Breakdown of Das Shampoo reinigt, außerdem verdickt es das Haar.
es
it
das Haar
the hair
das Shampoo
the shampoo
reinigen
to clean (formally, thoroughly)
außerdem
furthermore
verdicken
to thicken
Questions & Answers about Das Shampoo reinigt, außerdem verdickt es das Haar.
How is the verb verdickt formed from an adjective here?
It is built from the adjective dick (thick). By adding the prefix ver- and the verb ending -en, German creates the causative verb verdicken, meaning "to make thick" or "to thicken". The current lesson mentions adding an umlaut, but since the vowel "i" can't take an umlaut, the stem stays exactly the same.
Why is the word order außerdem verdickt es instead of außerdem es verdickt?
außerdem (furthermore) is an adverb, not a true coordinating conjunction like und or aber. Because it takes up the first position in the second clause, the verb verdickt must take its strict second position, pushing the subject es into the third position.
Is reinigt also derived from an adjective?
Yes! It comes from the adjective rein (pure or clean). However, instead of using the ver- prefix structure, it adds the suffix -igen to create the verb reinigen (to clean or to purify).
Why does the sentence use the singular das Haar instead of the plural die Haare?
In German, you can use the singular das Haar as a collective noun for a person's entire head of hair, exactly like the uncountable noun "hair" in English. While Germans also frequently use the plural die Haare, the singular is very standard in beauty and cosmetic contexts.
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