Deutsch · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Adjective declension as information sharing
Apply strong, weak, or mixed endings by checking what the determiner already marks.
Understand the choice
Rather than memorize three isolated tables, view the noun phrase as a team. If der/dem already displays the case, the adjective usually takes -e/-en. If no determiner does, the adjective must show more.
Core rule: With no article, the adjective carries strong case/gender marking; after definite articles it is mostly weak; after ein-words it fills missing information.
Notice it in context
Frisches Brot liegt neben dem heißen Kaffee.
Fresh bread is next to the hot coffee.
Frisches carries neuter nominative -es without an article; dem already marks dative, so heißen uses -en.
Ein guter Freund hilft in schwierigen Situationen.
A good friend helps in difficult situations.
Ein lacks masculine nominative ending, so guter carries -er.
Wir besuchen die neue Ausstellung mit alten Freunden.
We visit the new exhibition with old friends.
After die, neue is weak -e; articleless dative plural alten ends -en.
What to remember
- Dative plural nouns normally add -n as well as adjective -en.
- Predicate adjectives remain uninflected: das Brot ist frisch.
Common trap: Do not choose an ending from gender alone; case and determiner type are equally necessary.