to be afflicted with / to hold to
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afflicted with
To have a negative quality, a defect, a problem, or a risk. It describes that something or someone is marked by an undesirable characteristic.
Das Gutachten ist mit so vielen Fehlern behaftet, dass es unbrauchbar ist.
The expert report is afflicted with so many errors that it is unusable.
to hold someone to
To bind someone to an earlier statement, promise, or commitment and insist that it be kept. This expression is rather formal or legal.
Sie können mich bei meiner Aussage von letzter Woche behaften.
You can hold me to my statement from last week.
'Behaften' is an inseparable verb with the prefix 'be-'. This prefix remains firmly attached to the verb stem 'haften' (to stick, adhere).
Man kann ihn nicht für die Fehler anderer behaften.
You cannot hold him responsible for other people’s mistakes.
This meaning is used almost exclusively in the form 'mit etwas (Dativ) behaftet sein' (to be afflicted with something). The subject is the thing that has a defect, and the defect itself is attached with the preposition 'mit'.
Die Studie ist mit einigen methodischen Schwächen behaftet.
The study is afflicted with several methodological weaknesses.
In this meaning, 'behaften' follows a fixed structure: you hold someone (accusative) to something (dative). The accusative object is the person; the dative object, with 'bei', is the statement or promise.
Der Anwalt wird den Zeugen bei seiner ersten Aussage behaften.
The lawyer will hold the witness to his first statement.
The expression 'jemanden bei etwas behaften' (to hold someone to something) is used mainly in formal, official, or legal contexts. In normal everyday speech, it sounds very formal.
Im Vertrag steht, dass wir Sie bei Ihrer Zusage behaften können.
The contract states that we can hold you to your commitment.
to set / commit
Both expressions can bind someone to a promise. „Jemanden auf etwas festlegen“ emphasizes that the person has to commit to that position or obligation, whereas „jemanden bei etwas behaften“ sounds more formal and places greater emphasis on adhering to an earlier statement. Use „behaften“ mainly in formal situations.
Die Reporterin behaftete den Politiker bei seiner Zusage für das Projekt.
The reporter held the politician to his commitment to the project.
Die Reporterin legte den Politiker auf seine Zusage für das Projekt fest.
The reporter held the politician to his commitment to the project.
