Breakdown of Für das Parfüm müssen Sie mit der Pipette präzise drei Tropfen hinzufügen.
Sie
you (formal)
drei
three
müssen
to have to, must
mit
with
für
for
das Parfüm
the perfume
die Pipette
the pipette
präzise
precise
der Tropfen
the drop
hinzufügen
to add
Questions & Answers about Für das Parfüm müssen Sie mit der Pipette präzise drei Tropfen hinzufügen.
Why doesn't Tropfen change its form to show it is plural?
Tropfen (drop) is a masculine noun (der Tropfen). In German, masculine and neuter nouns used as units of measurement or quantity typically use a zero-plural, meaning they don't add a plural ending. So, you say drei Tropfen just like you would say drei Liter (three liters). (It also helps that the standard non-measurement plural of Tropfen doesn't change anyway!)
The verb is hinzufügen (to add). Why isn't the prefix hinzu separated here?
This happens because of the modal verb müssen (must). When a modal verb acts as the main conjugated verb, it pushes the second verb to the very end of the clause in its full infinitive form. Since it remains an infinitive, the separable prefix (hinzu) stays attached to the base verb (fügen).
Why do we say das Parfüm but der Pipette?
This is due to the prepositions used before them. Für is a preposition that strictly requires the accusative case, leaving the neuter noun Parfüm as das Parfüm. However, mit strictly requires the dative case. Since Pipette is feminine (die Pipette), the dative case changes its article to der Pipette.
Why doesn't präzise have an adjective ending like präzisen?
In this sentence, präzise (precisely) is functioning as an adverb because it describes the action of the verb hinzufügen (how you must add the drops), rather than describing a noun. In German, adverbs do not take declension endings; they simply remain in their base form.
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