Reading · C2 · Text 28

Scheidung

66 words1 min read89% known at C2

Bei der Scheidung müssen noch viele Dinge geregelt werden.

In a divorce, many things still need to be settled.

Wenn die ehemaligen Partner Kinder haben, entscheidet der Richter, bei wem die Kinder bleiben.

If the former partners have children, the judge decides which parent the children will live with.

Das Geld der ehemaligen Partner wird oft aufgeteilt, und der reichere der Partner muss dem ärmeren immer noch etwas jeden Monat bezahlen, den Unterhalt.

The former partners' assets are often divided, and the richer partner must pay the poorer partner a monthly amount, known as alimony.

Für die ehemaligen Partner, für und Kinder, aber auch für Familie und Freunde, ist eine Scheidung etwas sehr Trauriges.

For the former partners, for the children, but also for family and friends, a divorce is something very sad.

4 words above C2

Dinge← das Ding
things, matters Plural form; used in the phrase 'viele Dinge' (many things).
Partner
partner (in a marriage/relationship) Plural unchanged; here the plural form refers to both former spouses.
Unterhalt
maintenance, alimony (regular payment) No plural; in the text: 'den Unterhalt' (accusative object of 'bezahlen').
reichere← reich
richer, wealthier (comparative) Comparative form of 'reich'; declined weak after 'der': 'der reichere'.

Grammar in this text

Passive with modal verb

Bei der Scheidung müssen noch viele Dinge geregelt werden.

The modal verb 'müssen' is finite, while the passive is formed by 'Partizip II + werden' at the end of the sentence. The subject is 'viele Dinge'; 'geregelt werden' functions as an infinitive passive.

Indirect question with verb-final order

entscheidet der Richter, bei wem die Kinder bleiben

An embedded question introduced by a preposition + interrogative pronoun ('bei wem') has the finite verb ('bleiben') at the end of the clause.

Substantivized adjectives

der reichere der Partner

Adjectives like 'reichere' (comparative of 'reich') are used as nouns, meaning 'the richer one'. They take weak adjective endings after the definite article and can be followed by a genitive attribute ('der Partner').

Keep going

Same text, graded forA1 versionC1 version

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

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