German Phrase
Mach horizontale und vertikale Schnitte.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct instruction telling someone to cut something both horizontally and vertically. It is commonly used in cooking (e.g., slicing vegetables), crafting, woodworking, or any situation where a grid‑like pattern of cuts is needed.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving step‑by‑step instructions that require a person to make two sets of cuts at right angles. It works well in a kitchen, a workshop, a classroom art project, or when describing how to prepare a diagram.
✦Grammar Breakdown
MachhorizontaleundvertikaleSchnitte
Imperativ (du-Form)
‘Mach’ is the informal singular imperative of ‘machen’; it is used for direct commands to a familiar person.
Adjektivdeklination ohne Artikel
When no article precedes a plural noun, adjectives take the strong ending –e in the nominative: ‘horizontale Schnitte’, ‘vertikale Schnitte’.
Plural Nomen ‘Schnitt’
‘Schnitt’ is masculine (der Schnitt); its plural is ‘die Schnitte’. In the imperative sentence the noun stands in the accusative, which has the same form as the nominative for plural.
Konjunktion ‘und’
‘und’ simply links two coordinate adjective‑noun groups, keeping the same case and number for both.
🗨In Conversation
Wie soll ich das Gemüse für den Salat vorbereiten?
How should I prepare the vegetables for the salad?
Mach horizontale und vertikale Schnitte.
Make horizontal and vertical cuts.
✕Common Mistakes
Machen horizontale und vertikale Schnitte.
‘Machen’ is the infinitive; the correct imperative for ‘du’ is ‘Mach’.
Mach die horizontale und vertikale Schnitte.
Adding a definite article before the plural noun changes the adjective ending to weak –en, which would be ‘die horizontalen und vertikalen Schnitte’. The original sentence omits the article, so the strong ending –e is required.
Mach horizontalen und vertikalen Schnitte.
When no article is present, the adjective must take the strong ending –e, not –en.
↔Alternatives
Schneide horizontal und vertikal.
Slice horizontally and vertically.
Führe horizontale und vertikale Schnitte aus.
Carry out horizontal and vertical cuts.
Mache horizontale und vertikale Schnitte.
Make horizontal and vertical cuts.
Cultural Tip
‘Mach’ is informal; if you are speaking to someone you don’t know well or in a professional setting, use the formal imperative ‘Machen Sie …’. Also, in German cooking vocabulary, ‘Schnitte’ can refer to a slice or a cut, so the phrase is perfectly natural in a kitchen context. Remember that German adjectives must match the noun’s case, number, and gender – dropping the article changes the ending to the strong form ‘-e’.