Beschreibendem

Beschreibendem is a form of the German adjective beschreibend, which derives from the verb beschreiben and means describing or descriptive. It is not a separate noun; it is an inflected attributive form used to modify a noun.

Usage and declension

Beschreibendem occurs in contexts requiring the dative singular masculine or neuter form, most often after no article or a preposition that governs the dative. Examples include mit beschreibendem Stil (with descriptive style) and in beschreibendem Stil (in descriptive style). When a definite article is present, the corresponding dative form is dem beschreibenden Text. With an indefinite article, andere endings apply, for instance ein beschreibendes Wort (nominative neuter with indefiniteness).

Morphology

As a present participle used as an adjective, beschreibend forms like beschreibendem follow regular German adjective declension patterns. In strong declension (no article), the dative masculine/neuter form is beschreibendem; in weak declension (after der/dem), the form would be beschreibenden, and feminine or plural forms follow their respective endings. The form beschreibendem is thus specifically the dative singular masculine/neuter inflection in the strong or mixed declension, not a standalone noun.

Examples

- ein beschreibendes Wörterbuch (a descriptive dictionary)

- mit beschreibendem Stil (with descriptive style)

- dem beschreibenden Text (the descriptive text)

Nominalization and capitalization

Like other adjectives, beschreibendem is not capitalized unless it begins a sentence or is nominalized as das Beschreibende. In such a nominalized use, the base form Beschreibende would appear as a noun meaning “the descriptive.”

See also

Beschreiben, beschreibend, declension of German adjectives.