Breakdown of Sie kauft gewohnheitsmäßig teure Taschen und benutzt sie nie.
und
and
kaufen
to buy
sie
they
teuer
expensive
die Tasche
the bag
nie
never
benutzen
to use
gewohnheitsmäßig
habitually
Questions & Answers about Sie kauft gewohnheitsmäßig teure Taschen und benutzt sie nie.
How does the suffix -mäßig work to create the word gewohnheitsmäßig?
The suffix -mäßig is added to nouns to mean "in the manner of", "in terms of", or "according to". Here, it attaches to die Gewohnheit (the habit) to create a word meaning "habitual" or, in this specific sentence, "habitually".
Why is there an extra -s- in the middle of gewohnheitsmäßig?
That is a linking 's' (called a Fugen-s). It is inserted to make the word flow better. You will almost always need to add this linking -s- when attaching a suffix or another word to a noun that ends in -heit, -keit, -ung, or -ion (like die Gewohnheit).
Why doesn't gewohnheitsmäßig have an adjective ending here?
Because it is functioning as an adverb, modifying the verb kauft (describing how she buys). In German, words derived with -mäßig can be used as either adjectives or adverbs, but they only take declension endings when placed directly in front of a noun.
Why is the word for "expensive" spelled teure instead of teuere?
When an adjective ends in -er (like teuer or sauer) and takes a declension ending, it usually drops the -e- before the -r- to make pronunciation smoother. Here, the base teuer takes the plural accusative ending -e, so it becomes teure Taschen.
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