beträffa

Beträffa is a German verb that translates to "concern," "affect," or "relate to" in English. It is used to indicate that something has an impact on or is relevant to a particular person, thing, or situation. The verb is typically used in the third person singular or plural, referring to the subject that is doing the concerning or affecting.

For example, a sentence like "Das Urteil betrifft alle Bürger" translates to "The verdict concerns all citizens." Here, "betrifft" (the third-person singular present tense of beträffa) shows that the verdict has relevance to every citizen. Similarly, "Die neuen Regeln werden die gesamte Belegschaft betreffen" means "The new rules will affect the entire staff." In this case, "betreffen" (third-person plural present tense) indicates the impact of the rules on the staff.

The verb can also be used in a more formal or official context, often appearing in legal documents, official announcements, or academic writing. In such contexts, it might imply a formal obligation or a direct consequence. For instance, "Die Bestimmung betrifft die Anwendung des Gesetzes" could mean "The provision relates to the application of the law."

The past participle of beträffa is beträffat, and the simple past tense is beträffte. Therefore, one might say "Das Problem hat uns alle beträffat" (The problem concerned us all) or "Die Entscheidung beträffte ihn direkt" (The decision directly affected him). Understanding beträffa is key to comprehending how subjects and their relevance or impact are expressed in German.