Breakdown of Diese Übung macht meinen Rücken stark.
machen
to make
mein
my; (masculine or neuter, nominative)
diese
this
stark
strong
Questions & Answers about Diese Übung macht meinen Rücken stark.
Why is diese Übung and not dieses Übung or dieser Übung?
Because Übung is a feminine noun. In the nominative case the strong declension of dies- for feminine is diese.
• Masculine nominative: dieser Übung (wrong gender)
• Feminine nominative: diese Übung (correct)
• Neuter nominative: dieses Übung (wrong gender)
Why is meinen Rücken in the accusative case?
The verb machen here means “to make” or “to render” someone/something into a new state. German uses a direct object (accusative) to show what is being affected. Since Rücken (“back”) is what’s being made strong, it’s the accusative object.
Why does mein Rücken become meinen Rücken? What’s with the -en ending?
mein is a possessive determiner. In the accusative singular masculine, determiners take an -en ending:
• Nominative: mein Rücken
• Accusative: meinen Rücken
Thus “my back” in the accusative is meinen Rücken.
What is the function of the adjective stark at the end of the sentence?