Adjusting Screen Sharing for Clarity | Learn German in English

Sentence explanations

1. Dein Bildschirm ist sichtbar, aber der Text in der Tabelle wirkt ziemlich klein.

   Your screen is visible, but the spreadsheet text looks rather small.

   Dein

   your

   Bildschirm

   screen

   sichtbar

   visible

   Text

   text

   Tabelle

   table; spreadsheet

   wirkt

   looks; seems

   ziemlich

   rather; quite

   klein

   small

   More detail

   Dein Bildschirm means “your screen.” Dein is the possessive determiner for “your”; here it has the form used with a masculine singular noun in the nominative, because Bildschirm is the subject. Possessive determiners take forms according to the noun phrase’s grammatical features: compare dein Bildschirm with deine Tabelle (your spreadsheet/table). Bildschirm is a masculine noun meaning “screen.” Its plural is Bildschirme. The compound noun Bildschirm is the actual word for a screen or display in this sentence. sichtbar means “visible.” It is a predicate adjective after ist, so it has no adjective ending here. The adjective describes the screen’s state: Der Bildschirm ist sichtbar. — “The screen is visible.” Text means “text.” It is a masculine noun; in this sentence it is the subject of wirkt, not the screen. A useful related compound is Bildschirmtext, “screen text,” though the source uses the simple noun Text. in der Tabelle means “in the spreadsheet.” in expresses a location here, so the noun phrase takes the dative: der Tabelle is the dative form of feminine die Tabelle. In this context, Tabelle is understood as “spreadsheet,” as fixed by the translation; in other contexts it can mean a table or chart. wirkt is the third-person singular present form of wirken, “to seem” or “to look.” The subject is der Text: Der Text wirkt klein. — “The text looks small.” With an adjective such as klein, wirken describes an appearance or impression rather than an action performed on something. ziemlich is an adverb meaning “rather” or “quite.” It modifies klein and makes the assessment moderately stronger: ziemlich klein means “rather small.” klein means “small.” Here it is a predicate adjective after wirkt, so it remains uninflected. Its comparative is kleiner (“smaller”), and its superlative is commonly am kleinsten (“the smallest” or “smallest,” depending on the sentence). Together, Dein Bildschirm ist sichtbar says that the other person’s screen is visible. aber introduces a contrast, and der Text in der Tabelle wirkt ziemlich klein says that the text located in the spreadsheet appears rather small. The complete meaning is: “Your screen is visible, but the spreadsheet text looks rather small.”

2. Ich kann aber hineinzoomen.

   I can zoom in, though.

   Ich kann

   I can

   aber

   though

   hineinzoomen

   zoom in

   More detail

   Ich kann: Here Ich is the first-person singular subject, “I”. kann is the present-tense first-person singular form of können (“can; be able to”). The useful pattern is Ich kann + infinitive: the modal verb is conjugated, while the other verb stays in the infinitive, usually at the end. Example: Ich kann warten. — “I can wait.” aber: This is a coordinating contrast word meaning “but” or, as here, “though”. It presents the ability as a qualification or contrast to what has just been said. Example: Es ist klein, aber lesbar. — “It is small, but readable.” hineinzoomen: This means “zoom in”. It is the infinitive of hineinzoomen; the element hinein- contributes the idea of moving inward. In a simple present-tense sentence without a modal, the verb can split: Ich zoome hinein. — “I zoom in.” After kann, it remains together as the infinitive: Ich kann hineinzoomen. Together, Ich kann hineinzoomen means “I can zoom in”, and aber adds the contrast: “I can zoom in, though.” The sentence therefore expresses the speaker’s ability to enlarge the view despite the surrounding qualification.

3. Dabei könnten ein paar Spalten aus dem sichtbaren Bereich verschwinden.

   It may push a few columns out of view.

