Adjective Endings
Adjective endings in German change based on the article (definite, indefinite, or no article), the case (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive), and the gender of the noun.
This is one of the most challenging aspects of German grammar, but there are clear patterns to follow.
This lesson covers the basic patterns of adjective endings that you'll use most often at A1 level.
Explanation
When adjectives come before nouns, they need endings. The ending depends on what article (if any) comes before the adjective.
With definite articles (der, die, das), adjectives usually get '-e' in nominative and accusative (except masculine accusative which gets '-en').
With indefinite articles (ein, eine), adjectives get different endings: '-er' for masculine, '-e' for feminine, '-es' for neuter in nominative.
After the verb 'sein' (to be), adjectives don't get endings: 'Das Auto ist groß' (The car is big).
Adjective Endings - Nominative
| Article | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| der/die/das | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| ein/eine | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| no article | -er | -e | -es | -e |
Adjective Endings - Accusative
In accusative case, only masculine adjectives change: they get '-en' instead of '-e' or '-er'.
| Article | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| den/die/das | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| einen/eine | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| no article | -en | -e | -es | -e |
Adjective Endings - Dative
In dative case, all adjectives get '-en' ending, regardless of gender or article.
| Article | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dem/der/dem | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| einem/einer | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| no article | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Examples
Der große Tisch
The big table
Die schöne Frau
The beautiful woman
Das kleine Kind
The small child
Ein großer Tisch
A big table
Eine schöne Frau
A beautiful woman
Ein kleines Kind
A small child
Ich sehe den großen Tisch.
I see the big table.
Er gibt der schönen Frau ein Buch.
He gives the beautiful woman a book.
Common Mistakes
der groß Tisch
der große Tisch
Adjectives need endings when they come before nouns. With 'der', use '-e' ending.
ein groß Tisch
ein großer Tisch
With 'ein' and masculine nouns, adjectives need '-er' ending, not no ending.
Das Auto ist große
Das Auto ist groß
After 'sein', adjectives don't get endings - they stay in base form.
Practice Exercises
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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.