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.
From Neuer Vorstoß auf EU-Ebene: Klingbeil fordert Übergewinnsteuer für Ölkonzerne, tagesschau.de, 22 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
According to the aid organisation Oxfam, the six largest fossil-fuel companies – BP, Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies – are expected to nearly double their net profit in the second quarter compared with the first quarter of 2026: from 23 billion US dollars to 45 billion US dollars.
Word for word: According-to the aid-organisation Oxfam will the six largest fossil energy-companies – BP, Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies – their net-profit in the second in-the comparison to-the first quarter 2026 predictably almost double: from 23 billions US dollars to 45 billions US dollars.
A news-style statement reporting Oxfam's forecast that the world's six biggest oil and gas companies are expected to roughly double their quarterly net profit between Q1 and Q2 of 2026, rising from 23 to 45 billion dollars.
The sentence opens with the prepositional phrase 'Laut der Hilfsorganisation Oxfam' (laut + dative), so the finite verb 'werden' stays in second position and the plural subject 'die sechs größten fossilen Energie-Konzerne' follows. The future tense is formed with the auxiliary 'werden' plus the infinitive 'verdoppeln' at the end, combined with 'voraussichtlich' to express a prediction. The direct object 'ihren Nettogewinn' is accusative masculine. The inserted apposition between dashes names the six companies. 'im zweiten' elliptically repeats 'Quartal', and 'im Vergleich zum ersten Quartal 2026' uses fixed dative phrases ('in + dative', 'zu + dative'). The closing colon introduces the figures with 'von … auf …' expressing change from one amount to another.
Rules at work(9)
-
Laut der Hilfsorganisation Oxfam werden die sechs größten fossilen Energie-Konzerne
The fronted prepositional phrase occupies first position, pushing the finite verb 'werden' into second place while the subject follows.
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? -
werden … voraussichtlich fast verdoppeln
'Werden' plus the final infinitive 'verdoppeln' forms the future tense, and 'voraussichtlich' marks it as a prediction rather than a plan.
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 sechs größten fossilen Energie-Konzerne werden
The finite verb 'werden' shows third-person plural agreement with the plural subject.
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? -
ihren Nettogewinn
'Nettogewinn' is the direct object of 'verdoppeln' and therefore stands in the accusative, shown by the '-en' on 'ihren'.
The accusative marks the direct object: the thing the action is done to. Only the masculine changes visibly, from der to den and from ein to einen, which is why the masculine is where accusative errors show.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
größten fossilen Energie-Konzerne
After the definite article 'die', both attributive adjectives take the weak '-en' ending throughout the plural.
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.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
sechs größten
'Größten' is the superlative of 'groß', identifying the largest companies within a group.
German adds er and st rather than using more and most, however long the adjective. Many one syllable adjectives take an umlaut, and the superlative before a noun takes an ordinary adjective ending while a standalone one uses am plus sten.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
im zweiten
'Im' (in + dem) takes the dative because it locates an event in time rather than expressing 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.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
Laut der Hilfsorganisation Oxfam
'Laut' governs the dative (or genitive) and requires the dative form 'der Hilfsorganisation' here.
Aus, außer, bei, mit, nach, seit, von and zu always take the dative. Several of them contract with the article: von dem becomes vom, zu der becomes zur.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
Hilfsorganisation, Energie-Konzerne, Nettogewinn
Three compounds show how German strings nouns together, with gender determined by the final element.
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.
Does this rule belong on this sentence?
Words(31)
- laut
according to, per
prepositionB1governs dative
In journalistic German often followed by dative in practice despite being genitive.
- der
the
determinerA1definite
Appears twice: dative feminine 'der Wirtschaft' and nominative plural 'die Beschlüsse'.
- die Hilfsorganisation
aid organisation, charity
nounB1pl. Hilfsorganisationengen. Hilfsorganisationmixed declension
- Oxfam
Oxfam (British charity)
nounC1
- werden
become, will (future auxiliary)
verbA2werden, wurde, ist gewordenmit habenirregular
Also the passive auxiliary; do not confuse with bekommen (= receive).
- sechs
six
numeralA1
- groß
big, great
adjectiveA1größer, am größten / das größte
- fossil
fossil, fossil-based
adjectiveC1fossiler, am fossilsten
- der Energie-Konzern
energy corporation, energy group
nounB2pl. Energiekonzernegen. Energiekonzernsmixed declension
- BP
BP (oil company)
nounC1
- Chevron
Chevron (oil company)
nounC1
- Eni
Eni (Italian oil company)
nounC1
- ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil (US oil company)
nounC1
- Shell
Shell (oil company), shell
nounB1
- und
and
conjunctionA1coordinating
- TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies (French energy company)
nounC1
- ihr
their, her
determinerA2possessive
Refers to feminine or plural possessors; here 'its' (the commission's).
- der Nettogewinn
net profit, net income
nounC1pl. Nettogewinnegen. Nettogewinnsmixed declension
- in
in, into
prepositionA1governs accusative or dative
Dative for location, accusative for direction.
- zweite
second
adjectiveA2
- der Vergleich
comparison
nounB1pl. Vergleichegen. Vergleichsmixed declension
Fixed phrase zum Vergleich means 'for comparison, by way of comparison'.
- zu
to, at, too
prepositionA1governs dative
With verbs of movement it takes dative even though motion is involved.
- erste
first
adjectiveA2
- das Quartal
quarter (three-month period)
nounB1pl. Quartalegen. Quartalsstrong declension
- voraussichtlich
presumably, expectedly, likely
adverbB2modal
Very frequent in news reporting to mark forecasts.
- fast
almost, nearly
adverbA2degree
- verdoppeln
to double
verbB2verdoppeln, verdoppelte, hat verdoppeltmit habenweak
- von
from, of, by
prepositionA1governs dative
Used here to mark authorship, like 'by' in English credits.
- die Milliarde
billion
nounB1pl. Milliardengen. Milliardemixed declension
German 'Milliarde' = English billion (10^9), not milliard confusion.
- der US-Dollar
US dollar
nounA2pl. US-Dollargen. US-Dollarsmixed declension
- auf
on, onto
prepositionA1governs accusative or dative
Location takes the dative, movement towards the accusative.