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Second sentence of SPD-Vorstoß zu Klimaanpassung: Rückt eine Grundgesetzänderung näher?, tagesschau.de, 17 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
But the Union reacts sceptically.
Word for word: Yet the Union reacts sceptically.
Used in news or political reporting to say that, despite something previously mentioned, the CDU/CSU (or a union) responds with scepticism.
A simple main-clause statement in the present tense. 'Doch' is a coordinating conjunction meaning 'but/yet' and occupies position 0; the finite verb 'reagiert' stands in second position, agreeing with the singular subject 'die Union'. The adjective 'skeptisch' is used adverbially, so it takes no ending.
Rules at work(4)
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Doch die Union reagiert
The conjunction 'doch' fills position 0, so the finite verb 'reagiert' must come immediately after it in 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? -
die Union reagiert
The singular feminine subject 'die Union' takes the third-person singular form 'reagiert'.
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? -
reagiert
News reporting commonly uses the present tense to describe current reactions.
The present describes what is happening now, what happens habitually, and very often what is going to happen, since German uses the present with a time expression where English would use a future.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
die Union
The subject of the sentence appears in the nominative case.
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?
Words(5)
- doch
yet, but, however
conjunctionA2coordinating
As a sentence-initial connector it signals contrast with what was said before; it does not mean English 'doch' of affirmative answers.
- die
the
determinerA1definite
- die Union
the Union (CDU/CSU), union
nounB2pl. Unionengen. der Unionweak declension
In German politics, 'die Union' means the CDU and CSU together.
- reagieren
to react, to respond
verbB1reagieren, reagierte, hat reagiertmit habenweak
Fixed pattern reagieren auf + accusative.
- skeptisch
sceptical, skeptical
adjectiveB1skeptischer, am skeptischsten