Breakdown of Ein gefühlloser Täter ist oft ein fantasieloser Mensch.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
oft
often
der Mensch
the human, person
der Täter
the perpetrator, the culprit
fantasielos
unimaginative
gefühllos
unfeeling
Questions & Answers about Ein gefühlloser Täter ist oft ein fantasieloser Mensch.
How exactly does the suffix -los work in gefühlloser and fantasieloser?
The suffix -los is the exact equivalent of the English suffix "-less". You attach it to a noun to create an adjective meaning "without that thing". Here, das Gefühl (the feeling or emotion) becomes gefühllos (unfeeling), and die Fantasie (the imagination) becomes fantasielos (unimaginative).
Why do both adjectives get an -er ending here?
This is a great refresher for mixed adjective declension. Both Täter and Mensch are masculine nouns in the nominative case (they are the subjects). Because the indefinite article ein has no ending to show the masculine gender, the adjectives have to do the heavy lifting by adding the strong masculine nominative ending -er.
Doesn't Fantasie mean "fantasy"? Why is it translated as "unimaginative"?
While it can mean "fantasy", die Fantasie is the standard German word for "imagination". Therefore, a fantasieloser Mensch is someone who lacks imagination, rather than someone who literally lacks fantasies.
Is the word Täter (perpetrator) related to any other common German words?
Yes! It is closely related to the noun die Tat (the deed or action) and the verb tun (to do). A Täter is literally the "doer" of a deed, but the word is almost exclusively used in contexts regarding crime to mean the perpetrator or culprit.
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