Adjective Declension

1.   Adjective declension with definite articles (der, die, das)

The declension rules which should be applied when the adjectives are used with definite articles are summed up below.  

In this case, almost every time, the adjectives end in –“en”; apart from those situations with singular masculine, feminine, neuter forms in the nominative case and singular feminine and neuter forms in the accusative case, where the adjective ends in –e, in all cases and for all genders, the adjectives end in –“en”. Note also that in the plural dative case, “n” is attached to the substantive: Stiften, Büchern.

Demonstrative and Indefinite pronouns

The following words are used in the same way as above i.e. they can replace the definite article and the form of the adjective will be as shown above. For more information about them, have a look at lesson demonstratives and indefinite pronouns. 

dieser (singular masculine), diese (singular feminine), dieses (singular neuter),  diese (plural)

jener (singular masculine), jede (singular feminine), jedes (singular neuter), alle (plural)

mancher (singular masculine), manche (singular feminine) , manches (singular neuter), manche (plural)

solcher (singular masculine), solche (singular feminine), solches(singular neuter), solche (plural)

welcher (singular masculine), welche (singular feminine), welches (singular neuter), welche (plural)

derjenige (singular masculine), diejenige (singular feminine), dasjenige (singular neuter), diejenigen (plural)

derselbe (singular masculine), dieselbe (singular feminine), dasselbe (singular neuter), dieselbe (plural)

Beide

This can be used just instead of the definite article. It can also be used as an independent adjective:

Alle beiden Teller (both of the plates)

einer der beiden Freunde (one of the two friends)

2) Adjective declension with indefinite articles (ein-)

3) Adjective declension with possessive pronouns

The rules are exactly the same as those for declension with indefinite articles for singular nouns.

For the other possessive pronouns, the same rules apply.

4. Adjective declension without article in singular

For the declension with “kein-“, please refer to lesson on negation.

Other important points, special cases & exceptions with adjective declination rules

• Predicate adjectives are not declined & usually followed by “to be” verb sein.  

For example;

Das Kleid ist schön (The dress is beautiful).

In the sentence above, “schön” is used in the nominative case.

• Cardinal Numbers

The declension rules for adjectives without articles outlined above are valid for the cardinal numbers.

Es gibt drei neue Studenten in der Klasse (There are three new students in the class).

Adjectives ending in “-er“

If “-er” comes after a vowel, “-e” drops when the adjective is declined:

sauer, der saure Geschmack

teuer, ein teures Hobby

but if the “-er” comes after a consonant, no change is made.

Adjectives ending in –el:

These adjectives drop the “-e” letter when declined:

die dunkle Nacht (the dark night)

Adjectives ending in “-a“

These adjectives are not declined:

ein Strauß mit rosa Rosen

Adjectives describing inhabitants of cities

These adjectives are not declined:

der Kölner Dom (cologne Cathedral)

Vocabulary

Some German adjectives you can use when you are angry   

böse

wütend

verärgert

ärgerlich