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How flexible is German in forming compound adjectives?
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I have already asked a similar question about forming new compound nouns and the answer was that any compound noun is correct as long as it is understood in its context by native speakers. I wonder if that also applies to adjectives and if it is okay to to form new compound adjectives as long as they are understood in their context.
Examples:
freundschaftstrue, familietrue, schachbegeistert, lesenbegeistert,
emotionenreich, diamantartig, diamantswert, helfenbedüftig, essenfähig...
compounds compound-adjective
asked 4 hours ago
Abdullah
630112
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I have already asked a similar question about forming new compound nouns and the answer was that any compound noun is correct as long as it is understood in its context by native speakers. I wonder if that also applies to adjectives and if it is okay to to form new compound adjectives as long as they are understood in their context.
Examples:
freundschaftstrue, familietrue, schachbegeistert, lesenbegeistert,
emotionenreich, diamantartig, diamantswert, helfenbedüftig, essenfähig...
compounds compound-adjective
asked 4 hours ago
Abdullah
630112
Short answer: very
– tofro
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I have already asked a similar question about forming new compound nouns and the answer was that any compound noun is correct as long as it is understood in its context by native speakers. I wonder if that also applies to adjectives and if it is okay to to form new compound adjectives as long as they are understood in their context.
Examples:
freundschaftstrue, familietrue, schachbegeistert, lesenbegeistert,
emotionenreich, diamantartig, diamantswert, helfenbedüftig, essenfähig...
compounds compound-adjective
asked 4 hours ago
Abdullah
630112
I have already asked a similar question about forming new compound nouns and the answer was that any compound noun is correct as long as it is understood in its context by native speakers. I wonder if that also applies to adjectives and if it is okay to to form new compound adjectives as long as they are understood in their context.
Examples:
freundschaftstrue, familietrue, schachbegeistert, lesenbegeistert,
emotionenreich, diamantartig, diamantswert, helfenbedüftig, essenfähig...
compounds compound-adjective
compounds compound-adjective
asked 4 hours ago
Abdullah
630112
asked 4 hours ago
Abdullah
630112
asked 4 hours ago
Abdullah
630112
asked 4 hours ago
Abdullah
630112
asked 4 hours ago
Abdullah
630112
630112
Short answer: very
– tofro
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Short answer: very
– tofro
3 hours ago
Short answer: very
– tofro
3 hours ago
Short answer: very
– tofro
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
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up vote
3
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Your examples are useful to show that there are limits.
From your examples schachbegeistert und diamantartig will be accepted wihout question.
We will correct lesenbegeistert to lesebegeistert, emotionenreich to emotionsreich und helfenbedürftig to hilfsbedürftig (coming from the noun "Hilfe").
If you use essenfähig we will guess you mean essbar (eatable). This is kind of the first indication where something can go wrong. Fähig is pointing to a skill and eating is not considered an act that requires skill. So it is important that the words used are correct in the context of what is described.
This is also why word with ...artig und ...begeistert work so well. If an item appears to be like what you prepend to ...artig then this will be understood an can't go wrong easily. The same is for ...begeistert. For example you can prepend anything people might do for a hobby to ...begeistert.
For the first 2 words I assume you mean "treu" instead fo true. Treu we normally use for an intimate relationship, like a couple or for the attitute of a dog to his owner. So it doesn't work with family or friendship. This is again a hint that the words must work within the context of what is described.
The Problem with diamantswert is that the wert part of the word is used in the meaning of the noun, hinting at the value of the diamond. The second part of a compound ajective must be an adjective by itself though. But n words like erwähnenswert oder lebenswert the wert has the meaning of "worth it".
In conclusion you are free to prepend adjectives with another word as long as it is usable in the context.
If there are established words that are already existing those should be used. For example you wouldn't use wasserartig if you mean flüssig (fluid).
Another issue is that you have to learn how to connect them like in the case of emotionsreich.
You really have to know the proper use of the ending adjective. It will give you a better understanding which words might work to be prepended.
