Breakdown of Die Geschwindigkeit des Autos ist hoch.
sein
to be
das Auto
the car
hoch
high
des
the; (masculine or neuter, genitive)
die Geschwindigkeit
the speed
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Questions & Answers about Die Geschwindigkeit des Autos ist hoch.
What gender is the noun Geschwindigkeit, and what does it mean in English?
Geschwindigkeit is a feminine noun (die Geschwindigkeit). It means “speed” or “velocity” in English.
Why is des Autos used instead of das Auto?
The phrase des Autos is in the genitive case, indicating possession: “the speed of the car.” In German, you use the genitive (for masculine and neuter nouns) with des + noun + -s or -es ending to show “of the.”
How do you form the genitive singular for masculine and neuter nouns?
For masculine and neuter nouns, change the definite article der/das to des, and add -s or -es to the noun:
• der Mann → des Mannes
• das Auto → des Autos
Can I say Die Geschwindigkeit von dem Auto ist hoch instead?
Yes, but it’s less formal. Germans often use the dative construction von dem (contracted to vom) colloquially. So you could say Die Geschwindigkeit vom Auto ist hoch, though the genitive (des Autos) is preferred in writing.
Why is the adjective hoch not declined in the sentence?
hoch is a predicate adjective following the linking verb ist. Predicate adjectives are not declined; they stay in their basic form.
What’s the difference between using hoch and schnell with Geschwindigkeit?
Geschwindigkeit is a noun meaning “speed.” When you describe the value of speed, you say it is hoch (“high”). schnell means “fast” and describes how something moves (e.g., Das Auto ist schnell).
How would you add emphasis to say the speed is very high?
You can insert an adverb like sehr before hoch: Die Geschwindigkeit des Autos ist sehr hoch.
Why is ist the second element in the sentence, and why doesn’t it come at the end?
German main clauses follow the V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb (ist) must be in the second position. Here, the subject (Die Geschwindigkeit des Autos) occupies the first position, so ist comes next. Everything else follows.