Breakdown of Das Becken braucht sowohl die richtige Länge als auch die richtige Größe.
richtig
right
brauchen
to need
die Größe
the size
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
sowohl ... als auch
both ... and
das Becken
the tank
die Länge
the length
Questions & Answers about Das Becken braucht sowohl die richtige Länge als auch die richtige Größe.
How are the nouns Länge and Größe formed from their base adjectives?
Both nouns are derived from their root adjectives (lang for long, and groß for large or great) by adding the suffix -e and applying an umlaut to the stem vowel. This is a very common pattern in German for creating abstract nouns that describe a physical dimension, temperature, or quality. Because they are formed with this -e suffix, they are always feminine, which is why they both use die.
How does the two-part conjunction sowohl ... als auch work in this sentence?
It translates to both ... and ... or as well as. In this sentence, it connects two noun phrases functioning as the direct object (die richtige Länge and die richtige Größe). Because it simply links two elements of equal grammatical status, it does not change the word order or the case of the nouns it connects. Both remain in the accusative case.
Doesn't das Becken normally mean a pool or a pelvis? Why is it translated as tank here?
Das Becken is a versatile word that refers to various basin-like shapes. Depending on the context, it can mean a swimming pool (das Schwimmbecken), the anatomical pelvis, a bathroom sink (das Waschbecken), or an aquarium tank. In the context of an enclosure needing a specific length and size, tank or basin makes perfect sense.
Just to review, why do we use the ending -e on richtige for both of these nouns?
Both Länge and Größe are feminine nouns in the accusative case, since they are the direct objects being needed by the verb brauchen. Following the definite article die, the weak adjective ending for the feminine accusative case is -e, giving us die richtige.
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