|
GRAMMAR
3
|
| NOUNS — Part 4 |
|
3.
|
Meaning
of the last component
|
 |
The meaning of a compound noun can often be deduced by thinking of the last noun as the root word, the one described or modified by the preceding word(s). First step: Figure out the meaning of the last component. Let's see how this works in the following words: |
die Naturwissenschaft = Natur + Wissenschaft
die Wissenschaft = science
das
Organisationsproblem = Organisations + Problem
das Problem = problem
der
Altkanzler = Alt + Kanzler
der Kanzler = chancellor
der
Lernkontext = Lern + Kontext
der Kontext = context
|
4.
|
Meaning
of remaining components
|
|
Because some compound nouns consist of more than two words, you may also have to figure out the meanings of the remaining components: |
die
Naturwissenschaft = Natur + Wissenschaft
die Natur = nature
das
Organisationsproblem = Organisations
+ Problem
die Organisation = organisation
der
Altkanzler = Alt + Kanzler
alt = old
der
Lernkontext = Lern + Kontext
lernen = to learn
|
5.
|
Move
from right to left
|
|
Deduce the meaning of a compound noun by reading the components in reverse order, from right to left, from the end backwards. The
element to the left modifies the root word in some way. Use your imagination and the context to decipher the appropriate relationship(s) between root word and modifying element(s). |
|
die Naturwissenschaft = the science of nature = the natural sciences |
der Altkanzler = the old chancellor = the ex-chancellor |
der Lernkontext = the learning context |
|
|
||
|
das Organisationsproblem = the problem of organisation |
die Staatsform = Staat + s + Form = die Form des Staates = the form of the state |
("s"
can mark possession)
|
|
|
||
|
die Universitätsbibliotheksangestellte = die Universität + s +Bibliothek + s + Angestellte = die Angestellte der Bibliothek der Universität = the employee at the library of the university |
||
|
6.
|
Gender
and plural forms
|
|
The last component determines the number and gender of the entire noun: |
die Forschung (research) + das Institut (institute) =
das Forschungsinstitut (the research institute)
  |