Reading · C2 · Text 47

Enteignung

59 words1 min read88% known at C2

Zu einer Enteignung gehört allerdings eine Entschädigung: Die Regierung muss dem Eigentümer Geld für das Grundstück bezahlen.
Expropriation, however, entails compensation: the government must pay the owner money for the property.
Das darf nicht zu wenig sein.
This must not be too little.
Manchmal muss der Staat auch helfen, einen guten Ersatz zu finden.
Sometimes the state also has to help find a good replacement.
Allerdings finden Eigentümer meistens, dass sie viel zu wenig für ihr Grundstück bekommen.
However, owners usually find that they get far too little for their property.
Das ist oft der Grund dafür, dass sie es nicht verkaufen wollen.
That is often the reason why they do not want to sell it.

4 words above C2

Enteignung← die Enteignung

expropriation (the taking of private property by the government for public benefit) Plural: die Enteignungen

Grundstück← das Grundstück

piece of land, property Plural: die Grundstücke

Staat← der Staat

state, government Plural: die Staaten

bekommen

to get, receive bekommen, bekam, bekommen

Grammar in this text

Subordinate clause with 'dass' (verb-final)

dass sie viel zu wenig für ihr Grundstück bekommen.

In German, subordinating conjunctions like 'dass' require the finite verb to be placed at the very end of the clause. This is a basic rule for subordinate clauses and is essential for correct word order.

Infinitive phrase with 'zu' after 'helfen'

helfen, einen guten Ersatz zu finden

When 'helfen' is used with an infinitive complement, the infinitive appears with 'zu' and is set off by a comma. The structure is 'helfen, etwas zu tun' (to help do something).

The construction 'der Grund dafür, dass' (anticipatory connection)

Das ist oft der Grund dafür, dass sie es nicht verkaufen wollen.

The prepositional adverb 'dafür' refers forward to the following 'dass'-clause, linking the reason (Grund) to its explanation. This pattern is common in formal German and often used to express causality.

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Same text, graded forC1 version

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

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