Breakdown of Ein sauberes Gerät funktioniert besser.
ein
a, an (eine)
funktionieren
to work (function)
besser
better
das Gerät
the machine / the equipment
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?