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 Kurs der Bundesregierung: "Klimapolitik von der Kür zur Pflicht machen", tagesschau.de, 20 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
What lessons should we draw from this summer with regard to climate policy?
Word for word: Which lessons should we with a view to the climate policy from this summer draw?
The speaker asks, typically in journalistic or political discussion, what conclusions society or politicians ought to reach about climate policy based on the experiences of this (past) summer, e.g. heatwaves or floods.
A w-question with the interrogative determiner 'welche' modifying the plural noun 'Lehren', which is the direct object in accusative. The modal verb 'sollen' is conjugated for first person plural and stands in second position; the lexical verb 'ziehen' appears as an infinitive at the end of the clause, forming the standard modal-verb double-infinitive structure. The prepositional phrases 'mit Blick auf die Klimapolitik' (accusative after 'auf') and 'aus diesem Sommer' (dative after 'aus') are inserted between subject and final verb.
Rules at work(7)
-
Welche Lehren sollten wir ... ziehen?
The interrogative determiner 'Welche' opens the question and the finite verb follows immediately in second position.
Wer, was, wo, wann, wie, warum and the rest fill the first position, and the finite verb follows in second place as in any statement. Wer and was decline for case, giving wen and wem.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
sollten wir ... ziehen
The modal 'sollten' takes the infinitive 'ziehen' 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? -
Welche Lehren sollten wir
Even though the question begins with a phrase rather than a single pronoun, the finite verb 'sollten' still occupies 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.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
sollten
Subjunctive II 'sollten' expresses a recommendation or deliberation rather than a hard obligation.
A modal can say how sure the speaker is rather than what is permitted or possible. Er muss krank sein means he must be ill in the sense of a deduction, and sollen reports what others claim.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
mit Blick auf die Klimapolitik
'Auf' here takes the accusative 'die Klimapolitik' within the fixed phrase 'mit Blick auf'.
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? -
aus diesem Sommer
'Aus' always governs the dative, hence 'diesem Sommer'.
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? -
Klimapolitik
The noun is a compound of 'Klima' and 'Politik', feminine like its head.
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(13)
- welch
which, what
determinerA2interrogative
- die Lehre
lesson, teaching, doctrine
nounB2pl. Lehrengen. Lehrestrong declension
In the plural 'Lehren ziehen' means 'to draw lessons/conclusions', not 'teachers' (that is 'Lehrer').
- sollen
should, to be supposed to
verbA2sollen, sollte, gesolltmit habenmodal
In reporting, 'soll' signals that something is planned or claimed rather than fact.
- wir
we
pronounA1personal
- mit
with, by (means of transport)
prepositionA1governs dative
Always dative, including travel: 'mit dem Bus, mit dem Rad'.
- der Blick
glance, look, view
nounB1pl. Blickegen. Blickesstrong declension
'Mit Blick auf + accusative' is a formal set phrase meaning 'with regard to'.
- auf
on, onto
prepositionA1governs accusative or dative
Location takes the dative, movement towards the accusative.
- der
the
determinerA1definite
Appears twice: dative feminine 'der Wirtschaft' and nominative plural 'die Beschlüsse'.
- die Klimapolitik
climate policy
nounB2pl. Klimapolitikengen. Klimapolitikmixed declension
- aus
out of, from, made of
prepositionA1governs dative
- dies
this, that
determinerA1demonstrative
- der Sommer
summer
nounA1pl. Sommergen. des Sommersstrong declension
- ziehen
to pull, to draw, to move
verbA2ziehen, zog, gezogenmit habenweak
In 'Lehren ziehen aus etwas (+ dative)' it means 'to draw lessons from something', not literally 'to pull'.