Breakdown of Süßes Parfüm riecht wunderbar.
süß
sweet
wunderbar
wonderful
das Parfüm
the perfume
riechen
to smell
Questions & Answers about Süßes Parfüm riecht wunderbar.
Why does the adjective süß get the ending -es in Süßes Parfüm?
In this sentence, there is no article (like das or ein) before the noun to show its gender. Parfüm is a neuter noun (das Parfüm) in the subject (nominative) position. Because there is no article to do the job, the adjective has to step up and show the gender by taking the strong ending -es.
Why doesn't wunderbar also get an ending?
Adjectives in German only take endings when they come directly before a noun (like Süßes Parfüm). When an adjective comes after the verb to describe the subject, it stays in its basic dictionary form.
Does riechen mean to give off a scent or to sniff something?
It means both! Just like the English verb to smell, riechen can describe an object giving off an odor (as in this sentence) or a person actively sniffing something. Although it shares a history with the English word reek, riechen is neutral and is perfectly fine to use for lovely scents too.
How do I know the gender of a borrowed word like Parfüm?
Parfüm comes from French. While there are exceptions, many loanwords from other languages that refer to inanimate objects or concepts become neuter in German. That is why it is das Parfüm.
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