häufigem

Häufigem is the dative singular form of the German adjective häufig, meaning frequent or common. It is used when the adjective modifies a masculine or neuter noun in the dative case, typically in the absence of a strong determiner or after certain prepositions.

Usage and grammar

- In phrases without a definite article, the adjective takes the ending -em in the masculine or neuter dative singular: mit häufigem Gebrauch, in häufigem Maße.

- With a definite article or a determiner that marks case, the form changes depending on gender and number: dem häufigen Mann, dem häufigen Kind (dative singular); den häufigen Fällen (dative plural with an article).

- Häufigem is not a noun by itself; it is a grammatical form of das Adjektiv häufig. The adverb form remains häufig and does not take -em.

Etymology and related forms

- The adjective häufig comes from older Germanic roots and is related to the noun Häufigkeit, which denotes frequency. The related noun describes the concept of how often something occurs.

Notes

- Distinguish between the adjective form häufig (used as an adverb or before a noun) and the inflected form häufigem, which appears in the dative singular masculine or neuter contexts.

- Common phrases include mit häufigem Gebrauch and in häufigem Maße, illustrating how the dative -em ending links the adjective to the noun in a prepositional or determiner-free setting.

See also

- Häufigkeit (frequency)

- German adjectives and their declension

- Dative case in German grammar