Adjective declension after the definite article (nom./acc.)
Adjektivdeklination nach bestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
After the definite , attributive adjectives take -e (most) or -en (masculine ).
Structure
der/die/das + Adjektiv + -e/-en + Nomen
der/die/das + adjective + -e/-en + noun
Details
- Part of Speech
- Adjective
- Word Type
- Adjective declension
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
After the definite article (der/die/das), attributive adjectives take the weak endings -e or -en. Because the already shows gender and , the only needs a light ending.
In the and , the rule is simple: almost everything ends in -e; the one exception is the masculine , which takes -en.
| masculine | der gute Mann | den guten Mann |
| feminine | die gute Frau | die gute Frau |
| neuter | das gute Kind | das gute Kind |
| die guten Kinder | die guten Kinder |
- Der kleine Hund schläft. - The little dog is sleeping.
- Ich kaufe den roten Apfel. - I'm buying the red apple.
- Sie liest das neue Buch. - She is reading the new book.
Common mistakes: The masculine is the trap: den großen Mann (-en), even though the is der große Mann (-e). The always takes -en.
About Adjective declension after the definite article (nom./acc.)
After the definite , attributive adjectives take -e (most) or -en (masculine ).
der/die/das + + -e. : die/das stay -e, but masculine 'den' takes -en. Weak .
Nach dem bestimmten enden auf -e oder -en (maskulin ).
Caution
Masculine accusative is the exception: 'den großen Mann' (-en), while nominative is 'der große Mann' (-e).