Breakdown of Ein hoffnungsvolles Ende macht den Roman beliebt.
ein
a, an (eine)
machen
to make, to do
beliebt
popular
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
der Roman
the novel
das Ende
the ending
hoffnungsvoll
hopeful
Questions & Answers about Ein hoffnungsvolles Ende macht den Roman beliebt.
How is the adjective hoffnungsvolles formed?
It combines the noun die Hoffnung (hope) with the suffix -voll (full of). Notice the extra -s- in the middle? That is a connecting sound called a linking 's' (Fugen-s) that often appears when sticking German words or suffixes together. Finally, the grammatical ending -es is added to match the noun.
Why does hoffnungsvolles end in -es in this sentence?
It describes the neuter noun das Ende (the ending) and comes directly after the indefinite article ein (a). In the nominative case, when the article doesn't show the gender (since ein can be masculine or neuter), the adjective has to step up and show it by taking the neuter -es ending.
Why doesn't the adjective beliebt (popular) get an ending?
In German, adjectives only take endings when they come directly before the noun they describe (like ein hoffnungsvolles Ende). Here, beliebt describes the state the novel is in, but it stands alone at the end of the sentence. Adjectives used this way always stay in their basic, uninflected form.
Is Roman related to the English word 'Roman'?
No, this is a classic 'false friend'! In German, der Roman means 'the novel' (a book). If you wanted to talk about a Roman person from ancient history, you would use the word der Römer.
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