This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. German to English
  3. Chemistry; Chem Sci/Eng

Grammar help

English translation: see box

16:00 Jul 19, 2009
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Chemistry; Chem Sci/Eng
German term or phrase: Grammar help
The title of this section is "Hauptkondensator" and the text itself is about heat exchangers/condensers. This is the sentence I'm having problems with:
"Damit wird soviel flüssiger Sauerstoff auf den Kondensator gebracht, daß sich ein Flüssigkeitsstand bilden kann, die Flüssigkeit gleichmäßig auf die LOX-Passagen des Hauptkondensators verteilt werden und verhindern, daß entstehender gasförmiger Sauerstoff oben entweicht."

I'm guessing the problem is that the subject/verb agreement is incorrect, but maybe someone else can shed some light on the meaning. (Why "verteilt werden und verhindern"?)

More context:
Zur Kondensation des Stickstoffes vom Kopf der Drucksäule wird flüssiger Sauerstoff aus der Niederdrucksäule mittels Pumpen oben auf den Kondensator geführt. Damit wird soviel flüssiger Sauerstoff auf den Kondensator gebracht, daß sich ein Flüssigkeitsstand bilden kann, die Flüssigkeit gleichmäßig auf die LOX-Passagen des Hauptkondensators verteilt werden und verhindern, daß entstehender gasförmiger Sauerstoff oben entweicht.

Thanks!
caro.tulu
Germany
Local time: 07:43
English translation:see box
Explanation:
Damit wird soviel flüssiger Sauerstoff auf den Kondensator gebracht, dass sich ein Flüssigkeitsstand bilden kann.
Außerdem hat dies zur Folge, dass die Flüssigkeit gleichmäßig auf die LOX-Passagen des Hauptkondensators verteilt wird und verhindert, dass entstehender gasförmiger Sauerstoff oben entweicht.

So the grammar is actually correct, yet complicated. Hope this splitting helps understanding.
Selected response from:

Christina Bergmann
Germany
Local time: 07:43
Grading comment
Thanks! This answer seems the most plausible to me, but to be on the safe side, I'll be adding a note to the translation in case it is incorrect.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2see box
Christina Bergmann
4 +1Placement of "kann" is the issue
Elise Hendrick
4Grammar help
Virgil Tech Eng


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
see box


Explanation:
Damit wird soviel flüssiger Sauerstoff auf den Kondensator gebracht, dass sich ein Flüssigkeitsstand bilden kann.
Außerdem hat dies zur Folge, dass die Flüssigkeit gleichmäßig auf die LOX-Passagen des Hauptkondensators verteilt wird und verhindert, dass entstehender gasförmiger Sauerstoff oben entweicht.

So the grammar is actually correct, yet complicated. Hope this splitting helps understanding.

Christina Bergmann
Germany
Local time: 07:43
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks! This answer seems the most plausible to me, but to be on the safe side, I'll be adding a note to the translation in case it is incorrect.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  analytical (X): Sometimes you just have to 'rearrange' the German source text a bit, especially for long and nested sentences.
8 mins
neutral  Holly Hart: So the subject/verb agreement in the source text is incorrect?
1 hr
agree  MMUlr: IMO you are right, and the mistake in the original sentence is: werden (-> wird) and verhindern (-> verhindert), as Heart aleady mentioned.
17 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Grammar help


Explanation:
"Thus, as much liquid oxigen will be sent to the condenser that a liquid state can be formed; the liquid will be equally split on the LOX (liquid oxygen) passages of main (or principal) condenser. Therefore the dilution of gaseous oxygen formed above. is avoided"


Virgil Tech Eng
Mexico
Local time: 23:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 1
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Placement of "kann" is the issue


Explanation:
I think it's not actually a subject/verb agreement issue. My guess is that "kann" should actually go after "verteilt werden" etc.

"Damit wird soviel flüssiger Sauerstoff auf den Kondensator gebracht, daß sich ein Flüssigkeitsstand bilden, die Flüssigkeit gleichmäßig auf die LOX-Passagen des Hauptkondensators verteilt werden kann, und verhindern, daß entstehender gasförmiger Sauerstoff oben entweicht."

Most likely, the subclause was inserted after the sentence had already been written, and the author forgot that there was a modal verb to move.

Elise Hendrick
United States
Local time: 01:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman, Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  mary austria: Yup, that's the way I understand it, too. Grüße!
11 hrs
neutral  analytical (X): The sentence still doesn't flow this way.
11 hrs
  -> It does if one assumes (I overlooked this) that "verhindern" ought to be "verhindert", which is plausible on the same assumption (that this sentence was cobbled together)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search