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Predicate adjective after 'sein' (to be)

Prädikatives Adjektiv nach 'sein'

After 'sein' (to be) a predicate stays in its base form - no ending.

Structure

Subjekt + sein + Adjektiv (ohne Endung)

subject + sein + adjective (no ending)

Details

Part of Speech
Adjective
Word Type
Predicative adjective
Register
Standard

Explanation

A predicative adjective comes after a rather than before a . After sein (to be) it stays in its base form - it takes no ending.

  • Das Auto ist neu. (The car is new.)
  • Die Suppe ist heiß. (The soup is hot.)
  • Die Kinder sind müde. (The children are tired.)

Compare with an attributive before a , which does get an ending: ein neues Auto, die heiße Suppe.

Common mistake: don't add an ending after 'sein' - say Das Auto ist neu, not ist neues.

About Predicate adjective after 'sein' (to be)

After 'sein' (to be) a predicate stays in its base form - no ending.

After 'sein', the is predicative and takes no ending.

Nach 'sein' bleibt ein prädikatives in der - ohne Endung.

Caution

Only attributive adjectives before a noun get endings (ein kaltes Bier). After 'sein' the adjective stays in its base form: Das Bier ist kalt.

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