In comparison to compound nouns there are more restriction in compound adjectives. At least it is harder to find correct combinations than wth nouns.
answered 56 mins ago
Javatasse
8737
"essensfähig" may occur in a medical context, meaning "being able to eat".
– Uwe
45 mins ago
@Uwe A search on Google for "essensfähig" returns 3 pages, where the word is used. So I assume it is rarely used. But I do think, this this is a good example where a creation makes sense and would be understood and accepted.
– Javatasse
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
German is rather flexible in forming new compounds, including adjectives. In many cases, however, there is already some compound with a certain meaning, and then a slightly different compound with the same meaning sounds odd. Let's consider your list of examples:
freundschaftstrue, familietrue, diamantswert
look odd. First of all, "true" is not a German word. Do you mean "treu"? But even then, it's unclear to me what you want to express.
schachbegeistert, diamantartig
are okay. In fact, these are established compounds.
lesenbegeistert, emotionenreich, helfenbedüftig, essenfähig
would be okay, if there were no established words "lesebegeistert", "emotionsreich", "hilfsbedüftig" (or "hilfebedüftig"), and "essensfähig". (In general, using the infinitive of a verb without trailing "-s" to form a compound adjective is uncommon.)
The problem is that there is no fixed rule that might tell you the common form of a compound adjective. For instance, there are "schreibfähig", "lesefähig", "leidensfähig", and "arbeitsfähig". The first one is built using the stem of the verb, the second one uses the stem with "-e", the third one uses the infinitive plus "-s", and the fourth one uses the associated noun. If you use any other combination, say "schreibensfähig", "lesfähig", "leidfähig", or "arbeitefähig", people will understand what you mean, but still it sounds wrong.
answered 47 mins ago
Uwe
7,18322639
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Your examples are useful to show that there are limits.
From your examples schachbegeistert und diamantartig will be accepted wihout question.
We will correct lesenbegeistert to lesebegeistert, emotionenreich to emotionsreich und helfenbedürftig to hilfsbedürftig (coming from the noun "Hilfe").
If you use essenfähig we will guess you mean essbar (eatable). This is kind of the first indication where something can go wrong. Fähig is pointing to a skill and eating is not considered an act that requires skill. So it is important that the words used are correct in the context of what is described.
This is also why word with ...artig und ...begeistert work so well. If an item appears to be like what you prepend to ...artig then this will be understood an can't go wrong easily. The same is for ...begeistert. For example you can prepend anything people might do for a hobby to ...begeistert.
For the first 2 words I assume you mean "treu" instead fo true. Treu we normally use for an intimate relationship, like a couple or for the attitute of a dog to his owner. So it doesn't work with family or friendship. This is again a hint that the words must work within the context of what is described.
The Problem with diamantswert is that the wert part of the word is used in the meaning of the noun, hinting at the value of the diamond. The second part of a compound ajective must be an adjective by itself though. But n words like erwähnenswert oder lebenswert the wert has the meaning of "worth it".
In conclusion you are free to prepend adjectives with another word as long as it is usable in the context.
If there are established words that are already existing those should be used. For example you wouldn't use wasserartig if you mean flüssig (fluid).
Another issue is that you have to learn how to connect them like in the case of emotionsreich.
You really have to know the proper use of the ending adjective. It will give you a better understanding which words might work to be prepended.
In comparison to compound nouns there are more restriction in compound adjectives. At least it is harder to find correct combinations than wth nouns.
answered 56 mins ago
Javatasse
8737
"essensfähig" may occur in a medical context, meaning "being able to eat".
– Uwe
45 mins ago
@Uwe A search on Google for "essensfähig" returns 3 pages, where the word is used. So I assume it is rarely used. But I do think, this this is a good example where a creation makes sense and would be understood and accepted.
– Javatasse
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Your examples are useful to show that there are limits.
From your examples schachbegeistert und diamantartig will be accepted wihout question.
We will correct lesenbegeistert to lesebegeistert, emotionenreich to emotionsreich und helfenbedürftig to hilfsbedürftig (coming from the noun "Hilfe").
