Breakdown of Er macht ein ernstes Gesicht.
machen
to make, to do
das Gesicht
the face
ernst
serious (grave)
Questions & Answers about Er macht ein ernstes Gesicht.
Why does ernst have the ending -es in ein ernstes Gesicht?
Gesicht is a neuter noun (das Gesicht), and here it is the direct object (accusative case). Since the indefinite article ein doesn't carry a specific ending to show the neuter accusative, the adjective ernst has to take the strong ending -es to show the gender and case.
In English, "making a face" usually means pulling a funny or silly expression. Does ein Gesicht machen mean that too?
It can, but it is much more neutral than the English phrase. In German, ein Gesicht machen just means to adopt a certain facial expression. So ein ernstes Gesicht machen simply means "to look serious" or "to put on a serious face."
Could I use the adjective ernsthaftes instead of ernstes here?
They are very close in meaning, but ernst is the correct fit here. Ernst is used for a person's demeanor, facial expressions, or a serious situation. Ernsthaft is used more for earnest intentions, genuine efforts, or taking a matter seriously (such as a serious attempt or a serious question).
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