German Adjective Endings (Declension): A Practical Guide
German adjective endings (Adjektivendungen) change based on case, gender/number, and the article/determiner in front of the noun.
If you follow a simple checklist, they become predictable.
3-question checklist
2) Which gender/number? (der / die / das / plural)
3) Which article type? (der-words, ein-words, or no article)
If “case” is the confusing part, review this first: German cases.
What counts as a "der-word" or "ein-word"?
You don’t need a long grammar definition. You just need to recognize the type of determiner in front of the adjective.
Der-words (weak declension after these)
These behave like der/die/das and already show clear case/gender info:
- der/die/das, dieser, jeder, welcher, mancher, solcher
- most of the time: alle (plural)
Examples: der gute Mann, dieses kleine Kind, mit der neuen Idee
Ein-words (mixed declension mainly in singular)
These behave like ein and sometimes don’t show enough info, so the adjective “fills the gap”:
- ein, kein
- possessives: mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, Ihr
Examples: ein guter Plan, meine gute Freundin, mit einem neuen Auto
Important nuance (plural)
The 3 patterns you need
| Pattern | When it happens | Typical endings |
|---|---|---|
| Weak | After der-words (definite articles + similar determiners) | mostly -e / -en |
| Mixed | After ein-words (ein/kein + possessives like mein/dein…) | some strong endings, otherwise -en |
| Strong | No article/determiner | adjective carries the case/gender info |
Weak declension (after **der/die/das**)
After der-words, the article already shows case + gender clearly, so adjective endings are mostly -e or -en.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| Akkusativ | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| Dativ | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| Genitiv | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Ich sehe den guten Mann.
I see the good man.
Mixed declension (after **ein/kein/mein…**)
With ein-words, the article sometimes misses information (e.g., ein doesn’t mark feminine/masculine as clearly in every case), so the adjective “fills the gap”.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | -er | -e | -es |
| Akkusativ | -en | -e | -es |
| Dativ | -en | -en | -en |
| Genitiv | -en | -en | -en |
Das ist ein guter Plan.
That is a good plan.
Strong declension (no article)
When there is no article, the adjective must show the case/gender endings more clearly.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| Akkusativ | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| Dativ | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| Genitiv | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Guter Kaffee hilft immer.
Good coffee always helps.
Mnemonic
Example: der Mann → guter Mann; dem Mann → mit gutem Mann.
Common mistake
Quick workflow (what to do in practice)
Fast method
2) Pick the case (Nominativ/Akkusativ/Dativ/Genitiv).
3) Match the ending from the table and say the full phrase out loud.
Worked Examples (So It Feels Real)
Same noun phrase, three patterns
Notice how the adjective ending changes depending on what comes before it:
der gute Mann
the good man (weak)
ein guter Mann
a good man (mixed)
guter Mann
good man (strong)
Dative is where -en shows up everywhere
Ich helfe dem guten Freund.
I help the good friend. (weak, dative masculine)
Ich helfe einem guten Freund.
I help a good friend. (mixed, dative masculine)
Ich helfe gutem Freund.
I help good friend. (strong, dative masculine; rare but grammatical)
Common Mistakes (and Fixes)
Mistake 1: Forgetting what changes in Akkusativ masculine
Mistake 2: Mixing strong and mixed in nominative singular
If you have no article, it’s strong: guter, gutes.
Mistake 3: Not treating plural separately
Key Takeaways
- Step 1 is always: identify the determiner type (der-words / ein-words / none).
- If you see -en everywhere, you’re probably in dative or plural.
- Mixed declension is mostly about the few “information gaps” in ein-words (especially nominative masculine/neuter).
- Practice in full phrases, not single words: it trains your ear and your speed.
Ready to practice? Open the app and drill adjective endings in real sentences.
FAQ
Why are German adjective endings so hard?
Because the ending carries grammar information that may be missing from the article. The ending depends on the case, gender, and whether the article is definite, indefinite, or missing.
What are strong, weak, and mixed declension?
Strong endings appear when there is no article giving case/gender info. Weak endings appear after definite articles. Mixed declension happens after ein- words (ein, kein, mein) where the adjective sometimes carries the missing information.
What should I memorize first?
Start with the definite-article pattern (der/die/das), then learn the main strong endings, and finally the mixed pattern. Practice with short, repeated drills.
Do adjective endings change in plural?
Yes. Plural has its own patterns, and many learners improve quickly by practicing plural charts separately.
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