Das Kettenöl ist für die Fahrradkette.

to be

Breakdown of Das Kettenöl ist für die Fahrradkette.

• für: for
• das Kettenöl: the bicycle-chain oil
• die Fahrradkette: the bicycle chain

Questions & Answers about Das Kettenöl ist für die Fahrradkette.

Why is Kettenöl one word?

In German, it is very common to combine nouns into a single compound noun.

• die Kette = chain
• das Öl = oil
• das Kettenöl = chain oil / oil for chains

The first noun often describes what the second noun is for. The main noun is the last part, so Kettenöl is a kind of Öl.

This is different from English, where we often write similar expressions as two separate words.

Why does the sentence use das Kettenöl but die Fahrradkette?

Because German nouns have grammatical gender, and each noun has its own article.

• das Öl → neuter
• das Kettenöl → also neuter, because the last part is Öl
• die Kette → feminine
• die Fahrradkette → also feminine, because the last part is Kette

A very important rule with compound nouns is:

The final word decides the gender.

So:

• Kettenöl ends in Öl → das
• Fahrradkette ends in Kette → die

Why is it für die Fahrradkette?