Learn German: Diese Route ist am sichersten, denn die Fracht ist zerbrechlich. - This route is the safest, because the cargo is fragile.

Diese Route ist am sichersten, denn die Fracht ist zerbrechlich.

This route is the safest, because the cargo is fragile.

Breakdown of Diese Route ist am sichersten, denn die Fracht ist zerbrechlich.

sein

to be

dieser

this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)

Questions & Answers about Diese Route ist am sichersten, denn die Fracht ist zerbrechlich.

Why do we use am sichersten here instead of die sicherste?

Both are grammatically possible, but am sichersten is the standard way to form the superlative when the adjective stands alone after a verb. If you wanted to use die sicherste, it would usually describe a noun directly, as in Das ist die sicherste Route (That is the safest route).

What is the difference between using denn and weil in this sentence?

Both mean "because", but they affect word order differently. The word denn connects two main clauses without changing the word order, so the verb ist stays in its normal second position. If you used weil, it would introduce a subordinate clause, pushing the verb to the end: ... weil die Fracht zerbrechlich ist.

Can you break down the word zerbrechlich?

It comes from the verb brechen (to break). The inseparable prefix zer- always implies destruction or pulling things apart. The suffix -lich acts like the English "-able" or "-ile" to form an adjective. Together, they create a word that literally means "breakable" or "fragile".