   Dabei

   in doing so; as a result

   könnten

   may; could

   ein paar

   a few

   Spalten

   columns

   aus dem

   out of the

   sichtbaren

   visible

   Bereich

   area; view

   verschwinden

   disappear

   More detail

   Dabei refers to the surrounding action and here links that action with its possible consequence: “in doing so” or “as a result.” Its specific reference comes from the context, not from the word’s form alone. könnten is the Konjunktiv II form used here with the third-person plural subject Spalten; the same form can also occur with a first-person plural subject. With verschwinden at the end, könnten ... verschwinden presents disappearance as possible: “may” or “could disappear.” Compare sie können verschwinden (“they can disappear”) with sie könnten verschwinden (“they could/may disappear”). ein paar means “a few” and indicates a small, non-specific number; it does not state an exact count. In this expression, paar is written lowercase. Example: Ein paar Dateien fehlen. — “A few files are missing.” Spalten is the plural of the noun Spalte, “column.” Here it is the subject of könnten ... verschwinden, so the columns are the things that may disappear. Example: Die Spalten sind zu schmal. — “The columns are too narrow.” aus dem combines aus with the dative singular article dem. aus expresses movement or removal from an area or bounded range, and it requires the dative: aus dem Bereich means “out of the area/view.” sichtbaren is the inflected form of the adjective sichtbar, “visible.” It modifies masculine singular Bereich in the dative phrase aus dem sichtbaren Bereich. The -en ending is the weak adjective ending used after the definite article in this case. Example: Die Datei bleibt im sichtbaren Bereich. — “The file remains in the visible area.” Bereich is a masculine noun meaning “area” or “range”; in this interface context, it can be rendered as “view.” In aus dem sichtbaren Bereich, it names the area from which the columns may disappear. verschwinden is the infinitive of verschwinden, “to disappear.” A modal verb such as könnten leaves the infinitive at the end of the clause. The verb describes the columns disappearing from view; the fixed translation presents the compatible practical effect as the columns being pushed out of view. Together, ein paar Spalten is the subject, könnten ... verschwinden says that those columns may disappear, and aus dem sichtbaren Bereich specifies where they disappear from. Dabei links this possibility to the surrounding action, giving: “In doing so, a few columns may disappear from the visible area,” compatibly rendered in the fixed translation as “It may push a few columns out of view.”

4. Das funktioniert, solange die wichtigsten Kennzahlen sichtbar bleiben.

   That works as long as the key figures stay visible.

   Das funktioniert

   That works

   solange

   as long as

   wichtigsten

   most important

   Kennzahlen

   key figures

   sichtbar

   visible

   bleiben

   stay; remain

   More detail

   Das funktioniert means “That works” here. funktioniert is the third-person singular present form of funktionieren (“to work” in the sense of operate or be effective): es funktioniert = “it works.” Das is the neuter demonstrative pronoun “that”; this sentence does not identify its exact referent. solange introduces a condition meaning “as long as” or “provided that.” It begins a subordinate clause, so the finite verb comes at the end: solange ... bleiben = “as long as ... stay.” wichtigsten is the superlative form of wichtig (“important”). The useful comparison chain is wichtig → wichtiger (“more important”) → am wichtigsten (“most important” in a predicative phrase) or der/die/das wichtigste before a noun. In die wichtigsten Kennzahlen, the definite article die, together with the plural nominative noun phrase, requires the adjective ending -en; the superlative identifies the key or most important metrics. Kennzahlen is the plural of the feminine noun die Kennzahl, a measurable key figure or metric. It is best learned as the established word Kennzahl. Example: Diese Kennzahlen sind wichtig. — “These metrics are important.” sichtbar means “visible” or “in view.” It is an adjective used here after bleiben, so it has no adjective ending: sichtbar bleiben = “stay visible.” Example: Die Spalte bleibt sichtbar. — “The column stays visible.” bleiben means “to stay” or “to remain.” Here it is the finite present-tense form for the plural subject die wichtigsten Kennzahlen: sie bleiben. Compare bleiben (“remain in a state”) with werden (“become”): Die Kennzahlen bleiben sichtbar means “The metrics remain visible,” whereas Die Kennzahlen werden sichtbar means “The metrics become visible.” Together, Das funktioniert states that something already under discussion works, while the exact referent of Das is not specified in this sentence. solange die wichtigsten Kennzahlen sichtbar bleiben gives the condition under which it works: the key metrics must remain visible. The complete meaning is “That works as long as the key figures stay visible.”

5. In dem Fall werde ich den Abschnitt mit den Abweichungen zuerst anzeigen.

   In that case, I'll put the variance section first.

