Breakdown of Ein Rollstuhl ist kein billiges Hilfsmittel.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
kein
no, not any
billig
cheap
Questions & Answers about Ein Rollstuhl ist kein billiges Hilfsmittel.
How would this sentence look if it used the absolute comparative from this lesson?
You would change the adjective to its comparative form, adding the neuter ending to make it billigeres. For example, Ein Rollstuhl ist ein billigeres Hilfsmittel would translate to 'A wheelchair is a rather cheap assistive device.' The absolute comparative doesn't directly compare the wheelchair to another specific item; instead, it expresses that it is 'fairly' or 'relatively' cheap.
Why does the adjective take the -es ending in billiges?
Hilfsmittel is a neuter noun (das Hilfsmittel) acting as the subject complement (nominative case). Because it follows the negative article kein, it uses the mixed adjective declension—the exact same pattern used after ein. For a neuter nominative noun in this declension, the adjective takes the strong ending -es.
What are the components of the compound noun Hilfsmittel?
It is built from die Hilfe (help or aid), a connecting -s-, and das Mittel (means or resource). In German, Hilfsmittel is the standard, everyday term for 'assistive device,' 'tool,' or 'aid' (such as a mobility aid or a visual aid).
Could I say ist nicht ein billiges Hilfsmittel instead of using kein?