declination when using adjetives
Hi all,
I'm learning now how to use the partizip I when you're using it as an adjective. I was doing some exercises in internet and I found some exercises that I thought they were easy but I didn't understand the solution. Here is an example:
(taken from http://www.schubert-verlag.de/aufgaben/uebungen_b2/b2_partizipien1.htm)
Das Parfüm riecht gut. --> Das ist ein xxxx xxxxxx Parfüm.
My solution:
Das ist ein gutes riechendes Parfüm.
Actual solution:
Das ist ein gut riechendes Parfüm.
So my question is, why "gut" doesn't have the declination for a neutral substantive with a undetermined article? Why is it different to riechend[es]
Thanks
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 5
1
Think "a nicely smelling perfume" instead of "a nice, smelling perfume" and you've got it in one.
As you can see from the example given on the page you linked to, the description of the participle doesn't change. Now, you COULD say (although it would sound as odd in German as it does in English, you'd use "duftend/fragrant" (always nice) instead of "riechend/smelling" (might be good or bad)) "Das ist ein gutes, riechendes/duftendes Parfüm" (a nice, fragrant perfume). In that case "Parfüm" would have 2 adjectives, both describing the perfume. AND you would need the comma between "gutes" and "riechendes". But in the exercise, "gut" just describes "riechend" - How does it smell?/Wie riecht es? And since the participle is a verb form, it's therefore an adverb (which doesn't change), not an adjective (which would be declined).
1
To make it easy, we have two modifiers in German: adjectives and adverbs.
Partizipien are used like adjectives. If you want to modify them, you have to use an adverb. The best thing about adverbs is that you don't have to decline them.
Unfortunately, your example is a bit tricky cause "riechen" is often used as an euphemism for "stinken" (to stink). So I'm using different example to outline the idea:
Der Mann läuft.
Das ist ein laufender Mann.
Das ist ein schnell laufender Mann.
"Das ist ein gutes riechendes Parfüm" ist nicht falsch, aber die Bedeutung ist anders.
= Das ist ein gutes [riechendes Parfüm]. ("gutes" modifies "riechendes Parfüm")
Das ist ein gutes, riechendes Parfüm. = Das ist ein gutes und riechendes Parfüm.
0
Pues, en este caso no es un adjectivo. "Gut riechend" - gut describe el participio/gerundio, en vez del sustantivo.
mira:
Das Auto fährt schnell. Das ist ein schnelles Auto. Das ist ein schnell fahrendes Auto.
Die Frau spricht laut. Das ist eine laute Frau. Das ist eine laut sprechende Frau.
Espero que te des cuenta de que se cambie segun el uso. SIn embargo, la flexion se queda normal :)
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