How to Use Adjective Endings in German

Similar to the way they function in English, German adjectives describe nouns. German adjectives have two functions: They can be attributive (taking endings) or predicative (occurring in the predicate of the sentence). For example, in the phrase “the beautiful castle,” beautiful is attributive. In the sentence “the castle is beautiful,” beautiful is predicative.

Instructions

1. Understand that, In German, predicative adjectives do not decline. Predicate adjectives follow the verbs sein (to be) and warden (to become/ get). “Der Mann ist reich” (The man is rich). “Der Tee wird kalt” (The tea is getting cold). Adverbs (adjectives modifying verbs) do not take endings, either. “Du must deine Hausaufgaben schnell machen” (You must quickly do your homework; or, literally, you must your homework quickly do).

2. Know that the nominative case usually functions as the subject of the sentence. When using “der” (masculine definite article), add –e to the adjective. “Der rote Wein ist gut” (The red wine is good). When using “ein” (the masculine indefinite article) or any of the masculine possessive adjectives (mein, dein, sein, ihr, Ihr), add an –er to the adjective. “Ein langer Brief” (a long letter); “mein roter Wein” (my red wine). “Sein langer brief war lustig” (His long letter was funny).

3. When using feminine nominative nouns, add –e to the adjective. This applies to the definite article (die), the indefinite article (eine) and the possessive adjectives (meine, deine, seine, ihre, Ihre). “Die kalte Suppe” (the cold soup), “eine junge Tochter” (a young daughter), “meine alte Kuh” (my old cow). “Meine alte Kuh ist müde” (My old cow is tired).

4. With neuter nominative nouns, add –e to the adjective if it follows “das” (the definite article). “Das kleine Büro” (the small office). If the adjective follows the indefinite article (ein) or any of the possessive adjectives (mein, dein, sein, ihr, Ihr), add an –es. “Ein rotes Dach” (a red roof), “dein schönes Bild” (your beautiful picture), “Dein schönes bild hängt an der Wand” (your beautiful picture hangs on the wall).

5. Learn the adjective endings for accusative case. Accusative case typically functions as the direct object. With masculine accusative nouns, add –en to the adjective. “Den roten Wein” (the red wine), “einen langen Brief” (a long letter), “meinen alten Lehrer” (my old teacher). “Er kennt meinen alten Lehrer” (he knows my old teacher).

6. With feminine accusative nouns, add –e to the adjective. “Die kalte Suppe” (the cold soup), “seine alte Kuh” (his old cow). “Ich kaufte seine alte Kuh” (I bought his old cow).

7. With neuter accusative nouns, add –es to the adjective. “Das kleine Büro” (the small office), “ein rotes Dach” (a red roof), “ihr schönes Bild” (her beautiful picture). “Ich möchte ein rotes Dach” (I would like a red roof).

8. Dative case usually functions as the indirect object. For dative nouns, add –en to the adjective. This applies to all three genders. “Dem roten Wein” (the red wine), “einem alten Lehrer” (an old teacher), “seiner schönen Freundin” (his beautiful girlfriend). “Ich gebe meinem alten Lehrer ein Geschenk” (I am giving my old teacher a gift).

9. Genitive case usually has a possessive function. For genitive nouns, add –en to the adjective. This applies to all genders. “Der Brief meines alten Vaters” (my old father’s letter; or, literally, the letter of my old father), “das Kind einer intelligenten Lehrerin” (The intelligent female teacher’s child), “das Buch des schönen Mädchens” (the beautiful girl’s book). “Das Buch des schönen Mädchens ist lustig” (The beautiful girl’s book is funny).

10. For plural nouns, add –en to the adjective. This applies for all genders and cases. “Die grössen Hunde sing jung” (The big dogs are young). “Ich mag die schönen Rosen” (I like the beautiful roses). “Ich gebe meinen netten Freunden Geschenke” (I give my nice friends gifts). “Die Hunde meiner alten Tanten sind energisch” (My old aunts’ dogs are energetic).