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Opening sentence of Entlastung der Kommunen: Städtetag fordert Vollversicherung für Pflege, tagesschau.de, 21 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
If one's own money is not enough for a place in a nursing home, the social services office can step in.
Word for word: Suffices the own money not for a place in the old-age home out, can the social welfare office in-step.
A formal statement about care costs: if your own savings cannot cover a nursing-home place, the social welfare office will pay. Typical of informational or legal texts.
A conditional clause without 'wenn' stands first, so its finite verb comes first ('Reicht ... aus'); the main clause follows with verb-second ('kann das Sozialamt'). Both 'aushaben/reichen aus' and 'einspringen' are separable verbs; in the conditional clause the prefix 'aus' moves to the end, while 'einspringen' stays as an infinitive at the end of the main clause.
Rules at work(6)
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Reicht das eigene Geld nicht ... aus, kann das Sozialamt einspringen
The if-clause omits 'wenn', pushing the finite verb to position one, and the main clause answers it.
Wenn introduces a condition and sends its verb to the end. The wenn can be dropped, in which case the verb moves to the front of the clause instead.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
kann das Sozialamt einspringen
After the fronted conditional clause, the finite modal verb still occupies second position in the overall sentence.
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? -
Reicht ... aus / einspringen
'Ausreichen' splits with 'aus' at the end of the clause; 'einspringen' appears as an infinitive after the modal.
Some verbs carry a prefix that detaches in a main clause and moves to the very end: aufstehen becomes Ich stehe um sieben auf. The prefix is stressed, which is what tells a separable prefix from an inseparable one. In a subordinate clause and in the infinitive the verb stays whole.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
kann ... einspringen
'Kann' expresses possibility and takes the infinitive 'einspringen' at the end of the clause.
The six modals können, müssen, dürfen, sollen, wollen and mögen say something about the main verb rather than naming an action. The modal is the finite verb in second position and the main verb goes to the end of the clause as an infinitive.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
im Altenheim
'In' takes the dative here because a location, not movement into, is meant.
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? -
für einen Platz
'Für' always governs the accusative, hence 'einen Platz'.
Durch, für, gegen, ohne and um always take the accusative, whatever they mean and whatever follows them.
Does this rule belong on this sentence?
Words(13)
- reichen
to suffice (with aus), to reach, to hand over
verbB1ausreichen, reichte aus, hat ausgereichtmit habenseparableweak
Here used as the separable verb 'ausreichen' = to be enough; with 'aus' the prefix separates to the end of the clause.
- das
the
determinerA1definite
- eigen
own
adjectiveA2eigner, am eignesten
Usually used with a possessive: die eigene Wichtigkeit = 'its own importance'.
- das Geld
money
nounA1pl. Geldergen. Geldesstrong declension
- nicht
not
particleA1
- für
for
prepositionA1governs accusative
Here für Dienstag names the day the forecast applies to, not a beneficiary.
- ein
a, an, one
determinerA1indefinite
The form einer here is dative feminine singular, not the pronoun meaning 'one'.
- der Platz
place, spot, square, seat
nounA2pl. Plätzegen. Platzesstrong declension
- im
in the
prepositionA1governs dative
Fixed fusion of in + dem; the dative is built in.
- das Altenheim
old people's home, retirement home
nounB1pl. Altenheimegen. Altenheimsstrong declension
- können
can, be able to, may, might (as könnte)
verbA1können, konnte, hat gekonntmit habenmodal
könnte is the Konjunktiv II and softens a claim into a possibility.
- das Sozialamt
social welfare office
nounB2pl. Sozialämtergen. Sozialamtsstrong declension
- einspringen
to step in, to cover for someone, to foot the bill
verbB2einspringen, sprang ein, ist eingesprungenmit seinseparablestrong
Separable verb: 'Er springt ein.' Here figurative: to cover costs as a last resort.