Why is it “Guten” but not the genetive form “Gutes”?
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“Gutes” without a definite article would be uncountable:
Das ist zu viel Gutes. - That’s too much good.
“des Guten” limits it to a certain amount of good or one single good thing:
Das ist zu viel des Guten. - That’s too much of a good thing.
Both work, but have a slightly different meaning.
However, the set phrase uses the definite article.
Probably because it is normally about one specific good thing that turns into something bad if you overdo it.
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Thanks a lot for your help!
“So, literally, the phrase could be translated as “That is too much of the good.” However, the idiomatic translation “That is too much of a good thing!” captures the intended meaning of the phrase more accurately.” ~GPT, Chat
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