Menschen vs Menschheit

Question

Die Energieressourcen, aus denen die Mensch(heit) auf dieser Erde schöpfen kann, werden immer knapper.

In the above sentence, the bracketed part was replaced with a blank, and the question was to fill the blank. I had to put "Menschen" but apparently the approriate the correct answer is "Menschheit". Could someone explain why that would be so?

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 13 '23 at 14:32

5

You could use “Menschen”, however that is plural, so it would not be in agreement with “kann”.

answered Aug 13 '23 at 14:32

Carsten S

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How did you figure out that is the subject of the relative sentence? – tryst with freedom Aug 13 '23 at 14:36
@SBrian, how else would you analyse the sentence? – Carsten S Aug 13 '23 at 14:40
@S Brian: this isn't passive voice and können isn't one of the few verbs that can go without a subject in active voice. So you need a subject, and there isn't another item that could be the subject. – Janka Aug 13 '23 at 14:44
I was confused on how to chosse subject from the three "denen" "die Menschheit" "auf dieser Erde" – tryst with freedom Aug 13 '23 at 14:53
2

It's aus denen. There's a preposition in front so it can't be the subject. Same for auf dieser Erde. – Janka Aug 13 '23 at 14:55
Please add the last comment into your answer. It is very very important @Janka – tryst with freedom Aug 15 '23 at 12:03

Menschen vs Menschheit

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