If you use essenfähig we will guess you mean essbar (eatable). This is kind of the first indication where something can go wrong. Fähig is pointing to a skill and eating is not considered an act that requires skill. So it is important that the words used are correct in the context of what is described.
This is also why word with ...artig und ...begeistert work so well. If an item appears to be like what you prepend to ...artig then this will be understood an can't go wrong easily. The same is for ...begeistert. For example you can prepend anything people might do for a hobby to ...begeistert.
For the first 2 words I assume you mean "treu" instead fo true. Treu we normally use for an intimate relationship, like a couple or for the attitute of a dog to his owner. So it doesn't work with family or friendship. This is again a hint that the words must work within the context of what is described.
The Problem with diamantswert is that the wert part of the word is used in the meaning of the noun, hinting at the value of the diamond. The second part of a compound ajective must be an adjective by itself though. But n words like erwähnenswert oder lebenswert the wert has the meaning of "worth it".
In conclusion you are free to prepend adjectives with another word as long as it is usable in the context.
If there are established words that are already existing those should be used. For example you wouldn't use wasserartig if you mean flüssig (fluid).
Another issue is that you have to learn how to connect them like in the case of emotionsreich.
You really have to know the proper use of the ending adjective. It will give you a better understanding which words might work to be prepended.
In comparison to compound nouns there are more restriction in compound adjectives. At least it is harder to find correct combinations than wth nouns.
answered 56 mins ago
Javatasse
8737
"essensfähig" may occur in a medical context, meaning "being able to eat".
– Uwe
45 mins ago
@Uwe A search on Google for "essensfähig" returns 3 pages, where the word is used. So I assume it is rarely used. But I do think, this this is a good example where a creation makes sense and would be understood and accepted.
– Javatasse
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Your examples are useful to show that there are limits.
From your examples schachbegeistert und diamantartig will be accepted wihout question.
We will correct lesenbegeistert to lesebegeistert, emotionenreich to emotionsreich und helfenbedürftig to hilfsbedürftig (coming from the noun "Hilfe").
If you use essenfähig we will guess you mean essbar (eatable). This is kind of the first indication where something can go wrong. Fähig is pointing to a skill and eating is not considered an act that requires skill. So it is important that the words used are correct in the context of what is described.
This is also why word with ...artig und ...begeistert work so well. If an item appears to be like what you prepend to ...artig then this will be understood an can't go wrong easily. The same is for ...begeistert. For example you can prepend anything people might do for a hobby to ...begeistert.
For the first 2 words I assume you mean "treu" instead fo true. Treu we normally use for an intimate relationship, like a couple or for the attitute of a dog to his owner. So it doesn't work with family or friendship. This is again a hint that the words must work within the context of what is described.
The Problem with diamantswert is that the wert part of the word is used in the meaning of the noun, hinting at the value of the diamond. The second part of a compound ajective must be an adjective by itself though. But n words like erwähnenswert oder lebenswert the wert has the meaning of "worth it".
In conclusion you are free to prepend adjectives with another word as long as it is usable in the context.
If there are established words that are already existing those should be used. For example you wouldn't use wasserartig if you mean flüssig (fluid).
Another issue is that you have to learn how to connect them like in the case of emotionsreich.
You really have to know the proper use of the ending adjective. It will give you a better understanding which words might work to be prepended.
In comparison to compound nouns there are more restriction in compound adjectives. At least it is harder to find correct combinations than wth nouns.
answered 56 mins ago
Javatasse
8737
Your examples are useful to show that there are limits.
From your examples schachbegeistert und diamantartig will be accepted wihout question.
We will correct lesenbegeistert to lesebegeistert, emotionenreich to emotionsreich und helfenbedürftig to hilfsbedürftig (coming from the noun "Hilfe").
If you use essenfähig we will guess you mean essbar (eatable). This is kind of the first indication where something can go wrong. Fähig is pointing to a skill and eating is not considered an act that requires skill. So it is important that the words used are correct in the context of what is described.
