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From Kabinettsklausur in Neuhardenberg: Im Trainingslager mit dem Kanzler, tagesschau.de, 26 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
The autumn will be busy, and in its retreat at Neuhardenberg the coalition is already setting deadlines for itself. 'Very soon people will see the basic direction of the policy,' promises Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Word for word: The autumn will work-rich and the coalition sets itself in the retreat in Neuhardenberg already itself deadlines. Very soon will the people the basic-orientation of-the politics see, promises Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
A news report: after a coalition retreat at Neuhardenberg, Chancellor Merz promises that the public will soon see what political course his government is taking; the autumn will be full of work.
Two main clauses joined by 'und', each verb-second. The first uses werden + infinitive (future tense) and a reflexive dative construction (sich etwas setzen). The second sentence contains a quoted statement with future tense, followed by a reporting clause with inverted word order ('verspricht Kanzler Friedrich Merz').
Rules at work(6)
-
Der Herbst wird
In both main clauses the finite verb occupies the second position even when an adverbial like 'Sehr bald' comes first.
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? -
Der Herbst wird arbeitsreich
werden plus infinitive expresses prediction about the coming autumn; note that here werden takes an adjective complement rather than an infinitive, reading as 'will be'.
Werden plus an infinitive at the end of the clause. German uses it less than English does, because the present with a time expression already says the future; werden often carries a shade of prediction or intention rather than simple futurity.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
die Koalition setzt
Subjects Koalition and Menschen stand 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.
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in der Klausur in Neuhardenberg
'in' takes the dative because it describes location, not movement.
An, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor and zwischen take the accusative when the phrase answers where to, and the dative when it answers where. The distinction is movement across a boundary against position, not motion against stillness.
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der Politik
The genitive attribute 'der Politik' specifies what the Grundausrichtung belongs to.
The genitive shows possession and follows a small set of prepositions. Masculine and neuter nouns add s or es. In speech it is often replaced by von plus the dative, but it is alive in writing and in fixed expressions.
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und
'und' joins two independent main clauses without changing word order.
Und, aber, oder, denn and sondern join two main clauses and do not count as an element, so the word order after them is unchanged and the verb stays in second position.
Does this rule belong on this sentence?
Words(25)
- der
the
determinerA1definite
Appears twice: dative feminine 'der Wirtschaft' and nominative plural 'die Beschlüsse'.
- der Herbst
autumn, fall
nounA2pl. Herbstegen. Herbstesstrong declension
- werden
become, will (future auxiliary)
verbA2werden, wurde, ist gewordenmit habenirregular
Also the passive auxiliary; do not confuse with bekommen (= receive).
- arbeitsreich
busy with work, full of work
adjectiveB2arbeitsreicher, am arbeitsreichsten
- und
and
conjunctionA1coordinating
- die
the
determinerA1definite
- die Koalition
coalition
nounB2pl. Koalitionengen. Koalitionweak declension
- setzen
set, place, set oneself something
verbA2setzen, setzte, gesetztmit habenweak
sich (Dativ) etwas setzen = to set oneself something as a goal or deadline.
- sich
himself/herself/themselves, itself
pronounA2reflexive
Always refers back to the subject; here it is fixed to the verb 'sich mehren'.
- in
in, into
prepositionA1governs accusative or dative
Dative for location, accusative for direction.
- die Klausur
closed meeting, retreat, written exam
nounB2pl. Klausurengen. Klausurstrong declension
In politics a closed-door strategy meeting; in education a written exam.
- das Neuhardenberg
Neuhardenberg (town in Brandenburg)
nounC2gen. Neuhardenbergsstrong declension
- schon
already, already now
adverbA1temporal
In other contexts schon is also a modal particle adding reassurance or emphasis.
- selbst
themselves, even
particleB1
- die Deadline
deadline
nounB1pl. Deadlinesgen. Deadlinemixed declension
Anglicism, very common in professional German.
- sehr
very
adverbA1degree
- bald
soon
adverbA1temporal
- der Mensch
human being, person
nounA1pl. Menschengen. Menschenweak declension
Weak n-declension: the genitive singular is Menschen and every plural form is Menschen.
- die Grundausrichtung
basic orientation, fundamental direction
nounC1pl. Grundausrichtungengen. Grundausrichtungmixed declension
- die Politik
politics, policy
nounB1pl. Politikengen. der Politikweak declension
- sehen
to see
verbA1sehen, sah, hat gesehenmit habenstrong
Here figurative: 'jemanden/etwas auf einem guten Weg sehen' means to judge someone as doing well.
- versprechen
promise
verbB1versprechen, versprach, hat versprochenmit habenmixedgoverns dative
Do not confuse with English 'expect'.
- der Kanzler
chancellor
nounB1pl. Kanzlergen. des Kanzlersmixed declension
Usually refers to the German head of government; der Bundeskanzler.
- der Friedrich
Friedrich (male given name)
nounA2pl. Friedrichsgen. Friedrichsinvariable declension
- der Merz
Merz (surname)
nounC1pl. Merzesgen. Merzstrong declension