Breakdown of Das ist das Getränk schlechthin für den Sommer.
sein
to be
für
for
der Sommer
the summer
das Getränk
the beverage / the drink
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
schlechthin
par excellence
Questions & Answers about Das ist das Getränk schlechthin für den Sommer.
Why is schlechthin placed right after das Getränk instead of at the end of the sentence?
The particle schlechthin directly modifies a noun to mark it as the ultimate example or par excellence. Because it emphasizes das Getränk, it must sit right next to it. If you put it at the end of the sentence, it would sound like it modifies Sommer (the ultimate summer) instead of the drink.
Does schlechthin change its form depending on the noun's gender or case?
No. Like other particles in German, schlechthin is invariable. It will always stay exactly the same, whether it follows a neuter noun like das Getränk, a masculine noun, or a plural noun.
Could I use schlichtweg instead of schlechthin in this sentence?
Not quite. While they look similar and share a root, schlechthin means 'the ultimate' or 'par excellence' and directly follows a noun. schlichtweg means 'simply' or 'downright' and is usually used as an adverb before an adjective or verb (for example, Das ist schlichtweg falsch - That is simply wrong).
Just as a refresher, why do we use den in für den Sommer?
The preposition für is a strict accusative preposition, meaning it always takes the accusative case regardless of the context. Because Sommer is a masculine noun (der Sommer), the accusative article must be den.
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