Breakdown of Die teure Kosmetik soll die Haut verschönern.
teuer
expensive
sollen
should / ought to
die Haut
the skin
die Kosmetik
the cosmetics
verschönern
to beautify
Questions & Answers about Die teure Kosmetik soll die Haut verschönern.
How does the verb verschönern fit the pattern of this lesson?
It is a causative verb, meaning it expresses causing something to take on a certain quality. It is built using the prefix ver- and the ending -en. Notice that it actually uses the comparative stem of the adjective schön (which is schöner), so it literally means "to make more beautiful."
Why is Kosmetik singular here when the English translation says "cosmetics"?
In German, die Kosmetik is primarily used as an uncountable singular noun when referring to makeup or beauty products as a general category. English usually uses the plural "cosmetics" to express the exact same idea.
Why is the adjective spelled teure instead of teuere?
The base adjective is teuer (expensive). When adjectives ending in -er or -el get a grammatical ending attached, they typically drop their internal e to make pronunciation smoother. Since it follows the definite article die in the nominative case, it takes the weak ending -e, resulting in teure.
What is the exact function of soll in this context?
The modal verb sollen (here conjugated as soll) often expresses an expectation, an intention, or a claim made by a third party. In this sentence, it translates perfectly to "is supposed to," highlighting the intended purpose or marketing claim of the cosmetics rather than stating it as a proven fact.
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