Word
Der Export von Kupfer ist sehr lukrativ.
Meaning
The export of copper is very lucrative.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Der Export von Kupfer ist sehr lukrativ.
sein
to be
sehr
very
von
from, of / by (agent in passive clauses)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
Questions & Answers about Der Export von Kupfer ist sehr lukrativ.
Why do we use von Kupfer instead of the genitive case here?
Kupfer is a mass noun standing completely alone in this sentence, without an article or an adjective. In German, if a noun lacks a preceding word to clearly show its genitive case, you cannot use the genitive. Instead, you must replace it with von + Dative.
Could I use the genitive if I instead said "the export of the copper"?
Yes! If you add an article, the grammatical case becomes visible, and the genitive works perfectly: Der Export des Kupfers. You can also use the genitive if you add an adjective, such as der Export reinen Kupfers (the export of pure copper).
What gender is Kupfer, and is there a general rule for metals?
Kupfer is neuter (das Kupfer). As a handy rule, almost all metals and chemical elements in German are neuter (e.g., das Gold, das Silber, das Eisen). One common exception you should remember is der Stahl (the steel), which is masculine.
Why doesn't lukrativ have a declension ending?
In this sentence, lukrativ is acting as a predicate adjective—it comes after a linking verb (ist) to describe the subject (der Export). In German, adjectives only take endings when they are placed directly before the noun they modify.