Breakdown of Ein Pfund sind fünfhundert Gramm.
sein
to be
das Gramm
the gram
das Pfund
the pound (500 grams)
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Questions & Answers about Ein Pfund sind fünfhundert Gramm.
Why does this sentence use the plural verb sind instead of ist, even though it starts with the singular Ein Pfund?
In German, when the verb sein (to be) acts as an equals sign between a singular noun and a plural noun, the verb normally agrees with the plural noun. Because fünfhundert Gramm is treated as a plural concept here, the verb becomes sind. English does the opposite by matching the first noun ('A pound is').
Why doesn't the word Gramm have a plural ending here?
Masculine and neuter nouns used for measurements or quantities usually don't take a plural ending after a number in German. Because it is das Gramm (neuter), it stays Gramm even when there are five hundred of them. You will see the same rule with other measurement words like der Liter (for example, zwei Liter Wasser).
Is a German Pfund exactly the same weight as an English pound?
No, it is slightly heavier! In Germany, ein Pfund refers to a metric pound, which is defined as exactly 500 grams (half a kilogram). An imperial pound in the US or UK is about 453 grams.