Breakdown of Mein reinrassiger Hund gewinnt immer den allerhöchsten Preis.
der Hund
the dog
immer
always
mein
my
gewinnen
to win
Questions & Answers about Mein reinrassiger Hund gewinnt immer den allerhöchsten Preis.
What exactly does the prefix aller- add to höchsten in this sentence?
The prefix aller- is used to emphasize or intensify a superlative. While den höchsten Preis just means 'the highest prize', adding aller- makes it 'the very highest prize' or 'the absolute highest prize of all'.
Why does allerhöchsten end in -en here?
The prefix aller- does not change how the adjective is declined. It describes the masculine noun Preis, which is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of gewinnt. After the definite article den, adjectives take the weak ending -en.
Why does reinrassiger take an -er ending after mein?
Since the possessive article mein has no ending in the masculine nominative case, the adjective has to step in to show the gender and case. It takes the strong ending -er to show that Hund is a masculine subject.
The basic word for 'high' is hoch. Why is there no c in allerhöchsten?