Adjective endings in German depend on the gender, case, and definiteness (definite, indefinite, or no article) of the noun they modify. This can seem complicated at first, but with practice, it becomes easier to use the correct endings naturally. In this lesson, you will learn the rules for adjective endings and how to apply them in sentences.
What You Will Learn
- Why adjective endings are important in German.
- The difference between strong, weak, and mixed adjective endings.
- How adjective endings change based on articles and cases.
- Examples and practice exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Why Are Adjective Endings Important?
Adjective endings provide critical grammatical information about the noun they describe. They indicate:
- The gender (masculine, feminine, neuter, plural).
- The case (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive).
- The type of article (definite, indefinite, or no article).
Example:
| Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|
| Der große Mann ist nett. | The tall man is nice. |
| Ich sehe einen großen Mann. | I see a tall man. |
| Die Blumen sind für den großen Mann. | The flowers are for the tall man. |
Types of Adjective Endings
Adjective endings in German fall into three categories:
1. Strong Endings
Strong endings are used when there is no article (e.g., plural nouns without an article) or when the noun’s case is not marked by the article.
2. Weak Endings
Weak endings are used after definite articles (der, die, das) or other “der-words” (e.g., dieser, jeder, welcher).
3. Mixed Endings
Mixed endings are used after indefinite articles (ein, eine) or possessive pronouns (e.g., mein, dein, sein).
Adjective Endings Table
Here is a comprehensive table of adjective endings based on the article type, gender, and case:
1. After Definite Articles (Weak Endings)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| Accusative | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| Dative | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| Genitive | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Example:
- der große Mann (the tall man, nominative)
- den großen Mann (the tall man, accusative)
- mit dem großen Mann (with the tall man, dative)
- des großen Mannes (of the tall man, genitive)
2. After Indefinite Articles (Mixed Endings)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| Accusative | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| Dative | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| Genitive | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Example:
- ein großer Mann (a tall man, nominative)
- einen großen Mann (a tall man, accusative)
- mit einem großen Mann (with a tall man, dative)
- eines großen Mannes (of a tall man, genitive)
3. No Article (Strong Endings)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| Accusative | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| Dative | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| Genitive | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Example:
- großer Mann (tall man, nominative)
- großen Mann (tall man, accusative)
- mit großem Mann (with a tall man, dative)
- großen Mannes (of a tall man, genitive)
How to Choose the Correct Ending
- Identify the gender of the noun (masculine, feminine, neuter, plural).
- Determine the case (nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive).
- Look at the type of article (definite, indefinite, or none).
- Apply the appropriate ending from the table.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct adjective ending:
- Das ist ________ (groß) Mann. (nominative, definite article)
- Ich sehe ________ (klein) Hund. (accusative, indefinite article)
- Wir sprechen mit ________ (alt) Lehrer. (dative, no article)
- Das Buch ________ (neu) Autor ist interessant. (genitive, definite article)
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Form
Select the correct adjective ending:
- Ich habe einen ________ (gut) Freund.
- a) guten
- b) guter
- c) gutes
- Sie liest das ________ (spannend) Buch.
- a) spannendes
- b) spannenden
- c) spannende
- Der ________ (schön) Garten gehört meinem Nachbarn.
- a) schöne
- b) schönen
- c) schöner
Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences
Translate the following sentences into German:
- I see a tall man.
- She is reading an interesting book.
- We are talking with the kind teacher.
- The colors of the beautiful flowers are bright.
Exercise 4: Identify the Type of Ending
For each sentence below, state whether the adjective ending is weak, mixed, or strong:
- Der große Hund ist freundlich.
- Ich habe einen kleinen Hund.
- Wir spielen mit altem Spielzeug.
Summary
In this lesson, you learned:
- The three types of adjective endings: strong, weak, and mixed.
- How to determine the correct ending based on gender, case, and article type.
- Examples of adjective endings in various contexts.
Homework
- Write 5 sentences using weak adjective endings.
- Write 5 sentences using mixed adjective endings.
- Practice translating sentences with adjectives into German.