Breakdown of Ein sauberes Gerät funktioniert besser.
ein
a, an (eine)
funktionieren
to work (function)
besser
better
das Gerät
the machine / the equipment
sauber
clean
Questions & Answers about Ein sauberes Gerät funktioniert besser.
Why does the adjective sauber have an -es ending here (sauberes)?
In this sentence, ein sauberes Gerät is the subject (nominative case). Gerät is a neuter noun. Because the indefinite article ein doesn't have an ending to show it's neuter, the adjective has to do the heavy lifting! So, we add the neuter ending -es to sauber.
Could I figure out the gender of Gerät just by looking at this sentence?
Yes! If it were masculine, it would be ein sauberer (like ein sauberer Tisch). If it were feminine, it would be eine saubere (like eine saubere Küche). The -es on sauberes after ein is your big clue that Gerät is neuter (das Gerät).
Is funktionieren used exactly like "to work" in English?
Yes, but only in the sense of a machine or system operating or functioning. You wouldn't use funktionieren for a person going to their job (that is arbeiten).
Why doesn't besser have an ending?
Here, besser (better) is acting as an adverb, describing how the appliance works. In German, adverbs don't take endings. It is the comparative form of gut (good/well).
Learn Ein sauberes Gerät funktioniert besser and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free