By the end of this lesson, I can…
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 1
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 2
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 3
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 4
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 5
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 6
Simple explanation
Retrieve related patterns together. Practice and test use separate questions; return to the source lesson when a point is unclear.
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 1
Der alte Mann wartet. After der, die, das, dieser, jeder, or similar words, the article already shows most grammatical information. The adjective usually takes weak endings, mainly -e or -en. Example: der alte Mann.
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 2
Das ist ein guter Freund. After ein, eine, kein, or possessive determiners like mein and dein, the adjective sometimes has to show additional information. Example: ein guter Freund.
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 3
Das ist ein kleines Kind. After ein, eine, kein, or possessive determiners like mein and dein, the adjective sometimes has to show additional information. Example: ein guter Freund.
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 4
Ich spreche mit dem neuen Lehrer. After der, die, das, dieser, jeder, or similar words, the article already shows most grammatical information. The adjective usually takes weak endings, mainly -e or -en. Example: der alte Mann.
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 5
Ich trinke kaltes Wasser. When there is no article, the adjective must show grammatical information itself. Therefore, it receives strong endings. Example: kaltes Wasser.
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 6
der gute Wein weak adjective declension Choose attributive endings by case, gender, number and determiner type. Read the full weak/mixed/strong table; strong masculine/neuter genitive normally uses en: guten Weines, kalten Wassers. Ein has no plural, so the mixed plural uses a possessive such as meine guten Freunde. Predicative adjectives do not decline: Der Wein ist gut.
Usage reference table
| Pattern or function | Target-language model |
|---|---|
| Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 1 | Der alte Mann wohnt neben uns. |
| Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 2 | Ich kaufe einen neuen Computer. |
| Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 3 | Sie trägt eine schöne Jacke. |
| Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 4 | Wir wohnen in einem kleinen Dorf. |
| Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 5 | Ich trinke kaltes Wasser. |
| Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 6 | Das ist ein interessantes Buch. |
Grammar formula
With definite article
Artikel + Adjektivendung + Nomender alt(e) Mann / die schön(e) Stadt
With indefinite article
ein/eine + Adjektivendung + Nomenein gut(er) Freund
Without article
Adjektiv mit starker Endung + Nomenfrisches Wasser
Core rules
- 1
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 1
Der alte Mann wartet. After der, die, das, dieser, jeder, or similar words, the article already shows most grammatical information. The adjective usually takes weak endings, mainly -e or -en. Example: der alte Mann.
- 2
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 2
Das ist ein guter Freund. After ein, eine, kein, or possessive determiners like mein and dein, the adjective sometimes has to show additional information. Example: ein guter Freund.
- 3
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 3
Das ist ein kleines Kind. After ein, eine, kein, or possessive determiners like mein and dein, the adjective sometimes has to show additional information. Example: ein guter Freund.
- 4
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 4
Ich spreche mit dem neuen Lehrer. After der, die, das, dieser, jeder, or similar words, the article already shows most grammatical information. The adjective usually takes weak endings, mainly -e or -en. Example: der alte Mann.
- 5
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 5
Ich trinke kaltes Wasser. When there is no article, the adjective must show grammatical information itself. Therefore, it receives strong endings. Example: kaltes Wasser.
- 6
Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 6
der gute Wein weak adjective declension Choose attributive endings by case, gender, number and determiner type. Read the full weak/mixed/strong table; strong masculine/neuter genitive normally uses en: guten Weines, kalten Wassers. Ein has no plural, so the mixed plural uses a possessive such as meine guten Freunde. Predicative adjectives do not decline: Der Wein ist gut.
Useful examples
Der alte Mann wohnt neben uns.
The old man lives next to us.
After the definite article der in nominative masculine, the adjective takes the ending -e.
Ich kaufe einen neuen Computer.
I am buying a new computer.
In accusative masculine after einen, the adjective takes the ending -en.
Sie trägt eine schöne Jacke.
She is wearing a beautiful jacket.
After eine with a feminine noun, the adjective takes the ending -e.
Wir wohnen in einem kleinen Dorf.
We live in a small village.
After einem in dative, the adjective usually takes the ending -en.
Ich trinke kaltes Wasser.
I drink cold water.
Without an article, the adjective shows the grammatical information and takes -es.
Das ist ein interessantes Buch.
This is an interesting book.
After ein with a neuter noun in nominative, the adjective takes -es.
Common mistakes
- ❌ Der alten Mann wartet. ✅ Der alte Mann wartet.
- ❌ Das ist ein gute Freund. ✅ Das ist ein guter Freund.
- ❌ Das ist ein kleine Kind. ✅ Das ist ein kleines Kind.
- ❌ Ich spreche mit dem neue Lehrer. ✅ Ich spreche mit dem neuen Lehrer.
- ❌ Ich trinke kalte Wasser. ✅ Ich trinke kaltes Wasser.
- ❌ der gute Wein → mixed adjective declension ✅ der gute Wein → weak adjective declension
Learning tips
- First ask whether the adjective comes directly before a noun. If it does not, you usually do not need a declension ending.
- Do not memorize endings without nouns. Learn complete chunks such as ein guter Freund, einen guten Freund, and das neue Auto.
- Learn adjective endings together with common noun phrases.
- Always identify the noun's gender and case before choosing an adjective ending.
Use it in your own text
Write six new sentences about your life, experiences or views. Use the rules and table and check why each form fits. The models are illustrations; you need not force every form into one text. This is self-assessment; the test score is recorded separately.
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 1
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 2
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 3
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 4
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 5
- Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 6
Show the model
Der alte Mann wohnt neben uns. Ich kaufe einen neuen Computer. Sie trägt eine schöne Jacke. Wir wohnen in einem kleinen Dorf. Ich trinke kaltes Wasser. Das ist ein interessantes Buch.
Check your own work
- My intended meaning fits the chosen construction.
- I checked subject, verb form, case/preposition and word order.
- I adapted the models to my own context and considered the exceptions.
Put it into practice
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Related grammar
Frequently asked questions
What matters for “Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 1”?
Der alte Mann wartet. After der, die, das, dieser, jeder, or similar words, the article already shows most grammatical information. The adjective usually takes weak endings, mainly -e or -en. Example: der alte Mann.
What matters for “Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 2”?
Das ist ein guter Freund. After ein, eine, kein, or possessive determiners like mein and dein, the adjective sometimes has to show additional information. Example: ein guter Freund.
What matters for “Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 3”?
Das ist ein kleines Kind. After ein, eine, kein, or possessive determiners like mein and dein, the adjective sometimes has to show additional information. Example: ein guter Freund.
What matters for “Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 4”?
Ich spreche mit dem neuen Lehrer. After der, die, das, dieser, jeder, or similar words, the article already shows most grammatical information. The adjective usually takes weak endings, mainly -e or -en. Example: der alte Mann.
What matters for “Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 5”?
Ich trinke kaltes Wasser. When there is no article, the adjective must show grammatical information itself. Therefore, it receives strong endings. Example: kaltes Wasser.
What matters for “Complete Guide to German Adjective Declension · 6”?
der gute Wein weak adjective declension Choose attributive endings by case, gender, number and determiner type. Read the full weak/mixed/strong table; strong masculine/neuter genitive normally uses en: guten Weines, kalten Wassers. Ein has no plural, so the mixed plural uses a possessive such as meine guten Freunde. Predicative adjectives do not decline: Der Wein ist gut.
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