Breakdown of Wir suchen ein preiswertes Hotel, ehe wir die Reise beginnen.
ein
a, an (eine)
wir
we
suchen
to look for
das Hotel
the hotel
die Reise
the trip / the journey
beginnen
to begin (formal, more than anfangen)
ehe
before
preiswert
inexpensive
Questions & Answers about Wir suchen ein preiswertes Hotel, ehe wir die Reise beginnen.
How does the suffix -wert work to create preiswert?
The suffix -wert means 'worth' or 'worthy of'. When attached to a noun or a verb stem, it describes something as being worth that thing or action. Here, Preis (price) plus wert creates an adjective literally meaning 'worth the price'.
Is there a difference in meaning between preiswert and billig?
Yes, there is an important nuance. While both can translate to 'inexpensive' or 'cheap', billig simply means low in price and can sometimes imply poor quality. preiswert emphasizes that the hotel is 'worth its price' or offers good value for the money.
Why is the ending -es added to make preiswertes?
Hotel is a neuter noun, and here it is the direct object (accusative case) of the verb suchen. Because the indefinite article ein does not explicitly show the neuter gender marker, the adjective preiswert must take the strong ending -es to show it.
The word ehe means 'before' here. Could I use bevor instead?
Absolutely. ehe and bevor are exact synonyms when used as conjunctions. bevor is more common in everyday spoken German, whereas ehe can sound slightly more formal or literary. Both are subordinating conjunctions, which is why the conjugated verb beginnen is pushed to the very end of the clause.
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