Breakdown of Die Hälfte liebt den Snack, aber ein Drittel findet den Geschmack zu salzig.
ein
a, an (eine)
aber
but
finden
to find
lieben
to love
zu
too (e.g., too big)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
der Snack
the snack
die Hälfte
the half
das Drittel
the third
der Geschmack
the taste
salzig
salty
Questions & Answers about Die Hälfte liebt den Snack, aber ein Drittel findet den Geschmack zu salzig.
Why are Hälfte and Drittel capitalized in this sentence?
Could I use the word halb instead of Hälfte here?
No, because halb is an adjective used to describe another noun, like ein halber Apfel (half an apple). When you want to say "the half" as a standalone group or portion, you must use the noun die Hälfte.
In English the translation says "Half love", but the German verb liebt is singular. Why?
In German, fractional nouns like die Hälfte and ein Drittel are grammatically singular. Even though they refer to a large group of people in meaning, the verb strictly follows the singular grammar of the noun. This is why the sentence uses the singular verbs liebt and findet.
How exactly is a word like Drittel formed from the number three (drei)?
To make a fraction, you generally add the suffix -tel to numbers up to 19, and -stel to numbers 20 and up. For three (drei), the spelling changes slightly to make it easier to pronounce, becoming Drittel instead of Dreitel. Another exception is seven (sieben), which becomes Siebtel.
Just to review, why is it den Snack and den Geschmack?
Both words are masculine nouns (der Snack, der Geschmack). In this sentence, they are the direct objects of their respective verbs (the things being loved and found), which puts them in the accusative case. In the accusative case, masculine der changes to den.
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