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.
Second sentence of Naturschutzgebiet Hohes Venn: Löscharbeiten in Belgien - Brandgeruch in Köln, tagesschau.de, 18 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
The citizens in the border town of Monschau are to stay in their houses; the smell of burning is perceptible as far away as Cologne and Wuppertal.
Word for word: The citizens in the border town Monschau shall in their houses stay, the smell-of-burning is as-far-as Cologne and Wuppertal perceivable.
A news-style report: residents of Monschau are being told to remain indoors (presumably because of a fire), and the smoke smell reaches cities far away.
Two main clauses joined by a comma. The first uses the modal verb 'sollen' with an infinitive at the end of the clause to express an instruction or expectation. The second is a simple present-tense copula sentence with 'wahrnehmbar' as a predicative adjective.
Rules at work(5)
-
sollen ... bleiben
The modal 'sollen' is conjugated in second position while the infinitive 'bleiben' goes to the end, expressing an instruction.
The six modals können, müssen, dürfen, sollen, wollen and mögen say something about the main verb rather than naming an action. The modal is the finite verb in second position and the main verb goes to the end of the clause as an infinitive.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
Die Bürger ... sollen
In both main clauses the finite verb stands in second position after the fronted subject phrase.
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? -
in der Grenzstadt
'in' takes dative for static location but accusative for movement ('in ihren Häusern' as goal).
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.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
ihren Häusern
The possessive determiner 'ihr' takes the mixed ending -en in accusative plural.
Mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer and Ihr take their stem from the owner and their ending from the thing owned, which is why seine Mutter and ihr Vater are the way they are.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
Der Brandgeruch ist
Singular subject 'Brandgeruch' agrees with third-person singular 'ist'.
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?
Words(16)
- der
the
determinerA1definite
Appears twice: dative feminine 'der Wirtschaft' and nominative plural 'die Beschlüsse'.
- der Bürger
citizen, burgher
nounB1pl. Bürgergen. Bürgersmixed declension
- in
in, into
prepositionA1governs accusative or dative
Dative for location, accusative for direction.
- die Grenzstadt
border town
nounB2pl. Grenzstädtegen. Grenzstadtmixed declension
- das Monschau
Monschau (town in the Eifel)
nounC1gen. Monschausinvariable declension
- sollen
should, to be supposed to
verbA2sollen, sollte, gesolltmit habenmodal
In reporting, 'soll' signals that something is planned or claimed rather than fact.
- ihr
their, her
determinerA2possessive
Refers to feminine or plural possessors; here 'its' (the commission's).
- das Haus
house
nounA1pl. Häusergen. Hausesstrong declension
- bleiben
stay, remain
verbA2bleiben, blieb, ist gebliebenmit seinstrong
Takes sein in the perfect, not haben.
- der Brandgeruch
smell of burning, smoke smell
nounC1pl. Brandgerüchegen. Brandgeruchsstrong declension
- sein
to be
verbA1sein, war, ist gewesenmit seinirregular
Copula here linking subject to predicate noun.
- bis
until, to, as far as
prepositionA1governs accusative or dative
Alone it takes the accusative ('bis Montag'); with 'zu' it means 'up to and including' and follows the dative.
- Köln
Cologne
nounA2
- und
and
conjunctionA1coordinating
- Wuppertal
Wuppertal (city in North Rhine-Westphalia)
nounC1
- wahrnehmbar
perceptible, noticeable
adjectiveC1wahrnehmbarer, am wahrnehmbarsten