Asking the model to read this sentence.
A sentence nobody has read before takes a minute or two, because it means asking a language model. Nothing is lost if you leave this page: the address keeps the result.
From Schätzungen zu Todesfällen: Robert Koch-Institut meldet 14.000 Hitzetote, tagesschau.de, 20 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
From the age of 75 onwards, excess mortality from heat rises sharply.
Word for word: From an age of 75 rises the excess-mortality through heat strongly up.
Used in epidemiological or news contexts to state that heat-related deaths above the expected baseline increase markedly once people reach 75 years of age.
A declarative main clause with the verb in second position; the fronted prepositional phrase 'Ab einem Alter von 75' occupies the first field, so the finite verb 'steigt' follows immediately, and the separable prefix 'an' is sent to the end of the clause. The subject 'die Übersterblichkeit' is feminine nominative singular with a weak adjective ending on the definite article.
Rules at work(6)
-
Ab einem Alter von 75 steigt die Übersterblichkeit
The fronted time phrase fills the first position, forcing the finite verb into second position.
In a German main clause the finite verb is always the second element. The first element can be the subject, but it can just as easily be a time expression, an object or a whole subordinate clause; whatever it is, it counts as one element and the verb follows it. This is why putting something other than the subject first pushes the subject after the verb.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
steigt ... an
'ansteigen' is separable, so its prefix 'an' moves to the end of the main clause.
Some verbs carry a prefix that detaches in a main clause and moves to the very end: aufstehen becomes Ich stehe um sieben auf. The prefix is stressed, which is what tells a separable prefix from an inseparable one. In a subordinate clause and in the infinitive the verb stays whole.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
die Übersterblichkeit ... steigt
The third-person singular subject requires the -t ending on 'steigt'.
The finite verb takes an ending that matches its subject in person and number. The endings for regular verbs in the present are e, st, t, en, t, en.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
die Übersterblichkeit
The subject of 'ansteigen' stands in the nominative.
The nominative marks the subject of the clause: whoever or whatever is doing the verb. It is also the case used after the verbs sein, werden and bleiben, so both sides of Das ist mein Bruder stand in the nominative.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
Ab einem Alter von 75
'ab' and 'von' both govern the dative, hence 'einem Alter'.
Aus, außer, bei, mit, nach, seit, von and zu always take the dative. Several of them contract with the article: von dem becomes vom, zu der becomes zur.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
durch Hitze
'durch' expressing cause governs the accusative.
Durch, für, gegen, ohne and um always take the accusative, whatever they mean and whatever follows them.
Does this rule belong on this sentence?
Words(12)
- ab
from (a point in time), as of, off
prepositionA2governs dative
With times and ages it takes dative: 'ab einem Alter von 75'.
- ein
a, an, one
determinerA1indefinite
The form einer here is dative feminine singular, not the pronoun meaning 'one'.
- das Alter
age
nounA2pl. Altergen. Altersstrong declension
- von
from, of, by
prepositionA1governs dative
Used here to mark authorship, like 'by' in English credits.
- 75
seventy-five
numeralA1
- steigen
to rise, to climb, to increase
verbB1steigen, stieg, ist gestiegenmit seinstrong
Used both literally (climbing) and figuratively for numbers and prices rising.
- die
the
determinerA1definite
- die Übersterblichkeit
excess mortality, mortality above the expected baseline
nounC1pl. Übersterblichkeitengen. Übersterblichkeitmixed declension
Technical term from epidemiology and statistics; -keit nouns are always feminine.
- durch
through, by means of
prepositionA2governs accusative
With the passive, 'durch' names the actual agent, unlike 'von'.
- die Hitze
heat, hot weather
nounA2pl. Hitzengen. der Hitzestrong declension
For a heatwave German usually says die Hitze or eine Hitzewelle.
- stark
strong, powerful
adjectiveA1stärker, am stärksten
- an|steigen
prefix of ansteigen
verbB2ansteigen, stieg an, ist angestiegenmit seinseparablestrong