01
der Ernstfall
emergency
A real, serious, and often dangerous situation, as opposed to a drill, test, or theoretical assumption.
example
Die Feuerwehr probt regelmäßig für den Ernstfall.
The fire department regularly drills for an emergency.
der Ernstfall
emergency
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word composition
'Der Ernstfall' (emergency) is made up of the adjective 'ernst' (serious) and the noun 'der Fall' (case). So it literally describes a “serious case” or a serious situation.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen auf einen Ernstfall vorbereitet sein.
We have to be prepared for an emergency.
Typical collocations
This noun is often used with certain verbs that describe preparation or an occurrence. Typical phrases are 'für den Ernstfall üben/proben' (to practice/drill for an emergency), 'sich auf den Ernstfall vorbereiten' (to prepare for an emergency), and 'der Ernstfall tritt ein' (the emergency occurs).
EXAMPLE
Die Rettungskräfte üben regelmäßig für den Ernstfall.
The rescue workers regularly drill for an emergency.
Sentence structure
The fixed expression 'im Ernstfall' (in an emergency) functions as an adverbial. When it appears at the beginning of a sentence, the conjugated verb follows directly in second position.
EXAMPLE
Im Ernstfall müssen alle das Gebäude sofort verlassen.
In an emergency, everyone must leave the building immediately.
Compare with
Ernstfall vs Test
test
'der Test' and 'der Ernstfall' stand in clear contrast to each other. A 'Test' is a trial or check in which you examine something before it becomes truly important. 'der Ernstfall' is the real, serious situation in which something actually happens and you have to act. The words can be confused when talking about drills, safety, or technology. A fire alarm, for example, may only be a test, but in a real fire it is 'der Ernstfall' (the emergency). Remember: the test prepares you; 'der Ernstfall' is the real situation.
Ernstfall
Im Ernstfall müssen alle das Gebäude sofort verlassen.
In an emergency, everyone must leave the building immediately.
Test
Vor der Reise machen wir einen Test der neuen Alarmanlage.
Before the trip, we are testing the new alarm system.
In real life
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