Indirekten

Indirekten is the attributive inflected form of the German adjective indirekt, used before a noun to indicate indirectness. In German grammar, it is most commonly found when the adjective accompanies a definite determiner (such as der, die, das, den, den, der) and the noun is plural or in certain singular cases. The form represents the weak declension ending -en, which appears in many common constructions such as die indirekten Kosten, den indirekten Nachweis, and der indirekten Kosten, depending on the case.

Usage and examples:

- Die indirekten Kosten belasten den Haushalt. (indirect costs with a definite article in nominative plural)

- Den indirekten Nachweis erbrachte eine neue Beobachtung. (indirect proof in accusative singular masculine)

- Die indirekten Auswirkungen wurden später sichtbar. (indirect effects in nominative plural)

The same ending also appears in other plural and singular contexts with a determiner, and it contrasts with other inflected forms of indirekt (such as indirekte, das indirekte, or der indirekte) used in different gender, number, and case configurations.

Etymology and related terms:

The adjective indirekt derives from Latin indirectus via French indirect. In discourse, indirekt is used across domains to describe things not directly connected or presented, including indirect speech (indirekte Rede), indirect evidence (indirekter Beweis), and indirect methods in research or analysis.

Notes:

Indirekten is a common, productive form in German, reflecting the language’s system of adjective endings after determiners. Correct usage depends on the noun’s gender, number, and case, as well as the determiner accompanying the noun.