This is also why word with ...artig und ...begeistert work so well. If an item appears to be like what you prepend to ...artig then this will be understood an can't go wrong easily. The same is for ...begeistert. For example you can prepend anything people might do for a hobby to ...begeistert.
For the first 2 words I assume you mean "treu" instead fo true. Treu we normally use for an intimate relationship, like a couple or for the attitute of a dog to his owner. So it doesn't work with family or friendship. This is again a hint that the words must work within the context of what is described.
The Problem with diamantswert is that the wert part of the word is used in the meaning of the noun, hinting at the value of the diamond. The second part of a compound ajective must be an adjective by itself though. But n words like erwähnenswert oder lebenswert the wert has the meaning of "worth it".
In conclusion you are free to prepend adjectives with another word as long as it is usable in the context.
If there are established words that are already existing those should be used. For example you wouldn't use wasserartig if you mean flüssig (fluid).
Another issue is that you have to learn how to connect them like in the case of emotionsreich.
You really have to know the proper use of the ending adjective. It will give you a better understanding which words might work to be prepended.
In comparison to compound nouns there are more restriction in compound adjectives. At least it is harder to find correct combinations than wth nouns.
answered 56 mins ago
Javatasse
8737
answered 56 mins ago
Javatasse
8737
answered 56 mins ago
Javatasse
8737
answered 56 mins ago
Javatasse
8737
8737
"essensfähig" may occur in a medical context, meaning "being able to eat".
– Uwe
45 mins ago
@Uwe A search on Google for "essensfähig" returns 3 pages, where the word is used. So I assume it is rarely used. But I do think, this this is a good example where a creation makes sense and would be understood and accepted.
– Javatasse
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
"essensfähig" may occur in a medical context, meaning "being able to eat".
– Uwe
45 mins ago
@Uwe A search on Google for "essensfähig" returns 3 pages, where the word is used. So I assume it is rarely used. But I do think, this this is a good example where a creation makes sense and would be understood and accepted.
– Javatasse
6 mins ago
"essensfähig" may occur in a medical context, meaning "being able to eat".
– Uwe
45 mins ago
"essensfähig" may occur in a medical context, meaning "being able to eat".
– Uwe
45 mins ago
@Uwe A search on Google for "essensfähig" returns 3 pages, where the word is used. So I assume it is rarely used. But I do think, this this is a good example where a creation makes sense and would be understood and accepted.
– Javatasse
6 mins ago
@Uwe A search on Google for "essensfähig" returns 3 pages, where the word is used. So I assume it is rarely used. But I do think, this this is a good example where a creation makes sense and would be understood and accepted.
– Javatasse
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
German is rather flexible in forming new compounds, including adjectives. In many cases, however, there is already some compound with a certain meaning, and then a slightly different compound with the same meaning sounds odd. Let's consider your list of examples:
freundschaftstrue, familietrue, diamantswert
look odd. First of all, "true" is not a German word. Do you mean "treu"? But even then, it's unclear to me what you want to express.
schachbegeistert, diamantartig
are okay. In fact, these are established compounds.
lesenbegeistert, emotionenreich, helfenbedüftig, essenfähig
would be okay, if there were no established words "lesebegeistert", "emotionsreich", "hilfsbedüftig" (or "hilfebedüftig"), and "essensfähig". (In general, using the infinitive of a verb without trailing "-s" to form a compound adjective is uncommon.)
The problem is that there is no fixed rule that might tell you the common form of a compound adjective. For instance, there are "schreibfähig", "lesefähig", "leidensfähig", and "arbeitsfähig". The first one is built using the stem of the verb, the second one uses the stem with "-e", the third one uses the infinitive plus "-s", and the fourth one uses the associated noun. If you use any other combination, say "schreibensfähig", "lesfähig", "leidfähig", or "arbeitefähig", people will understand what you mean, but still it sounds wrong.