   In dem Fall

   in that case

   werde ich

   I will

   den Abschnitt

   the section

   Abweichungen

   deviations

   zuerst

   first

   anzeigen

   display

   More detail

   In dem Fall means “in that case.” Fall is the masculine noun “case”; its form here is dem Fall because in expresses a situation or circumstance here and therefore takes the dative. The fixed phrase is reusable for linking a decision to a stated condition: In dem Fall ... = “In that case ...”. werde ich uses werden as a future auxiliary. werde is the first-person singular present form of werden, and ich is the first-person singular pronoun “I”. In a main clause, the finite verb is in the second position, so after the opening phrase the order is werde ich; the remaining infinitive appears at the end. den Abschnitt means “the section.” Abschnitt is a masculine noun, and den marks masculine accusative singular here because the section is the direct object of anzeigen. Compare der Abschnitt when it is the subject and den Abschnitt when it is a masculine direct object. Abweichungen means “deviations” or “variances” in this context. The singular noun is Abweichung, and Abweichungen is its plural. In the full phrase, mit den Abweichungen, mit requires the dative, and den marks the plural dative; the plural form already ends in -n, so no additional -n is added. The quoted word itself names the deviations; the surrounding mit den supplies the relation “with the”. zuerst means “first” and indicates the order in which the section will be displayed. It is an adverb, so it does not change for number or case. A reusable example is Ich lese zuerst den Bericht. — “I read the report first.” anzeigen means “to display” or “to show” on a screen or interface. It is the infinitive of the separable verb anzeigen; in a present-tense main clause, the parts can separate, as in Ich zeige den Abschnitt an. — “I display the section.” With the future auxiliary werden, the infinitive remains together at the end: Ich werde den Abschnitt anzeigen. — “I will display the section.” Together, In dem Fall sets the condition, werde ich expresses the speaker’s future action, den Abschnitt mit den Abweichungen identifies the section to be displayed, and zuerst anzeigen specifies the order and action. The complete meaning is: “In that case, I’ll put the variance section first.”

6. Die Zahlen stützen die Aussage, aber die Erklärung braucht mehr Kontext.

   The figures support the point, but the explanation needs more context.

   Die Zahlen

   the figures

   stützen

   support

   die Aussage

   the point

   die Erklärung

   the explanation

   braucht

   needs

   mehr

   more

   Kontext

   context

   More detail

   Die Zahlen means “the figures” here. Zahl is the singular noun and Zahlen is its plural; the plural article is die. In this sentence, the figures are the subject, so the verb agrees with them in the plural. stützen means “support” in the sense of providing evidence for something. Its base form is stützen; stützen is also the present-tense form for sie (“they”) and for Sie (“you,” formal). Example: Die Daten stützen diese These. — “The data support this thesis.” die Aussage means “the point” here, referring to the statement or claim being supported. Aussage is feminine, which is why the definite article is die. Depending on context, Aussage can also mean “statement” or “assertion”; “point” is the intended meaning in this sentence. die Erklärung means “the explanation.” Erklärung is a feminine noun, so its definite article is die. Example: Die Erklärung ist klar. — “The explanation is clear.” braucht means “needs” here. The base form is brauchen; braucht is the present-tense form for a singular third-person subject such as die Erklärung. Compare Die Erklärung braucht ... (“The explanation needs ...”) with Die Erklärungen brauchen ... (“The explanations need ...”). mehr means “more.” It is the comparative form associated with viel (“much” or “a lot”): viel → mehr → am meisten (“the most”). Here it indicates a greater amount of context, without specifying a number. Kontext means “context.” It is a masculine noun: der Kontext in the singular. The phrase mehr Kontext describes the additional context that the explanation needs; after mehr in this uncountable sense, the noun appears without an article. The sentence has two coordinated clauses joined by aber (“but”): Die Zahlen stützen die Aussage (“The figures support the point”) and die Erklärung braucht mehr Kontext (“the explanation needs more context”). In the second clause, die Erklärung is the singular subject and braucht agrees with it; mehr Kontext is what it needs. Together: “The figures support the point, but the explanation needs more context.”

7. Ich werde die Annahmen hinter jeder Prognose erwähnen.

   I'll mention the assumptions behind each projection.

   Ich werde

   I will

   die Annahmen

   the assumptions

   hinter

   behind

   jeder

   each

   Prognose

   projection

   erwähnen

   mention

   More detail

   Ich werde expresses “I will”: werde is the first-person singular present form of werden, used here as the future auxiliary with Ich. In this construction, the main verb stays in the infinitive and appears at the end: Ich werde ... erwähnen. The present-tense form Ich erwähne ... instead presents the action as current or scheduled, depending on context. die Annahmen means “the assumptions” here. Annahmen is the plural of die Annahme. The article die is the form used for both nominative and accusative plural, and erwähnen takes this phrase as its accusative object. The phrase refers to the assumptions that will be mentioned, without specifying a more detailed type. hinter means “behind.” Besides physical position, it can describe an abstract relation such as the reasoning or basis behind something. As a two-way preposition, hinter takes dative for a position or location and accusative for movement or direction. Here, hinter jeder Prognose expresses the abstract relation “behind each projection,” so the dative is used. jeder means “each” here. It is the feminine singular dative form of the determiner/pronoun jeder, agreeing with the feminine noun Prognose after hinter: hinter jeder Prognose. The feminine singular forms include jede in nominative and accusative, and jeder in dative and genitive. Jede is therefore not a plural form in this paradigm. Prognose means “projection” here. It is the feminine noun die Prognose; after the dative determiner jeder, it has no visible ending change: jeder Prognose. The related noun Vorhersage can also mean “prediction” or “forecast,” but Prognose is the word used in this sentence. erwähnen means “to mention.” It is the infinitive at the end of the future construction and takes the thing mentioned as an accusative object: die Annahmen erwähnen. The first-person singular present form is ich erwähne; after the auxiliary werde, the infinitive erwähnen is used. Together, Ich werde + die Annahmen + hinter jeder Prognose + erwähnen means “I’ll mention the assumptions behind each projection.” Ich werde forms the future construction, die Annahmen is what will be mentioned, and hinter jeder Prognose identifies those assumptions as being behind each projection.

