Breakdown of Der mächtigste Superheld trägt einen roten Umhang.
ein
a, an (eine)
tragen
to carry, to wear
rot
red
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
mächtig
powerful
der Superheld
the superhero
der Umhang
the cape
Questions & Answers about Der mächtigste Superheld trägt einen roten Umhang.
How is the superlative adjective mächtigste formed and declined here?
The base adjective is mächtig (powerful). To make it a superlative (most powerful), we add -st, making the stem mächtigst-. Because it comes directly before a noun and after the definite article der (masculine nominative), it needs the standard weak adjective ending -e, resulting in mächtigste.
Why does roten end in -en while mächtigste ends in -e?
They are in different cases and follow different types of articles. Der ... Superheld is the subject (masculine nominative), so after the definite article der, the adjective gets the weak ending -e. Einen ... Umhang is the direct object (masculine accusative), so after the indefinite article einen, the adjective takes the ending -en.
How can I tell the gender of Umhang from this sentence?
You can spot that it is a masculine noun (der Umhang) because its article in the accusative case (as the direct object) is einen. If it were neuter, it would be ein rotes, and if feminine, eine rote.
Why is there an umlaut in the verb trägt?
The verb tragen (to wear or carry) is a strong (irregular) verb. Like many strong verbs with an a in their base form, the vowel changes to ä in the second-person and third-person singular. Since the superhero is a "he", we use the third-person form er trägt.
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