gutem

Gutem is the dative singular form of the German adjective gut, used before masculine or neuter nouns when the noun is not preceded by a definite article. It functions as an attributive adjective and is common in everyday German in phrases that require the dative case. For example, in the expressions in gutem Zustand (in good condition), mit gutem Wein (with good wine), or zu gutem Zweck (for a good cause), gutem appears before the noun and carries the appropriate endings for the dative case.

Morphology and usage notes:

- When a definite article or a determiner such as ein/eine is present, the adjective endings change. For example, with a definite article: dem guten Mann (dative masculine singular) and with ein: einen guten Mann. In these forms the ending on the adjective is -en, not -em.

- Gutem is specific to the masculine and neuter dative singular in the absence of a definite article. The feminine dative singular has a different form, such as guter Laune.

- In the nominative and accusative cases, other endings appear: guter Mann (nominative masculine), gutes Kind (nominative/accusative neuter), guten Mann (accusative masculine).

Etymology:

The adjective gut derives from the Old High German guot and is cognate with Dutch goed and English good. The form gutem reflects Germanic inflection patterns that assign -em to certain masculine and neuter dative singular positions when no definite article is present.

See also:

German adjectives, adjectival declension, German grammar basics.