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 Eröffnung in Cochstedt: Forschungszentrum soll Drohnenabwehr verbessern, tagesschau.de, 18 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
In addition, up to 40 new jobs are to be created.
Word for word: Moreover shall up to 40 new workplaces arise.
Typical journalistic or business-report style announcing that as many as 40 new jobs are expected to be created, often in news about company investments. The modal sollen signals reported or expected future development rather than a certainty.
A main clause with verb-second word order. The finite modal verb sollen (3rd person plural present of sollen) stands in position two, followed by the subject-less passive-like construction with the infinitive entstehen. The sentence has no explicit subject; the logical subject is the expected jobs, expressed through the modal passive meaning of sollen plus intransitive entstehen. Bis zu is a fixed quantifying phrase governing the numeral 40, which modifies the accusative plural noun phrase neue Arbeitsplätze.
Rules at work(6)
-
Zudem sollen
The finite verb sollen occupies the second position after the initial adverb zudem.
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? -
sollen ... entstehen
The modal sollen takes a bare infinitive at the end of the clause and here expresses reported expectation.
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? -
sollen
In journalistic style sollen signals that the claim is reported or expected rather than asserted as fact.
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? -
neue Arbeitsplätze
The noun phrase is in the accusative plural, the default case for the logical object of the expected creation.
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? -
Arbeitsplätze
Arbeitsplatz is masculine; the plural form Arbeitsplätze shows the umlaut plural.
Every German noun is masculine, feminine or neuter. The gender is a property of the word rather than of the thing it names, and it decides the form of every article, adjective and pronoun that refers to it, so it has to be learned with the noun.
Does this rule belong on this sentence? -
Arbeitsplätze
Arbeitsplatz is a compound of Arbeit and Platz.
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(8)
- zudem
moreover, in addition
adverbB2conjunctional
Adds a further argument to what was said before; typical of written argumentation rather than casual speech.
- sollen
should, to be supposed to
verbA2sollen, sollte, gesolltmit habenmodal
In reporting, 'soll' signals that something is planned or claimed rather than fact.
- bis
until, to, as far as
prepositionA1governs accusative or dative
Alone it takes the accusative ('bis Montag'); with 'zu' it means 'up to and including' and follows the dative.
- zu
to, at, too
prepositionA1governs dative
With verbs of movement it takes dative even though motion is involved.
- 40
forty
numeralA1
- neu
new
adjectiveA1
- der Arbeitsplatz
job, workplace
nounB1pl. Arbeitsplätzegen. Arbeitsplatzesstrong declension
- entstehen
to arise, to come into being, to be created
verbB2entstehen, entstand, ist entstandenmit seinstrong
Intransitive verb with sein; things 'entstehen' rather than being created by a named agent.