GermanSentence

B2statement24 words9 rules

From Bis mindestens März 2027: Grenzkontrollen sollen erneut verlängert werden, tagesschau.de, 18 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.

Underline shows

Meaning

Although the borders within the EU are actually supposed to be open, checks have been carried out again at all German external borders since 16 September 2024.

Word for word: Although the borders within of-the EU actually open be shall, is since the 16th September 2024 again at all German external-borders controlled.

It states that despite the EU principle of open internal borders, Germany has been re-imposing border controls at its external borders since that date. Typical of news reporting.

The sentence opens with a concessive subordinate clause introduced by 'obwohl', which pushes the finite modal verb 'sollen' to the end; the infinitive 'sein' sits before it in a double-infinitive style construction. The main clause is a present-tense passive ('wird ... kontrolliert') with no expressed agent. 'seit' governs the dative ('dem 16. September'), as does 'an' here for location ('an allen deutschen Außengrenzen').

Rules at work(9)

Words(22)

  • obwohl

    although, even though

    conjunctionA2subordinating

    Sends the finite verb to the end of its clause.

  • die

    the

    determinerA1definite

  • die Grenze

    border, boundary

    nounA2pl. Grenzengen. Grenzemixed declension

    Fixed pattern: die Grenze zu + dative = border with.

  • innerhalb

    within, inside

    prepositionB2governs genitive

    Always genitive; can also be temporal ('within two weeks').

  • der

    the

    determinerA1definite

    Appears twice: dative feminine 'der Wirtschaft' and nominative plural 'die Beschlüsse'.

  • die EU

    EU (European Union)

    nounA2pl. —gen. EUinvariable declension

  • eigentlich

    actually, in fact, really

    adverbB1modal

    Signals a contrast between expectation and reality.

  • offen

    open

    adjectiveA1offener, am offensten

  • sein

    to be

    verbA1sein, war, ist gewesenmit seinirregular

    Copula here linking subject to predicate noun.

  • sollen

    should, to be supposed to

    verbA2sollen, sollte, gesolltmit habenmodal

    In reporting, 'soll' signals that something is planned or claimed rather than fact.

  • werden

    become, will (future auxiliary)

    verbA2werden, wurde, ist gewordenmit habenirregular

    Also the passive auxiliary; do not confuse with bekommen (= receive).

  • seit

    since, for

    prepositionA2governs dative

    With time spans German uses 'seit' + present tense where English uses perfect: 'seit 13 Jahren' = 'for 13 years'.

  • dem

    the, to the

    determinerA1definite

  • 16.

    16th

    numeralA1

  • der September

    September

    nounA1pl. Septembergen. Septembersstrong declension

  • 2024

    2024

    numeralA1

  • wieder

    again, once more

    adverbA1temporal

    Do not confuse with wider 'against'.

  • an

    on, at, by

    prepositionA1governs accusative or dative

    Dative for points in time and location (am Montag), accusative for direction.

  • all

    all, every

    determinerA1quantifier

  • deutsch

    German

    adjectiveA1deutscher, am deutschesten

  • die Außengrenze

    external border

    nounB2pl. Außengrenzengen. Außengrenzemixed declension

  • kontrollieren

    to check, to control, to inspect

    verbB1kontrollieren, kontrollierte, hat kontrolliertmit habenweak

    False friend: usually means 'to check/inspect', not just 'to control'.