📖 Explanation: Adjective Declension (Adjektivdeklination)
Adjectives in German change their endings depending on three factors:
- Type of article before the adjective:
- Strong declension (starke Deklination): Used when there is no article or article-like determiner before the adjective.
- Mixed declension (gemischte Deklination): After indefinite article (ein, kein) or similar (mein, dein without ending).
- Weak declension (schwache Deklination): After definite article (der, die, das) or similar words (dieser, jener, welcher, jeder).
- Gender, number, and case of the noun.
- Whether the adjective is before the noun (attributive) – only then does it decline.
Adjectives after sein, werden, bleiben (predicate) do not decline (Das Haus ist groß.).
The endings are the same for all adjectives; only the choice of declension type changes.
📋 Table 1: Overview of Declension Types
| Type | When Used | Typical Endings (Nom. Masc.) | Example (Nom. Masc.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | No preceding article (never preceded by der/die/das or possessives) | -er | guter Wein |
| Mixed | After ein/kein/possessives (mein, dein, ihr, unser, euer etc.) | -er | ein guter Wein |
| Weak | After der/die/das/dieser etc. | -e | der gute Wein |
📋 Table 2: Strong Declension (No Article)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| Accusative | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| Dative | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| Genitive | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Example: alter Mann (Nom.), alten Mann (Acc.), altem Mann (Dat.)
📋 Table 3: Weak Declension (After Definite Article)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| Accusative | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| Dative | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| Genitive | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Example: der alte Mann, den alten Mann, dem alten Mann
📋 Table 4: Mixed Declension (After ein/kein/mein etc.)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| Accusative | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| Dative | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| Genitive | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Example: ein alter Mann, einen alten Mann, einem alten Mann
📋 Table 5: Special Cases and Exceptions
| Situation | Rule / Example |
|---|---|
| No article in plural | Always strong declension: gute Freunde |
| After possessives (mein, dein…) | Mixed declension: mein guter Freund |
| After “viel/wenig/manch” | Strong: viel gutes Bier |
| After “etwas/welch” | No ending: etwas Neues, welch schönes Wetter |
| Adjectives ending in -el/-er | Often drop “e” in base form: dunkel → dunkler Wein |
| Comparative/Superlative | Same declension rules apply: besserer Wein, der beste Wein |
| Predicate position | No declension: Das Auto ist neu. |
🔑 Rules and Tips
- Memory trick: Weak = mostly -e/-en, strong = more varied endings (like definite articles), mixed = combination.
- In plural: After definite article → -en everywhere (weak), without → -e in Nom/Acc, -en in Dat (strong).
- No ending after etwas, nichts, vieles, manches, welch- (in questions).
- Common mistake: Using wrong type (e.g., der gut Wein wrong → der gute Wein).
- Practice order: First weak (most common, after der/die/das), then mixed (after ein), then strong (no article).
- Adjectives after nouns or as adverbs don’t decline (Er läuft schnell.).
Examples in sentences:
- Ich habe einen neuen Computer gekauft. (mixed, acc. masc.)
- Das neue Auto ist teuer. (weak, nom. neut.)
- Alter Wein schmeckt besser. (strong, nom. masc.)
- Die alten Bücher stehen im Regal. (weak, nom. pl.)
Adjective declension is one of the hardest parts for learners, but with practice (especially reading), you’ll get the feel for which ending sounds right!