Questions & Answers about Die Höflichkeit kostet nichts.
How do I know the gender of Höflichkeit?
The suffix -keit is a guaranteed clue! Nouns ending in -ung, -heit, -keit, and -schaft are always feminine in German. That is why the sentence uses the feminine article die.
How is the word Höflichkeit built?
It is built from the adjective höflich, which means polite. By adding the suffix -keit, it transforms the adjective into an abstract noun meaning politeness. This is just like adding '-ness' in English.
Why does the German sentence use Die when the English translation just says 'Politeness'?
In English, we usually drop the word 'the' when talking about broad, abstract concepts like politeness, nature, or life. In German, you generally keep the definite article for these abstract nouns, which is why it is Die Höflichkeit.
What is the difference between nichts and nicht here?
They look similar but have different jobs. nicht means 'not' and negates a verb or adjective. nichts with an 's' means 'nothing' and is a pronoun. Since politeness costs 'nothing' in this sentence, we use nichts.
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