Breakdown of Weder ist das Bier malzig, noch schmeckt es fruchtig.
sein
to be
es
it
das Bier
the beer
schmecken
to taste
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
weder ... noch
nor
malzig
malty
fruchtig
fruity
Questions & Answers about Weder ist das Bier malzig, noch schmeckt es fruchtig.
How do we form the adjectives malzig and fruchtig in this sentence?
They are formed by taking the nouns das Malz (malt) and die Frucht (fruit) and adding the suffix -ig. This suffix is very common for turning nouns into adjectives to describe what something is made of or tastes like. It works almost exactly like adding the letter 'y' in English, turning malt into malty and fruit into fruity.
Why don't the vowels in malzig and fruchtig get an umlaut?
While many nouns get an umlaut when the -ig suffix is added (like die Kraft becoming kräftig), malzig and fruchtig are common exceptions where the vowel stays exactly the same. Because there is no perfectly strict rule for which words get an umlaut with this suffix, it is best to memorize these exceptions as you encounter them.
Why are the verbs ist and schmeckt placed right after weder and noch?
The two-part conjunction weder ... noch (neither ... nor) connects two main clauses here. Both weder and noch take up the very first position in their respective clauses. Because German main clauses require the verb to be in the second position, the verbs ist and schmeckt are forced into position two, appearing before their subjects.
Could I change the word order and start with das Bier?
Yes! You can put the subject first in the first clause. If you do, weder simply moves behind the verb: Das Bier ist weder malzig, noch schmeckt es fruchtig. However, starting the sentence with weder as done here adds a stronger stylistic emphasis to the 'neither' right from the start.
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