Questions & Answers about Die Stadt ist ganz alt.
Does ganz always mean 'completely'?
Not always! While ganz means 'completely' or 'entirely' in this sentence, it is also very commonly used to mean 'quite' or 'fairly' (like in ganz gut, meaning 'quite good'). The exact meaning usually depends on the context and the adjective it is paired with.
Where do words like ganz go in a sentence compared to the frequency adverbs (like oft or nie) we are learning?
Words that describe the degree of an adjective, like ganz or sehr, almost always go right in front of the adjective they are describing. Frequency adverbs like nie can move around a bit more, but they usually go right after the verb. For example, if you wanted to combine them to say 'The city is never completely old', you would put the frequency adverb first: Die Stadt ist nie ganz alt.
Is there a rule for why Stadt gets the feminine word for 'the' (die)?
There is no simple rule to guess it just by looking at the word, so you simply have to memorize that it is die Stadt. It is always best to learn the gender (der, die, or das) at the exact same time you learn a new noun!
Can I say Die Stadt ist sehr alt instead?
Yes, but it changes the meaning slightly. Die Stadt ist sehr alt means 'The city is very old'. Using ganz here emphasizes that the city is 'entirely' or 'completely' old throughout, rather than just being old in age.
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