German Grammar
German Adjective Declension
In German, adjectives change their endings when they come before a noun, depending on the gender, case, number, and type of article (definite vs. indefinite) used. This process is called adjective declension, and it follows three distinct patterns: weak, mixed, and strong.
Declined vs. Undeclined Adjectives:
- • Das Auto ist rot. (The car is red.) - not before noun → undeclined
- • Das rote Auto fährt schnell. (The red car drives fast.) - before noun → declined
Three Types of Declension
The type of declension depends on what comes before the adjective. Each type has its own pattern of endings:
| Declension Type | Used After | Examples | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weak | der, die, das (definite) | der gute Mann | -e or -en |
| Mixed | ein, eine (indefinite), mein, dein (possessive) | ein guter Mann | Mix of weak and strong |
| Strong | No article | guter Kaffee | Shows case/gender clearly |
These words also trigger weak declension: dieser, jener, jeder, welcher, solcher, mancher, alle.
Weak Declension
Weak declension is used after definite articles and similar words. The endings are simple: -e or -en.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der gute Mann | die gute Frau | das gute Kind | die guten Leute |
| Accusative | den guten Mann | die gute Frau | das gute Kind | die guten Leute |
| Dative | dem guten Mann | der guten Frau | dem guten Kind | den guten Leuten |
| Genitive | des guten Mannes | der guten Frau | des guten Kindes | der guten Leute |
More examples with weak declension:
- • Dieser alte Baum ist schön. (This old tree is beautiful.)
- • Ich mag jede neue Idee. (I like every new idea.)
- • Alle kleinen Kinder spielen. (All small children play.)
Strong Declension
Strong declension is used when there's no article before the adjective. The adjective endings must show the gender, case, and number clearly, so there are more endings to memorize.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | guter Wein | gute Milch | gutes Bier | gute Bücher |
| Accusative | guten Wein | gute Milch | gutes Bier | gute Bücher |
| Dative | gutem Wein | guter Milch | gutem Bier | guten Büchern |
| Genitive | guten Weines | guter Milch | guten Bieres | guter Bücher |
Examples with strong declension:
- • Frisches Brot schmeckt gut. (Fresh bread tastes good.)
- • Ich trinke kalte Milch. (I drink cold milk.)
- • Mit gutem Willen geht alles. (With good will, everything works.)
Mixed Declension
Mixed declension is used after indefinite articles (ein, eine) and possessive articles (mein, dein, etc.). It combines weak and strong endings.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural (kein/mein) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ein guter Mann | eine gute Frau | ein gutes Kind | keine guten Leute |
| Accusative | einen guten Mann | eine gute Frau | ein gutes Kind | keine guten Leute |
| Dative | einem guten Mann | einer guten Frau | einem guten Kind | keinen guten Leuten |
| Genitive | eines guten Mannes | einer guten Frau | eines guten Kindes | keiner guten Leute |
Notice: In masculine nominative and neuter nominative/accusative, the adjective takes strong endings (-er, -es) because the article doesn't show the case clearly.
Examples with possessive articles:
- • Mein neuer Computer ist schnell. (My new computer is fast.)
- • Ich besuche deine alte Schule. (I visit your old school.)
- • Das ist sein bestes Buch. (That is his best book.)
Special Cases
Some adjectives have special rules when adding endings:
| Rule | Base Form | With Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjectives ending in -e | leise | leiser | ein leiser Ton |
| Adjectives ending in -el | dunkel | dunkler | ein dunkler Raum |
| Adjectives ending in -er (after vowel) | teuer | teures | ein teures Auto |
Predicate vs. Attributive Adjectives
Only attributive adjectives (adjectives that come before nouns) are declined. Predicate adjectives (adjectives that come after verbs like sein or werden) never change their form.
| Type | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Attributive | Before noun | Der kleine Hund |
| Predicate | After sein/werden | Der Hund ist klein |
Compare these sentences:
- • Das neue Haus ist groß. → Das Haus ist neu. (The new house is big. → The house is new.)
- • Ich kaufe frisches Obst. → Das Obst ist frisch. (I buy fresh fruit. → The fruit is fresh.)
- • Die alten Bücher werden wertvoll. → Die Bücher werden alt. (The old books become valuable. → The books become old.)