Breakdown of Die Bedingung ist ein Funke des aufrichtigen Willens.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
aufrichtig
sincere
die Bedingung
the condition (prerequisite)
der Wille
the will
der Funke
the spark
Questions & Answers about Die Bedingung ist ein Funke des aufrichtigen Willens.
Why does Willens end in -ns instead of just -s?
Wille (will) belongs to a small, special group of masculine nouns known as mixed n-declension nouns. While standard masculine nouns usually add -s in the genitive case, and regular n-declension nouns add -n, this mixed group adds -ns. Since this sentence uses the genitive case ('of the sincere will'), Wille becomes Willens.
Isn't Funke also a mixed n-declension noun? Why does it just end in -e here?
Spot on! Funke (spark) belongs to the exact same group as Wille. However, these nouns only take their extra -n or -ns endings in the accusative, dative, and genitive cases. In this sentence, ein Funke follows the linking verb ist (is), meaning it is in the nominative case. Therefore, it stays in its base form.
Why is the adjective ending aufrichtigen and not aufrichtiges?
In the masculine genitive case, the article des does the 'heavy lifting' of showing the case and gender. Because the article already provides this information, the adjective following it takes the weak ending, which is always -en in the genitive.
How can I easily remember that Bedingung is a feminine noun?
Any German noun ending in the suffix -ung is always feminine. Recognizing this common suffix guarantees you will correctly use die.
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