Breakdown of Die Portion ist so winzig, was den wartenden Gast wütend macht!
sein
to be
machen
to make, to do
warten
to wait
so
so, such (intensifier)
Questions & Answers about Die Portion ist so winzig, was den wartenden Gast wütend macht!
Why is was used here instead of das to mean "which"?
When a relative pronoun refers back to an entire preceding clause or idea rather than a specific noun, you must use was. Here, was refers to the whole fact that the portion is tiny, not to the feminine noun Portion.
How does the word wartenden work grammatically?
It is a present participle used as an adjective. You form it by adding -d to the infinitive verb (warten becomes wartend, meaning "waiting"). Because it describes the masculine accusative noun Gast, it takes the adjective ending -en.
How could we rewrite this sentence to use the lesson's target word zumal (especially since)?
Zumal introduces a subordinate clause providing a reinforcing reason. To use it, you could flip the sentence's cause and effect: Der wartende Gast ist wütend, zumal die Portion so winzig ist. (The waiting guest is angry, especially since the portion is so tiny.)
Why does the verb macht go at the very end of the sentence?
The pronoun was introduces a relative clause, which is a type of subordinate clause. In all German subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb (macht) is pushed to the very end.