answered 47 mins ago
Uwe
7,18322639
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
German is rather flexible in forming new compounds, including adjectives. In many cases, however, there is already some compound with a certain meaning, and then a slightly different compound with the same meaning sounds odd. Let's consider your list of examples:
freundschaftstrue, familietrue, diamantswert
look odd. First of all, "true" is not a German word. Do you mean "treu"? But even then, it's unclear to me what you want to express.
schachbegeistert, diamantartig
are okay. In fact, these are established compounds.
lesenbegeistert, emotionenreich, helfenbedüftig, essenfähig
would be okay, if there were no established words "lesebegeistert", "emotionsreich", "hilfsbedüftig" (or "hilfebedüftig"), and "essensfähig". (In general, using the infinitive of a verb without trailing "-s" to form a compound adjective is uncommon.)
The problem is that there is no fixed rule that might tell you the common form of a compound adjective. For instance, there are "schreibfähig", "lesefähig", "leidensfähig", and "arbeitsfähig". The first one is built using the stem of the verb, the second one uses the stem with "-e", the third one uses the infinitive plus "-s", and the fourth one uses the associated noun. If you use any other combination, say "schreibensfähig", "lesfähig", "leidfähig", or "arbeitefähig", people will understand what you mean, but still it sounds wrong.
answered 47 mins ago
Uwe
7,18322639
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
German is rather flexible in forming new compounds, including adjectives. In many cases, however, there is already some compound with a certain meaning, and then a slightly different compound with the same meaning sounds odd. Let's consider your list of examples:
freundschaftstrue, familietrue, diamantswert
look odd. First of all, "true" is not a German word. Do you mean "treu"? But even then, it's unclear to me what you want to express.
schachbegeistert, diamantartig
are okay. In fact, these are established compounds.
lesenbegeistert, emotionenreich, helfenbedüftig, essenfähig
would be okay, if there were no established words "lesebegeistert", "emotionsreich", "hilfsbedüftig" (or "hilfebedüftig"), and "essensfähig". (In general, using the infinitive of a verb without trailing "-s" to form a compound adjective is uncommon.)
The problem is that there is no fixed rule that might tell you the common form of a compound adjective. For instance, there are "schreibfähig", "lesefähig", "leidensfähig", and "arbeitsfähig". The first one is built using the stem of the verb, the second one uses the stem with "-e", the third one uses the infinitive plus "-s", and the fourth one uses the associated noun. If you use any other combination, say "schreibensfähig", "lesfähig", "leidfähig", or "arbeitefähig", people will understand what you mean, but still it sounds wrong.
answered 47 mins ago
Uwe
7,18322639
German is rather flexible in forming new compounds, including adjectives. In many cases, however, there is already some compound with a certain meaning, and then a slightly different compound with the same meaning sounds odd. Let's consider your list of examples:
freundschaftstrue, familietrue, diamantswert
look odd. First of all, "true" is not a German word. Do you mean "treu"? But even then, it's unclear to me what you want to express.
schachbegeistert, diamantartig
are okay. In fact, these are established compounds.
lesenbegeistert, emotionenreich, helfenbedüftig, essenfähig
would be okay, if there were no established words "lesebegeistert", "emotionsreich", "hilfsbedüftig" (or "hilfebedüftig"), and "essensfähig". (In general, using the infinitive of a verb without trailing "-s" to form a compound adjective is uncommon.)
The problem is that there is no fixed rule that might tell you the common form of a compound adjective. For instance, there are "schreibfähig", "lesefähig", "leidensfähig", and "arbeitsfähig". The first one is built using the stem of the verb, the second one uses the stem with "-e", the third one uses the infinitive plus "-s", and the fourth one uses the associated noun. If you use any other combination, say "schreibensfähig", "lesfähig", "leidfähig", or "arbeitefähig", people will understand what you mean, but still it sounds wrong.
answered 47 mins ago
Uwe
7,18322639
edited 31 mins ago
answered 47 mins ago
Uwe
7,18322639
answered 47 mins ago
Uwe
7,18322639
answered 47 mins ago
Uwe
7,18322639
7,18322639
add a comment |Â
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Short answer: very
– tofro
3 hours ago