B1statement10 words3 rules

Second sentence of Merz in der Sommerpause: Das Schweigen des Kanzlers, tagesschau.de, 19 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.

Underline shows

Meaning

Yet Chancellor Merz remains remarkably calm - and watches.

Word for word: Yet Chancellor Merz stays astonishingly calm - and observes.

Used in journalistic prose to say that despite something (previously mentioned), Chancellor Merz stays calm and simply observes events.

A statement with verb-second word order; the sentence begins with 'Doch', so the finite verb 'bleibt' comes second and the subject follows. Two present-tense verbs are coordinated by 'und', with the second ('beobachtet') sharing the subject. 'ruhig' is a predicative adjective after the linking verb 'bleiben', so it takes no ending.

Rules at work(3)

Words(7)

doch
yet, nevertheless, still

adverbA2modal

Sentence-initial doch signals contrast with what was said before, not the answer 'yes it is'.
der Kanzler
chancellor

nounB1pl. Kanzlergen. des Kanzlersmixed declension

Usually refers to the German head of government; der Bundeskanzler.
der Merz
Merz (surname)

nounC1pl. Merzesgen. Merzstrong declension
bleiben
stay, remain

verbA2bleiben, blieb, ist gebliebenmit seinstrong

Takes sein in the perfect, not haben.
ruhig
calm, quiet

adjectiveA2ruhiger, am ruhigsten
und
and

conjunctionA1coordinating
beobachten
to observe, to watch

verbB1beobachten, beobachtete, hat beobachtetmit habenweakgoverns accusative

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Take a German sentence apart.

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Take a German sentence apart.

What comes back

Doch Kanzler Merz bleibt erstaunlich ruhig- und beobachtet.

Meaning

Rules at work(3)

Words(7)

Read today's news

My words

The lexicon

Grammar rules

How it works

You paste a sentence

A model reads it

Rules get linked

It is stored for good

What you are looking at

Every word, and why it is that shape

Then the rules that put it there

Questions

Account

Admin

API key

The backend

Reported facts

People