Breakdown of Sicherheit ist ein großes Bedürfnis.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
groß
big / tall
die Sicherheit
the security
das Bedürfnis
the need
Questions & Answers about Sicherheit ist ein großes Bedürfnis.
The word Bedürfnis ends in '-nis'. What does this suffix tell us about its gender and plural form?
Most abstract nouns ending in -nis are neuter, so it is das Bedürfnis (the need). A handful of exceptions are feminine, like die Erlaubnis (the permission). For the plural, the rule is highly predictable: you double the 's' and add '-e'. Therefore, the plural of das Bedürfnis is die Bedürfnisse.
What verb does Bedürfnis come from, and how does the '-nis' suffix affect the meaning?
It is derived from the verb bedürfen (to need / to require). Adding -nis to a verb stem typically creates an abstract noun that represents a state, an event, or the result of an action. Here, the state of needing something turns into the noun das Bedürfnis (a need or desire).
Why does the adjective take the '-es' ending in ein großes Bedürfnis?
Because of the verb ist, the noun phrase following it is in the nominative case (predicate nominative). Bedürfnis is neuter, and the indefinite article ein doesn't show the gender in the nominative case. Therefore, the adjective has to do the heavy lifting and take the strong neuter ending -es.
Why is there no article before Sicherheit? Doesn't German usually use definite articles for abstract nouns?
German often does use definite articles for abstract concepts (like die Liebe for 'love'). However, in broad, proverbial, or universal statements like this one, the article is often dropped. Writing Sicherheit ist... instead of Die Sicherheit ist... makes it sound like a universal truth about the concept of security as a whole.
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