Ich ersetze das alte Kabel, weil es kaputt ist.

I am replacing the old cable because it is broken.

Breakdown of Ich ersetze das alte Kabel, weil es kaputt ist.

• sein: to be
• ich: I
• alt: old
• weil: because

Questions & Answers about Ich ersetze das alte Kabel, weil es kaputt ist.

Why is it das alte Kabel and not something like den alten Kabel?

Because Kabel is a neuter noun in German.

• Definite articles:
  • der = masculine
  • die = feminine
  • das = neuter

In the sentence, das alte Kabel is the direct object (what is being replaced), so it is in the accusative case.
For neuter nouns, the nominative and accusative articles are the same:

• Nominative: das Kabel (the cable is here)
• Accusative: das Kabel (I replace the cable)

So you get das (not den) and then the adjective with its ending: das alte Kabel.

---

Why is the adjective alte and not alt or altes?