German adjective endings (Adjektivdeklination) are considered tricky but follow clear rules. Once you understand the logic behind them, you do not have to memorise every ending. Here we explain it simply.
Adjective endings: the three cases
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Which ending the adjective gets depends on what comes before it:
- After a definite article (der, die, das): mostly the ending -e or -en. Example: “der nette Mann”, “den netten Mann”.
- After an indefinite article or possessive (ein, kein, mein): the adjective partly takes over the job of the article. Example: “ein netter Mann”.
- Without an article: the adjective carries the full ending the article would otherwise have. Example: “netter Kaffee”.
What this part is about is shown in telc B2 language elements.
How to remember the endings
The rule of thumb is: if the article already shows the case clearly, a weak ending (-e or -en) is enough for the adjective. If an article is missing, the adjective has to show the case itself and gets the stronger ending. Related is comparison, more on this in comparative and superlative, and the possessive pronouns are declined similarly.
In the telc exam
Adjective endings are a common gap topic. How to proceed strategically is in solving language elements strategically, and where the part sits in the procedure is shown by the page on the exam sections.
The bottom line
Adjective endings get easier when you look at the article: it decides whether the adjective needs a weak or strong ending. With a little practice the logic clicks quickly.
