Breakdown of Ein gutes Zertifikat ist wichtig für den Lebenslauf.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
gut
good / well
wichtig
important
für
for
das Zertifikat
the certificate
der Lebenslauf
the CV / the resume
Questions & Answers about Ein gutes Zertifikat ist wichtig für den Lebenslauf.
Why is it "gutes" instead of just "gut" or "gute"?
In German, adjectives coming directly before a noun need an ending. Here, Zertifikat is a neuter noun. Because the word ein doesn't clearly show the neuter gender (it looks exactly the same for masculine words), the adjective has to do the work. It takes the neuter ending -es, making it gutes.
Why doesn't the adjective "wichtig" get an ending too?
Adjectives only take endings when they are placed directly in front of the noun they describe (like ein gutes Zertifikat). When an adjective comes after a verb like ist to describe something, it stays in its basic, unchanged dictionary form.
Why is it "für den Lebenslauf" and not "für der Lebenslauf"?
The preposition für always requires the accusative case. Since Lebenslauf is a masculine noun, its word for "the" changes from the nominative der to the accusative form den.
How does the word "Lebenslauf" translate to "CV"?
Lebenslauf is a compound noun made of Leben (life) + s (a connecting letter) + Lauf (run or course). It literally translates to the "course of life," which is exactly what a CV (Curriculum Vitae) is!
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