Language/German/Grammar/Descriptive-Adjectives
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| ◀️ Movies, TV and Literature — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Comparative and Superlative Forms ▶️ |
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we will focus on descriptive adjectives in German. Adjectives are an essential part of the German language as they allow us to describe people, objects, and situations. By using adjectives, we can add more detail and color to our sentences, making them more interesting and expressive. Whether you want to describe the weather, your favorite food, or your best friend, adjectives will help you convey your thoughts accurately.
Understanding how to use descriptive adjectives correctly is crucial for building your German vocabulary and improving your communication skills. Throughout this lesson, we will explore the different forms, genders, and placements of adjectives in German sentences. By the end, you will be able to confidently use descriptive adjectives to express yourself in various contexts.
Forms of Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Descriptive adjectives in German change their form depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe. This means that the ending of the adjective can vary to match the specific characteristics of the noun. Let's take a closer look at the different forms of descriptive adjectives in German:
Masculine Nouns[edit | edit source]
When the noun is masculine, the descriptive adjective takes the following endings:
- If the noun is in the nominative case, the adjective does not change its form:
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ein groß~~er~~ Mann | [aɪn ɡroːsɐ man] | a tall man |
- If the noun is in the accusative case, the adjective takes the ending "-en":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich sehe ein~~en~~ klein~~en~~ Hund. | [ɪç zeːə aɪnən klaɪnən hʊnt] | I see a small dog. |
- If the noun is in the dative case, the adjective takes the ending "-em":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich gebe dem alt~~en~~ Mann ein Buch. | [ɪç ɡeːbə deːm altən man aɪn buːχ] | I give an old man a book. |
- If the noun is in the genitive case, the adjective takes the ending "-en":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Das ist das Auto meines neu~~en~~ Nachbarn. | [das ɪst das ˈaʊ̯toː ˈmaɪ̯nəs nɔɪ̯ən ˈnaːχbaːɐ̯n] | That is the car of my new neighbor. |
Feminine Nouns[edit | edit source]
When the noun is feminine, the descriptive adjective takes the following endings:
- If the noun is in the nominative case, the adjective takes the ending "-e":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| eine groß~~e~~ Frau | [aɪnə ɡroːsə frau] | a tall woman |
- If the noun is in the accusative case, the adjective takes the ending "-e":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich sehe ein~~e~~ klein~~e~~ Katze. | [ɪç zeːə aɪnə klaɪnə kat͡sə] | I see a small cat. |
- If the noun is in the dative case, the adjective takes the ending "-er":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich gebe ein~~er~~ alt~~er~~ Frau eine Blume. | [ɪç ɡeːbə aɪnər altər frau aɪnə bluːmə] | I give an old woman a flower. |
- If the noun is in the genitive case, the adjective takes the ending "-er":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Das ist das Auto mein~~er~~ neu~~er~~ Nachbarin. | [das ɪst das ˈaʊ̯toː ˈmaɪ̯nər ˈnaʊ̯ərən ˈnaːχbaːrɪn] | That is the car of my new neighbor (female). |
Neuter Nouns[edit | edit source]
When the noun is neuter, the descriptive adjective takes the following endings:
- If the noun is in the nominative case, the adjective takes the ending "-es":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ein groß~~es~~ Haus | [aɪn ɡroːsəs haʊ̯s] | a big house |
- If the noun is in the accusative case, the adjective takes the ending "-es":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich sehe ein~~es~~ klein~~es~~ Kind. | [ɪç zeːə aɪnəs klaɪnəs kɪnt] | I see a small child. |
- If the noun is in the dative case, the adjective takes the ending "-em":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich gebe ein~~em~~ alt~~em~~ Haus eine Pflanze. | [ɪç ɡeːbə aɪnəm altəm haʊ̯s aɪnə pfˈlanzə] | I give an old house a plant. |
- If the noun is in the genitive case, the adjective takes the ending "-en":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Das ist das Auto mein~~es~~ neu~~en~~ Nachbarn. | [das ɪst das ˈaʊ̯toː ˈmaɪ̯nəs nɔɪ̯ən ˈnaːχbaːɐ̯n] | That is the car of my new neighbor. |
Plural Nouns[edit | edit source]
When the noun is plural, the descriptive adjective takes the following endings:
- If the noun is in the nominative case, the adjective takes the ending "-e":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| groß~~e~~ Häuser | [ɡroːsə hoːzər] | big houses |
- If the noun is in the accusative case, the adjective takes the ending "-e":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich sehe klein~~e~~ Kinder. | [ɪç zeːə klaɪnə kɪndər] | I see small children. |
- If the noun is in the dative case, the adjective takes the ending "-en":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich gebe alt~~en~~ Häusern Blumen. | [ɪç ɡeːbə altən hoːzərn bluːmən] | I give old houses flowers. |
- If the noun is in the genitive case, the adjective takes the ending "-er":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Das ist das Auto mein~~er~~ neu~~en~~ Nachbarn. | [das ɪst das ˈaʊ̯toː ˈmaɪ̯nər ˈnaʊ̯ərən ˈnaːχbaːrɪn] | That is the car of my new neighbor. |
Placement of Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In German, descriptive adjectives usually come before the noun they describe. However, there are some exceptions where the adjective can come after the noun. Let's explore the different placements of descriptive adjectives in German sentences:
Before the Noun[edit | edit source]
The most common placement of descriptive adjectives in German is before the noun they describe. When the adjective comes before the noun, it takes its regular form:
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ein groß~~er~~ Hund | [aɪn ɡroːsɐ hʊnt] | a big dog |
After the Noun[edit | edit source]
In certain cases, the descriptive adjective can come after the noun it describes. This placement is more common in literary or poetic contexts. When the adjective comes after the noun, it takes the ending "-e":
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ein Hund groß~~e~~r Rasse | [aɪn hʊnt ɡroːsər rasə] | a dog of a big breed |
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Descriptive adjectives play a vital role in German grammar, allowing us to add details and descriptions to our sentences. By learning the different forms and placements of adjectives, you will be able to express yourself more precisely and vividly in German. Practice using descriptive adjectives in various contexts to enhance your vocabulary and language skills.
In the next lesson, we will explore the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, which will further expand your ability to describe and compare things in German.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Learn German Vocabulary with OUINO™: Lesson #8 (Descriptive ...[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Noun and Gender
- Two Way Prepositions
- Prepositions
- How to Use be
- Temporal Prepositions
- Possessive Case in German
- Plurals
- Give your Opinion
- Verb Forms
| ◀️ Movies, TV and Literature — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Comparative and Superlative Forms ▶️ |