Breakdown of Der unruhige Nachbar hat eine ernste Schlafstörung.
ein
a, an (eine)
haben
to have
der Nachbar
the neighbor (male)
ernst
serious (grave)
unruhig
restless
die Schlafstörung
the sleep disorder
Questions & Answers about Der unruhige Nachbar hat eine ernste Schlafstörung.
Why do both adjectives end in -e (unruhige, ernste) even though one is masculine nominative and the other is feminine accusative?
They are following different adjective declension rules. Der unruhige Nachbar uses a definite article, so the adjective takes the weak ending -e for masculine nominative. Eine ernste Schlafstörung uses an indefinite article, so it takes the mixed ending, which is also -e for feminine accusative.
Could we use schwere instead of ernste to mean a 'serious' medical condition here?
Yes, in medical contexts, both are correct. Eine schwere Schlafstörung translates closer to a 'severe' sleep disorder, emphasizing its intensity. Eine ernste Schlafstörung emphasizes that it is a grave matter that needs medical attention.
Does unruhig mean the neighbor is physically noisy, or just restless?
While die Ruhe means 'quiet' or 'peace', unruhig usually describes an internal state of being restless, fidgety, or agitated. If he were just making a lot of noise, you would use laut (loud). Here, his restlessness is directly tied to his sleep disorder.
How do we know the gender of a compound noun like Schlafstörung?
The gender of any German compound noun is determined entirely by its final word. Since die Störung (the disturbance or disorder) is feminine—like almost all nouns ending in -ung—the entire word becomes feminine: die Schlafstörung.
How would we attach a contrasting clause to this sentence using this lesson's conjunction, wohingegen (whereas)?
You would add a comma and start the dependent clause with wohingegen, sending its conjugated verb to the very end. For example: Der unruhige Nachbar hat eine ernste Schlafstörung, wohingegen seine Frau sehr gut schläft. (..., whereas his wife sleeps very well.)
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