Reading · C1 · Text 3

Nikolaus Kopernikus

76 words1 min read100% known at C1

Er dachte über das Weltall und die Planeten nach.
He thought about the universe and the planets.
Er hat sich einen neuen Weg ausgedacht, um das Welt-All zu erklären.
He came up with a new way to explain the universe.
Vorher glaubte man, dass sich die Sonne, der Mond und alle Planeten um die Erde drehen.
Previously, people believed that the sun, the moon, and all the planets revolved around the Earth.
In der Mitte ist die Sonne und die Planeten drehen sich um sie.
In the center is the sun, and the planets revolve around it.
Während langer Zeit hat man ihm nicht geglaubt.
For a long time, people did not believe him.
Die Sonne ist die Mitte unseres Sonnen-Systems.
The sun is the center of our solar system.
Sie ist aber nicht die Mitte des ganzen Weltalls.
But it is not the center of the entire universe.

13 words above C1

dachte nach← nachdenken

to think about, reflect on irregular: denkt nach, dachte nach, hat nachgedacht; separable verb to think, to reflect, to ponder B1/ˈnaːxˌdɛŋkŋ̩/

ausgedacht← ausdenken

to think up, devise irregular: denkt aus, dachte aus, hat ausgedacht; separable verb to come up with, to think up, to make up (a story, a plan, a strategy, lies etc.) B2/ˈaʊ̯sˌdɛŋkən/

erklären

to explain regular: erklärt, erklärte, hat erklärt to explain, to make clear; to declare, assert A1/ɛɐ̯ˈklɛːʁən/

glaubte← glauben

to believe regular: glaubt, glaubte, hat geglaubt to believe something (to consider true); to believe in (to think something exists, or have confidence in someone’s ability); to believe (to trust in… A1/ˈɡlaʊ̯bən/

drehen

to turn, rotate regular: dreht, drehte, hat gedreht; often used with 'sich' to turn; to turn (one’s body), turn around; to roll, twist, make something revolve, rotate B1/ˈdʁeː(ə)n/

Weltall

universe, space no plural cosmos; outer space; region beyond Earth’s atmosphere C1[ˈvɛltal]

Planeten← der Planet

planet plural: die Planeten B1/plaˈneːt/

Sonne

sun plural: die Sonnen the Sun; a sun (a star, especially when being the center of a solar system); sunshine, sunlight (the light and warmth we receive on Earth from the… A2/ˈsɔnɛ/

Mond

moon plural: die Monde the Moon; Earth's only natural satellite, and also a luminary; moon (a natural satellite that is orbiting its corresponding planet); a month,… B1/moːnt/

Erde

earth no plural in this context earth; soil; the ground B1/ˈeːrdə/

Mitte

center, middle plural: die Mitten middle; center; The most central borough of Berlin A2/ˈmɪ.tə/

System

system plural: die Systeme system; period B1/zɪsˈteːm/

langer← lang

long comparative form: länger; here: 'während langer Zeit' = for a long time long; lengthy (in space or time); tall; many (indicating the length of the time in total) A1/laŋ(k)/

Grammar in this text

Separable verbs in present perfect and simple past

Er hat sich einen neuen Weg ausgedacht, um das Welt-All zu erklären.

The separable verb 'ausdenken' appears as past participle 'ausgedacht' with 'hat' in present perfect; the prefix 'aus-' is separated in the participle.

Subordinate clause with 'dass'

Vorher glaubte man, dass sich die Sonne, der Mond und alle Planeten um die Erde drehen.

The conjunction 'dass' introduces a subordinate clause with the finite verb at the end. Here 'drehen' is placed at the end.

Infinitive clause with 'um ... zu'

Er hat sich einen neuen Weg ausgedacht, um das Welt-All zu erklären.

The structure 'um ... zu + infinitive' expresses purpose ('in order to'). The infinitive 'erklären' appears at the end.

Prepositional phrase with genitive

Sie ist aber nicht die Mitte des ganzen Weltalls.

The genitive case is used after 'die Mitte' to indicate possession: 'des ganzen Weltalls' (of the whole universe). The article 'des' and adjective ending '-en' mark the genitive masculine/neuter.

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

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