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What is the grammar in this sentence?

German Language Asked by user44591 on October 25, 2021

This is a sentence for Donna Leon’s Acqua Alta, chapter 18:

Stattdessen fragte er: »Besteht die Chance, sie heute noch zu bekommen

Now, I would expect this sentence would be written more like this:

Stattdessen fragte er: "Besteht die Chance, dass Sie sie heute bekommen können?"

I do not recognize the grammar that permits the first version. Can someone explain?

One Answer

A phrase like

…, sie heute noch zu bekommen

can be referred to as uneingeleiteter Infinitivsatz (infinitive clause without subjunction). In

… die Chance, sie heute noch zu bekommen

it is used attributiv (attributively, like a relative clause is). Uneingeleitete Infinitivsätze, however, can also be Inhaltssätze, i.e. serve as the subject or object of another sentence:

  • Sie heute noch zu bekommen ist unmöglich (Subjektsatz)
  • Ich glaube, sie heute noch zu bekommen (Objektsatz)

All Infinitivsätze have in common that they have no subject and obiously no finite verb.

Oftentimes, Infinitivsätze can be transferred into dass-clauses and vice versa. However, in both directions it's not always possible. This, e.g., was asked here.

Answered by amadeusamadeus on October 25, 2021

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