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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
Of the almost 10,500 heat-related deaths recorded so far this year, the deceased belonged to this age group.
Word for word: In almost 10,500 of the so-far in this year recorded heat-related death cases belonged the deceased to this age group.
Reports that among the roughly 10,500 heat-related deaths registered so far this year, those who died belonged to the age group being discussed; typical of news or statistical reporting.
A prepositional phrase 'in fast 10.500 der ... Todesfälle' fronts the sentence, so the finite verb 'gehörten' stays in second position (verb-second). The past tense is preterite of 'angehören' (dative verb, inseparable prefix an-). The participle 'erfassten' with a weak adjective ending modifies 'Todesfälle', and 'hitzebedingten' likewise takes a mixed ending after 'der' (genitive plural).
Rules at work(8)
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In fast 10.500 ... gehörten die Verstorbenen
The fronted prepositional phrase occupies first position, so the finite verb must come second.
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.
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dieser Altersgruppe
'Angehören' takes its complement in the dative.
The dative marks the indirect object, usually the person something is given, said or shown to. A number of common verbs take a dative object where English would use a direct one, and several prepositions always take it.
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der bislang ... Todesfälle
The numeral phrase 'in fast 10.500 der ...' requires the following noun phrase in the genitive.
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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gehörten
Written narrative/statistical style prefers the simple preterite over the perfect.
The simple past is the written narrative past. In speech it survives mainly in sein, haben and the modals, where hatte and war are far commoner than the perfect forms.
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erfassten
The past participle of 'erfassen' modifies 'Todesfälle' attributively.
Both participles can stand before a noun and take ordinary adjective endings. The past participle is passive in sense, the present participle active: das gekochte Ei against das kochende Wasser.
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erfassten
After the definite-type determiner 'der' the attributive participle takes the weak ending -en.
After a definite article the adjective ending is e in the five nominative and accusative singular slots and en everywhere else, because the article has already shown the case and gender.
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die Verstorbenen
The participle 'verstorben' is substantivized and declined like an adjective.
An adjective can be capitalised and used as a noun, and it goes on taking adjective endings: der Alte, ein Alter, etwas Neues.
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hitzebedingten Todesfälle, Altersgruppe
Both 'hitzebedingt' and 'Altersgruppe' are compounds formed from simpler words.
German builds long nouns by joining shorter ones. The last part carries the gender and the plural, and everything before it modifies what follows, so a compound is read from the right.
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Words(12)
- in
in, into
prepositionA1governs accusative or dative
Dative for location, accusative for direction.
- fast
almost, nearly
adverbA2degree
- 10.500
10,500
numeralB1
German uses a period as thousands separator.
- der
the
determinerA1definite
Appears twice: dative feminine 'der Wirtschaft' and nominative plural 'die Beschlüsse'.
- bislang
so far, until now
adverbB2temporal
- dies
this, that
determinerA1demonstrative
- das Jahr
year
nounA1pl. Jahregen. Jahresstrong declension
- hitzebedingt
heat-related, caused by heat
adjectiveC1
- der Todesfall
case of death, death case
nounB2pl. Todesfällegen. Todesfallesstrong declension
- gehören
belong to
verbA2gehören, gehörte, hat gehörtmit habenweakgoverns dative
Takes the dative: 'Das gehört mir.' Do not confuse with 'hören'.
- der Verstorbene
the deceased, deceased person
nounB1pl. Verstorbenengen. Verstorbenenadjectival declension
- die Altersgruppe
age group
nounB1pl. Altersgruppengen. Altersgruppemixed declension