihrer Kinder.
Parents should know enough about their children's lives.
Kinder sollen ihren Freiraum haben.
Children should have their own space.
Aber die Eltern sollten auch merken können, wenn etwas schief läuft.
But parents should also be able to notice when something goes wrong.
Kinder sollten sich an ihre Eltern oder an eine vertraute Lehrperson wenden, wenn sie sich unsicher fühlen oder Angst haben.
Children should turn to their parents or a trusted teacher if they feel insecure or are afraid.
Es gibt auch Sorgentelefone, an die sich ein Kind wenden kann.
There are also helplines that a child can call.

3 words above C1

schief

wrong, awry; in the phrase 'schief laufen' = to go wrong

Lehrperson

teacher (gender-neutral, instead of Lehrer/Lehrerin) Plural: Lehrpersonen

Sorgentelefone← das Sorgentelefon

helpline; telephone counseling service for children and young people in distress Compound of 'Sorge' (worry) + 'Telefon'; plural form as in text.

Grammar in this text

Konjunktiv II of modal verb 'sollen' for advice/recommendation

Eltern sollten genügend Bescheid wissen über das Leben ihrer Kinder.

'sollten' is the subjunctive II of 'sollen'. It expresses a polite or hypothetical recommendation, softening the statement into advice rather than a strict demand.

Double modal construction

Aber die Eltern sollten auch merken können, wenn etwas schief läuft.

Two modal verbs are used: 'sollten' as the finite form in second position, and 'können' in the infinitive together with the main verb 'merken' at the end. This double-modal structure means 'should be able to notice'.

Relative clause with a prepositional relative pronoun

Es gibt auch Sorgentelefone, an die sich ein Kind wenden kann.

The relative pronoun 'die' refers back to 'Sorgentelefone' and follows the preposition 'an', which is required by the verb 'sich wenden an' (to turn to). The preposition determines the case (accusative), and the verb of the relative clause moves to the end.

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Same text, graded forC2 version

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

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