2

I’m having difficulties transforming such relative clauses into a one-level sentence. Is my way below right?

Ein Sonett, das aus vierzehn Zeilen besteht, ist eine lyrische Gedichtform. → Ein Sonett ist eine aus vierzehn Zeilen bestehende lyrische Gedichtform.

8
  • It’s OK in general (note that I made some minor corrections in an edit), but you effectively moved the part: In the first sentence, it’s the sonnet that has 14 lines; in the second, it’s the poetic form that has 14 lines. So they are not actually equivalent. Be also warned that, even when the transformation is correctly done, there may be a big stylistic difference between the version with the relative clause and the one with a participle.
    – chirlu
    Nov 8, 2015 at 21:19
  • Yes it's OK and generally my last edit is valid. Because i always forget what i have said,eaten,written. Actually i don't remember older shape of my question so sorry :-( Nov 8, 2015 at 21:23
  • Huh? No need to remember anything, just look into the revision history.
    – chirlu
    Nov 8, 2015 at 21:59
  • i'll find revision history, i didn't know i had that option thanks Nov 8, 2015 at 22:13
  • i couldn't find revision history do mean my browser settings or is there such section here? Nov 8, 2015 at 22:17

1 Answer 1

2

General strategy: Identify the noun that the relative clause refers to (in most cases the one directly in front), transform the verb of the relative clause into a participle, and put the resulting participle clause in front of the noun. It works in a similar way in English.

Ein Sonett, das aus vierzehn Zeilen besteht, ist eine lyrische Gedichtform -> Ein aus vierzehn Zeilen bestehendes Sonett ist eine lyrische Gedichtform.

Ein Sonett ist eine Gedichtform, die aus vierzehn Zeilen besteht -> Ein Sonett ist eine aus vierzehn Zeilen bestehende Gedichtform.

(Of course the second variant makes more sense.)

In English:

A sonnet, that/which consists of fourteen lines, is a poetic form -> A sonnet consisting of fourteen lines is a poetical form.

A sonnet is a poetic form that consists of fourteen lines -> A sonnet is a poetic form consisting of fourteen lines.

2
  • as a relative clause "das üblicherwise in gereimten jambischen Fünfheber geschrieben ist" do i need to use in or mit and ein Lyrik schreiben or ein Lyrik verfassen ? Nov 9, 2015 at 7:58
  • That's two new questions. :-) The expressions are "etwas in einer Reimform schreiben" (but "etwas mit einem Schreibinstrument schreiben"), so it's "in". You can't use "Lyrik" as a translation of "(song) lyrics", so you probably mean "einen Gedichttext/einen Liedtext schreiben/verfassen" (all combinations are correct, "verfassen" is more elevated style).
    – dirkt
    Nov 9, 2015 at 8:03

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.