German Phrase
Eis ist immer schnell.
Meaning
Literally, 'Ice is always fast.' The sentence can be used figuratively to comment that ice (e.g., a frozen surface) tends to be slippery and therefore moves quickly, or humorously to describe a fast‑moving ice‑cream truck.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to make a general observation about how ice behaves, especially in sports like ice skating or when talking about a fast‑moving object that involves ice.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Eisistimmerschnell
sein (ist)
The verb 'sein' (to be) is irregular; in the present tense, third‑person singular is 'ist'.
immer
'immer' is an adverb meaning 'always' and is placed before the adjective it modifies.
Predicative adjective
After 'sein' the adjective stays in its base form (no ending) because it is used predicatively.
🗨In Conversation
Wie schnell fährt das Eis heute?
How fast is the ice moving today?
Eis ist immer schnell.
Ice is always fast.
✕Common Mistakes
Eis ist immer schnelle.
After 'sein' the adjective must stay uninflected; 'schnelle' is a mistake.
Eis immer das schnell.
Word order is off; 'immer' should come before the adjective, not between noun and adjective.
Ist immer schnell das Eis.
The sentence structure should be subject‑verb‑adverb‑adjective; moving 'das Eis' to the end changes meaning.
↔Alternatives
Eis ist stets schnell.
Ice is constantly fast.
Eis ist immer rasch.
Ice is always swift.
Eis ist immer schnell unterwegs.
Ice is always moving quickly.
Cultural Tip
In German, adjectives that follow the verb 'sein' are not declined; they stay in their base form (e.g., 'schnell', not 'schnelle'). Also, the adverb 'immer' normally precedes the adjective, but you can also place it after the verb for emphasis: 'Eis ist schnell, immer.'