8. Das wird den Zuhörern helfen, die die frühere Diskussion verpasst haben.

   That will help listeners who missed the earlier discussion.

   Das wird

   That will

   Zuhörern

   listeners

   helfen

   help

   die … verpasst haben

   who have missed

   frühere

   earlier

   Diskussion

   discussion

   More detail

   Das wird combines das with wird, the third-person singular present form of werden. Here das means “that” and functions as the subject; the supplied context does not identify exactly what it refers to. With an infinitive later in the clause, werden forms the future: Das wird helfen = “That will help.” Zuhörern means “listeners” and is the dative plural of der Zuhörer (“listener”). The verb helfen takes a dative recipient, so den Zuhörern marks the people who receive the help. Compare the singular dative dem Zuhörer with the plural dative den Zuhörern. helfen is the infinitive “to help.” Its useful pattern is jemandem helfen (“to help someone”), with the person helped in the dative. Example: Ich helfe meiner Schwester. — “I help my sister.” die begins a relative clause and is a plural relative pronoun here. It refers to the listeners identified by Zuhörern; inside the relative clause, it is the subject of verpasst haben. verpasst haben is the perfect construction for “have missed”: verpasst is the past participle of verpassen (“to miss”), and haben is the auxiliary. In a subordinate relative clause, the auxiliary comes at the end: die ... verpasst haben. frühere is the inflected comparative form of früh (“early”): the comparative form is früher (“earlier”), and before the feminine singular noun Diskussion with the definite article die, it takes the ending -e. The comparison chain is früh — früher — am frühesten; here frühere means “earlier” and modifies Diskussion. Diskussion is a feminine noun meaning “discussion.” Its definite form here is die Diskussion. The phrase die frühere Diskussion therefore means “the earlier discussion,” with frühere describing which discussion. Together, Das wird den Zuhörern helfen means “That will help the listeners.” The relative clause die die frühere Diskussion verpasst haben identifies those listeners as the ones who missed the earlier discussion. The complete utterance is: “That will help listeners who missed the earlier discussion.”

9. Eine kurze Notiz vor den Prognosen sollte das abdecken.

   A short note before the projections should cover it.

   kurze

   short

   Notiz

   note

   vor

   before

   Prognosen

   projections

   sollte

   should

   das

   it

   abdecken

   cover

   More detail

   kurze describes the noun Notiz. Its base form is kurz (“short”); the ending -e appears here because the adjective is before a feminine singular noun in the nominative after the indefinite article eine. Example: ein kurzer Text = “a short text.” Notiz means “note.” It is a feminine noun: die Notiz; its plural is die Notizen. Here it is the singular subject, introduced by eine. The article marks an indefinite noun, not necessarily a numerical claim that there is exactly one note. vor means “before” here and introduces a time relation. With a plural noun, it takes the dative in this use, giving den Prognosen. Example: vor dem Treffen = “before the meeting.” Prognosen means “projections” in this sentence. The singular is die Prognose, and the plural is die Prognosen. The form den before it signals the dative plural required here by vor. sollte is the third-person singular form of sollen in the Konjunktiv II form commonly used for English “should.” It expresses an intended or recommended result here, not a simple statement that the note definitely covers the matter. Example: Die Erklärung sollte helfen. = “The explanation should help.” das is a neuter singular accusative pronoun meaning “it” here. Its grammatical role is the object of abdecken; the supplied translation supports the intended pronoun meaning but does not identify a more specific referent. The form das can also be a neuter article or demonstrative in other structures, so its role must be determined from the sentence. abdecken means “cover.” Its base form is abdecken; after the modal verb sollte, it remains an infinitive at the end of the clause. The separable prefix ab- is kept attached in this infinitive form. Example: Der Bericht soll die Kosten abdecken. = “The report should cover the costs.” Together, eine kurze Notiz is the subject, vor den Prognosen places it before the projections, and sollte ... abdecken expresses what that note is expected or intended to cover. The whole utterance therefore says that a short note placed before the projections should cover the intended matter.