Adjective declension (all cases)
Adjektivdeklination (alle Kasus)
endings depend on , gender, and the kind of before them.
Structure
schwach (nach der/die/das), gemischt (nach ein-), stark (ohne Artikel)
weak (after der/die/das), mixed (after ein-), strong (without article)
Details
- Part of Speech
- Adjective
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
When an stands before a noun (attributive), it takes an ending that signals , gender and . Which ending depends on what comes before the . There are three patterns:
- Weak - after a definite (der, die, das, dieser, jeder). The already shows the , so the ending is just -e or -en.
- Mixed - after ein, kein and the possessives (mein, dein …). Where ein shows no clear ending, the takes the strong ending instead.
- Strong - with no . The itself must carry the article-like ending (-er, -es, -em, -en …).
Weak endings (definite ):
| m | n | f | pl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nom | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| Akk | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| Dat | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| Gen | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Examples:
- Ich kaufe den roten Apfel. - I am buying the red apple. (weak, )
- Das ist ein guter Wein. - That is a good wine. (mixed, )
- Wir trinken kalten Saft. - We drink cold juice. (strong, no )
Common mistakes. Learners often drop the ending entirely (ein gut Wein) or use -e where -en is needed in the masculine. Notice that the masculine accusative is the one place where the and the both change.
About Adjective declension (all cases)
endings depend on , gender, and the kind of before them.
Three patterns: weak after definite articles, mixed after ein-words/possessives, strong with no . The ending signals , gender and .
Die hängt von , , und ab.
Caution
After a definite article use weak endings (mostly -e/-en); after ein-words mixed endings; with no article the adjective carries the strong (article-like) ending.