In German, adjectives change their endings based on the gender, case, and definiteness of the noun they modify. This system ensures that adjectives agree with the nouns they describe, providing important grammatical information.
Basics of Adjective Declensions
Adjective declensions occur in three main contexts:
- Definite Articles (e.g., "der," "die," "das")
- Indefinite Articles (e.g., "ein," "eine")
- No Article (noun used without an article)
Adjective Endings with Definite Articles
When an adjective follows a definite article, it takes a specific ending based on the noun's gender, case, and number.
Definite Article Declension Table
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der große Mann | die große Frau | das große Kind | die großen Bücher |
| Accusative | den großen Mann | die große Frau | das große Kind | die großen Bücher |
| Dative | dem großen Mann | der großen Frau | dem großen Kind | den großen Bücher |
| Genitive | des großen Mannes | der großen Frau | des großen Kindes | der großen Bücher |
Adjective Endings with Indefinite Articles
With indefinite articles, adjectives also take specific endings to convey the necessary grammatical information.
Indefinite Article Declension Table
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ein großer Mann | eine große Frau | ein großes Kind | keine großen Bücher |
| Accusative | einen großen Mann | eine große Frau | ein großes Kind | keine großen Bücher |
| Dative | einem großen Mann | einer großen Frau | einem großen Kind | keinen großen Büchern |
| Genitive | eines großen Mannes | einer großen Frau | eines großen Kindes | keiner großen Bücher |
Adjective Endings with No Article
When no article is used, adjectives take strong endings, similar to the endings used for definite articles.
No Article Declension Table
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | großer Mann | große Frau | großes Kind | große Bücher |
| Accusative | großen Mann | große Frau | großes Kind | große Bücher |
| Dative | großem Mann | großer Frau | großem Kind | großen Büchern |
| Genitive | großen Mannes | großer Frau | großen Kindes | großer Bücher |
Key Points
- Adjective endings are crucial for indicating grammatical gender, case, and number in German.
- The endings change based on whether the noun is preceded by a definite article, an indefinite article, or no article at all.
- Understanding the correct adjective endings helps ensure clarity and precision in communication.
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By mastering these declensions, learners can accurately describe nouns and convey meaning with clarity in German.