Breakdown of Mit diesem Pinselstrich erzielt man einen großen Erfolg.
ein
a, an (eine)
groß
big / tall
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
mit
with
der Erfolg
the success
man
one / you (impersonal)
der Pinselstrich
the brushstroke
erzielen
to achieve (a result, profit, or score)
Questions & Answers about Mit diesem Pinselstrich erzielt man einen großen Erfolg.
How does the prefix er- work in the verb erzielt?
The verb erzielen comes from the noun das Ziel (the goal or target). The inseparable prefix er- often conveys the idea of successfully reaching a state or acquiring something. By adding it to Ziel, it creates a verb that literally means 'to reach a goal,' or in this context, 'to achieve.'
How is the word Pinselstrich formed, and how do we know its gender?
It is a compound noun made from der Pinsel (the paintbrush) and der Strich (the stroke or line). In German, the last word in a compound noun always determines its gender, which is why it is masculine: der Pinselstrich.
Why does the sentence use diesem instead of diesen?
The preposition mit always requires the dative case. Because Pinselstrich is masculine, the demonstrative pronoun dieser (this) must take the masculine dative ending, becoming diesem.
Why is einen großen Erfolg in the accusative case here?
It is the direct object of the verb erzielen—it is the thing being achieved. Since der Erfolg (the success) is masculine, the indefinite article becomes einen and the adjective groß takes the masculine accusative mixed ending -en.
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