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From Robert Koch-Institut: Vier von zehn Erwachsenen schlafen zu wenig, tagesschau.de, 20 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
Above all, one group is affected, as a study shows.
Word for word: Before all one group is affected, as an investigation shows.
Used in news or report style to single out which group is affected by something, citing a study as the source.
The front-field is filled by the fixed phrase 'vor allem' for emphasis, so the finite verb 'ist' stays in second position and the subject 'eine Gruppe' follows it. 'betroffen' is the past participle of 'betreffen' used predicatively as an adjective with 'sein'. The comparative 'wie'-clause is a subordinate clause with verb-final 'zeigt'.
Rules at work(6)
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Vor allem eine Gruppe ist betroffen
The front field is filled by 'vor allem eine Gruppe', so the finite verb 'ist' must occupy second position.
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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ist betroffen
The past participle of 'betreffen' functions as a predicative adjective with 'sein'.
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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wie eine Untersuchung zeigt
After the subordinating conjunction 'wie' the finite verb 'zeigt' moves to the end of the clause.
In a subordinate clause the finite verb stands last. Where the clause also holds a participle or an infinitive, the finite verb goes after them, so the order at the end is participle then auxiliary.
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ist betroffen ... zeigt
Both clauses use the present tense to state a current fact.
The present describes what is happening now, what happens habitually, and very often what is going to happen, since German uses the present with a time expression where English would use a future.
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eine Gruppe ist betroffen
'eine Gruppe' is the subject of 'sein' and therefore nominative.
The nominative marks the subject of the clause: whoever or whatever is doing the verb. It is also the case used after the verbs sein, werden and bleiben, so both sides of Das ist mein Bruder stand in the nominative.
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eine Gruppe ... eine Untersuchung
Both nouns are introduced by the indefinite article 'eine', declined feminine nominative.
Ein and eine decline like the definite article except that the masculine nominative and the neuter nominative and accusative carry no ending. Kein and the possessives follow exactly the same pattern.
Does this rule belong on this sentence?
Words(9)
- vor
before, in front of, ago
prepositionA1governs dative
With clock time ('vor 7 Uhr') it means 'before' and takes no visible case change.
- alles
everything, all
pronounA1indefinite
Grammatically singular despite its meaning: 'alles war', not 'alles waren'.
- ein
a, an, one
determinerA1indefinite
The form einer here is dative feminine singular, not the pronoun meaning 'one'.
- die Gruppe
group
nounA1pl. Gruppengen. Gruppeweak declension
- sein
to be
verbA1sein, war, ist gewesenmit seinirregular
Copula here linking subject to predicate noun.
- betroffen
affected, concerned
adjectiveB1
Often used predicatively with 'sein': 'X ist betroffen' = X is affected. Also means 'disturbed/concerned' about something.
- wie
like, as, how
conjunctionA1subordinating
Here introducing an example, equivalent to 'such as'.
- die Untersuchung
study, investigation, examination
nounB1pl. Untersuchungengen. Untersuchungmixed declension
- zeigen
to show, to point
verbA2zeigen, zeigte, hat gezeigtmit habenweak
In 'sich zeigen + adjective' it means 'to appear/prove to be', not literally 'to show something'.