Breakdown of Der Bauer füttert die kranken Kühe.
krank
sick
der Bauer
the farmer
füttern
to feed
die Kuh
the cow
Questions & Answers about Der Bauer füttert die kranken Kühe.
Why does the adjective kranken end in -en?
This sentence features the exact rule you are practicing! The adjective kranken describes a plural noun (Kühe) and comes right after a plural definite article (die). Whenever an adjective follows a plural definite article, or plural possessive or negative articles (like meine or keine), it takes the -en ending.
Why is die kranken Kühe in the accusative case, and would the adjective ending change if it were the subject?
The cows are the direct object (the ones being fed), so they are in the accusative case. If they were the subject (nominative case), the phrase would look exactly the same! For plural nouns with a definite article, both nominative and accusative use die and the adjective ending is always -en.
What is the singular form of Kühe?
Is füttert the same word we use when people feed themselves?
No, füttern specifically means to feed animals or to give them their Futter (animal feed). It can also be used for feeding a baby. When animals eat, German uses the verb fressen, and when people eat, they use essen.