Breakdown of Diese Kosmetik soll die Wimpern verdicken.
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
sollen
should / ought to
die Kosmetik
the cosmetics
die Wimper
the eyelash
verdicken
to thicken
Questions & Answers about Diese Kosmetik soll die Wimpern verdicken.
How is the verb verdicken formed in this sentence?
It is built from the adjective dick (thick). By adding the prefix ver- and the infinitive ending -en, we create a causative verb—a verb that means "to make something [adjective]". So, verdicken means "to make thick" or "to thicken". Note that unlike some other verbs in this pattern, dick does not get an umlaut because its vowel is an 'i', which cannot take an umlaut.
Why is Diese Kosmetik singular when the English translation says "These cosmetics"?
In German, die Kosmetik is typically an uncountable singular noun used to describe makeup or cosmetic care as a whole category. English, on the other hand, usually uses the plural "cosmetics". If you want to talk about multiple individual cosmetic items in German, you would use a compound word like Kosmetikartikel or Kosmetikprodukte.
Doesn't soll usually mean "should"? Why is it translated as "are supposed to" here?
While the modal verb sollen is often used to give advice ("should"), it is also widely used to express a claim, an expectation, or an intended purpose ("is supposed to" or "is meant to"). In this sentence, soll ... verdicken expresses the manufacturer's claim or the product's intended purpose, rather than a moral obligation.
Why does the sentence use die Wimpern instead of a possessive pronoun like ihre Wimpern?
German frequently uses the definite article (die) instead of possessive pronouns when referring to body parts, provided the context makes it clear whose body it is. Furthermore, this sentence is a general statement about what the product does to anyone's eyelashes, making the general die Wimpern (the eyelashes) the most natural choice.
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