German Adjectives & Adverbs
Adjectives describe nouns (big, small, beautiful). Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (quickly, very, well).
In German, adjectives change their endings depending on the article and case. This might seem complex, but there are clear patterns to learn.
At A1 level, you'll learn basic adjective usage and how to form simple adverbs from adjectives.
Explanation
When adjectives come before nouns, they need endings that match the article and case. With definite articles (der, die, das), adjectives usually get '-e' or '-en' endings.
With indefinite articles (ein, eine), adjectives get different endings: '-er' for masculine, '-e' for feminine, '-es' for neuter in nominative.
Adjectives can also come after the verb 'sein' (to be) without endings: 'Das Auto ist groß' (The car is big).
Adverbs don't change in German. Many adverbs are the same as adjectives: 'schnell' means both 'fast' (adjective) and 'quickly' (adverb).
Adjective Endings with Definite Articles (Nominative)
| Gender | Article + Adjective | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der + -e | der große Tisch | the big table |
| Feminine | die + -e | die schöne Frau | the beautiful woman |
| Neuter | das + -e | das kleine Kind | the small child |
| Plural | die + -en | die großen Tische | the big tables |
Adjective Endings with Indefinite Articles
With indefinite articles (ein, eine), adjectives get different endings in nominative case.
For masculine: ein + -er (ein großer Tisch), for feminine: eine + -e (eine schöne Frau), for neuter: ein + -es (ein kleines Kind).
| Gender | Article + Adjective | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | ein + -er | ein großer Tisch | a big table |
| Feminine | eine + -e | eine schöne Frau | a beautiful woman |
| Neuter | ein + -es | ein kleines Kind | a small child |
Adverbs
Adverbs describe how, when, or where something happens. In German, many adverbs are identical to adjectives.
Common adverbs: schnell (quickly), langsam (slowly), gut (well), schlecht (badly), sehr (very), oft (often), immer (always), nie (never).
Adverbs don't change their form. They stay the same regardless of what they describe.
Er läuft schnell.
He runs quickly.
Sie spricht langsam.
She speaks slowly.
Ich fahre sehr gut.
I drive very well.
Wir gehen oft ins Kino.
We often go to the cinema.
Er ist immer pünktlich.
He is always punctual.
Ich trinke nie Kaffee.
I never drink coffee.
Examples
Der große Tisch ist teuer.
The big table is expensive.
Ich habe eine schöne Katze.
I have a beautiful cat.
Das kleine Kind spielt.
The small child plays.
Er ist groß.
He is tall. (adjective after 'sein', no ending)
Sie ist sehr nett.
She is very nice.
Das Auto fährt schnell.
The car drives fast. (adverb)
Ich kaufe ein neues Buch.
I buy a new book.
Wir haben gute Freunde.
We have good friends.
Er spricht gut Deutsch.
He speaks German well. (adverb)
Die alte Frau wohnt hier.
The old woman lives here.
Common Mistakes
ein groß Tisch
ein großer Tisch
With 'ein' and masculine nouns, the adjective needs '-er' ending.
eine schön Frau
eine schöne Frau
With 'eine' and feminine nouns, the adjective needs '-e' ending.
ein klein Kind
ein kleines Kind
With 'ein' and neuter nouns, the adjective needs '-es' ending.
Er ist große
Er ist groß
After 'sein', adjectives don't get endings - they stay in base form.
Sie fährt schnell Auto
Sie fährt schnell Auto
Actually correct! Adverbs don't change. But remember: 'schnell' describes 'fährt', not 'Auto'.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.