Why endings are needed
When an adjective stands directly before a noun, it must agree with the noun in gender, case, and number. The ending depends on what comes before the adjective.
Weak declension — after der/die/das (definite article)
After a definite article, the adjective takes -e or -en:
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der alte Mann | die junge Frau | das kleine Kind | die alten Leute |
| Accusative | den alten Mann | die junge Frau | das kleine Kind | die alten Leute |
| Dative | dem alten Mann | der jungen Frau | dem kleinen Kind | den alten Leuten |
Mixed declension — after ein/eine/ein (indefinite article)
After an indefinite article or possessive pronoun, the adjective shows the gender signal:
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural (kein-) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ein alter Mann | eine junge Frau | ein kleines Kind | keine alten Leute |
| Accusative | einen alten Mann | eine junge Frau | ein kleines Kind | keine alten Leute |
| Dative | einem alten Mann | einer jungen Frau | einem kleinen Kind | keinen alten Leuten |
Quick memory aid
Think of it as: if the article already shows the gender (e.g. die, das, den, dem), the adjective takes -e or -en. If the article does not show gender clearly (like ein in Nom. m/n), the adjective must carry the gender signal (-er, -es).
Examples in sentences
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Das ist ein gutes Buch. | That is a good book. |
| Ich lese das interessante Buch. | I read the interesting book. |
| Sie hat einen netten Lehrer. | She has a nice teacher. |
| Wir helfen dem alten Mann. | We help the old man. |
Real world: restaurant menus and food descriptions
German menus are perfect for practising attributive adjective endings: „ein frischer Salat" (a fresh salad — masculine, Nom., indef.), „die hausgemachte Suppe" (the home-made soup — feminine, Nom., def.), „das gegrillte Hähnchen" (the grilled chicken — neuter, Nom., def.). Real menus provide instant feedback on whether you have got the ending right!
Real world: estate agent listings and flat adverts
German flat adverts are full of adjective + noun phrases: „eine helle Wohnung im zweiten Stock" (a bright flat on the second floor), „ein modernes Bad mit großem Balkon" (a modern bathroom with a large balcony — Nom. neuter indef. / Dat. masculine indef.), „in ruhiger Lage" (in a quiet location — Dat. fem. indef.). Reading these listings is excellent adjective-endings practice.
Real world: product packaging and advertising
German product descriptions rely on attributive adjectives: „Frische Vollmilch" (Fresh whole milk — fem. indef. strong), „Zartes Hähnchenfleisch" (Tender chicken meat — neuter indef. strong), „Der perfekte Geschmack" (The perfect taste — masc. def.). Packaging language uses all three genders constantly.
A useful shortcut: after der/die/das, the ending is almost always -e or -en. After ein/eine, the adjective must carry the gender signal (-er for masculine Nom., -es for neuter Nom./Acc.). When in doubt, -en is the most common ending overall.
Practice Problems
Fill in: Das ist ein ____ Hund. (groß, neuter Nom.)
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Fill in: Ich sehe den ____ Mann. (alt, masculine Acc., after definite article)
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Fill in: Sie hat eine ____ Katze. (klein, feminine Nom.)