to be lacking / to be a problem
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to be lacking
To express that something specific is lacking, that something is not working properly, or that something presents a difficulty. The verb is used almost exclusively impersonally with 'es' (it).
Bei der Organisation hapert es noch an allen Ecken und Enden.
In terms of organization, things are still lacking in every possible way.
'Hapern' (to be lacking/to be a problem) is an impersonal verb and is almost always used with 'es' (it) as the subject. So you say 'es hapert' (there is a problem / something is lacking), not 'ich hapere' or 'das Projekt hapert'.
Es hapert noch bei der Planung für das Fest.
There are still problems with the planning for the festival.
The verb is used with the fixed preposition 'an' and the dative. The structure is: 'Es hapert an' + dative. This expresses where exactly the problem lies or what is missing.
Beim neuen Computer hapert es an der Software.
With the new computer, the problem is the software.
When asking about the problem or naming it in a subordinate clause, you use the question word 'woran' (what ... with / where the problem lies). The word order in the subordinate clause remains the same.
Woran hapert es denn?
What exactly is the problem?
to lack
Mangeln and hapern are used in impersonal expressions with “es” when something necessary is insufficient or missing. Mangeln emphasizes the missing quantity, while hapern focuses more on an obstacle or difficulty in the process. Choose mangeln for missing resources and hapern for problems.
Bei der Renovierung hapert es noch an der genauen Planung.
The renovation is still being held up by the lack of detailed planning.
Bei der Renovierung mangelt es uns an Geld für neue Fenster.
We don’t have enough money for new windows during the renovation.
