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Questions & Answers about Die Hose ist eng.
Why is Hose singular when English uses pants/trousers in the plural?
In German, a single pair of trousers is grammatically singular: die Hose. So Die Hose ist eng corresponds to English The pants are tight or The trousers are tight. If you mean more than one pair, use the plural: Die Hosen sind eng.
Why is the article die used here if it’s singular?
Because die is the nominative singular definite article for feminine nouns (and also the plural article for all genders). Hose is feminine, so die Hose is correct in the singular.
What is the gender and the plural of Hose, and how do the main cases look?
Hose is feminine; plural Hosen. Core forms:
- Nominative: die Hose / die Hosen
- Accusative: die Hose / die Hosen
- Dative: der Hose / den Hosen
- Genitive: der Hose / der Hosen
Why doesn’t eng have an ending here?
After the linking verb sein, adjectives are uninflected: Die Hose ist eng. With an attributive adjective before the noun, you add endings:
- die enge Hose
- eine enge Hose
- enge Hosen
How do I say too tight or intensify or soften it?
Use adverbs:
- Die Hose ist zu eng (too tight).
- sehr eng, ziemlich eng, ein bisschen eng, viel zu eng.
What’s the opposite of eng for clothing?
Common opposites: weit and locker. Examples: Die Hose ist weit or Die Hose sitzt locker. You may also see lose in collocations like Die Hose sitzt lose, but locker/weit are more common for fit.
Is there a difference between eng, schmal, and klein?
- eng: tight-fitting on a body. Die Hose ist eng.
- schmal: narrow in shape/width, not about fit. Eine schmale Gasse.
- klein: small size in general. Die Hose ist klein = the garment is a small size, not necessarily tight on someone.
Can I use passen or sitzen to talk about fit?
Yes:
- Die Hose passt (mir) nicht = it doesn’t fit (me).
- Die Hose sitzt eng = it fits tightly. To say it’s too tight for you: Die Hose ist mir zu eng (dative mir).
Why ist and not hat?
German uses sein to describe states/qualities: Die Hose ist eng, Das T‑Shirt ist blau. haben expresses possession: Ich habe eine Hose.
How do I pronounce Hose and eng?
- Hose: [ˈhoːzə] — long o, the s sounds like English z, final e is a schwa.
- eng: [ɛŋ] — short e like in bet, and ng like in sing.
Which words are capitalized?
All nouns are capitalized: Hose. Adjectives are lowercase: eng. Die is capitalized here because it starts the sentence.
When would I say Die Hosen sind eng?
When referring to multiple pairs: Die Hosen sind eng. For a single pair you normally use the singular: Die Hose ist eng.
Is Eine Hose ist eng natural?
Usually you specify which one: Diese Hose ist eng, Meine Hose ist eng, or use die if it’s clear from context. Eine Hose ist eng sounds odd unless you’re speaking generically.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of eng?
- Comparative: enger — Diese Hose ist enger als die andere.
- Superlative (predicative): am engsten — Diese Hose ist am engsten.
- Superlative (attributive): die engste Hose.
Any figurative uses of eng I should know?
Yes:
- ein enger Zeitplan = a tight schedule
- enge Freunde = close friends
- ein enges Verhältnis = a close relationship
Any false-friend or vocabulary pitfalls?
- Hose is clothing, not the English hose (tube).
- Jeans in German can be singular: Die Jeans ist eng (you’ll also hear plural Die Jeans sind eng; both occur).
- Don’t confuse German lose (loose) with English lose (to misplace).
How would I use Hose with common prepositions?
- Dative after mit/in: mit der Hose, in der Hose
- Accusative after kaufen/anziehen: Ich kaufe die Hose, Ich ziehe die Hose an
- Genitive for possession: die Farbe der Hose