verschiedene

Verschiedene is a German adjective meaning various or different. It is used to indicate that a group contains items that are not identical, signaling diversity or a range of options. In typical usage it precedes a noun, as in verschiedene Arten, verschiedene Gründe, verschiedene Ansichten.

Etymology and grammar: The form derives from verschieden, from ver- (a prefix meaning apart or differently) and scheiden (to separate). As an attributive adjective it is declined according to case, number, and article. In plural nominative or accusative without a determiner, you say verschiedene Arten. After a definite article or another determiner, the ending is -en: die verschiedenen Arten. In neuter singular with an indefinite article you would say ein verschiedenes Problem; in feminine singular you would say eine verschiedene Idee. The predicative form is often used as well: Die Gründe sind verschieden.

Nominalization and nuance: Das Verschiedene can function as a noun referring to the multitude of different things in a context. Verschieden emphasizes the sense of difference and variety, while synonyms include unterschiedlich, divers, and vielfältig. The choice of term can shape nuance: divers stresses variety; unterschiedlich stresses dissimilarity; vielfaltig highlights richness.

Examples: Es gibt verschiedene Möglichkeiten. Wir haben verschiedene Gründe für die Entscheidung. Die Ansichten unter den Teilnehmern sind verschieden.

See also: synonyms and related terms such as verschieden, unterschiedlich, divers, vielfältig; antonyms like gleich, identisch.