At CEFR level A2,Adjective declension (Adjektivdeklination) is the systematic modification of adjective endings in German when an adjective appears before a noun (attributive position). The ending changes based on three grammatical factors: the noun's gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), case (Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ, Genitiv), and number (singular, plural). Additionally, the adjective ending depends on the type of determiner preceding it—definite article, indefinite article, or no article.

At CEFR level A2,Adjective declension (Adjektivdeklination) is the systematic modification of adjective endings in German when an adjective appears before a noun (attributive position). The ending changes based on three grammatical factors: the noun's gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), case (Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ, Genitiv), and number (singular, plural). Additionally, the adjective ending depends on the type of determiner preceding it—definite article, indefinite article, or no article.

Core Pattern: Article Type Determines Ending

Notice how the same adjective schön takes different endings depending on what precedes it. This is the fundamental principle of German adjective declension.

Die drei Deklinationstypen

There are three adjective declension patterns, each triggered by the word preceding the adjective:

• Schwache Deklination — after definite articles (der, die, das, den, dem …)
• Gemischte Deklination — after indefinite articles and possessives (ein, mein, kein …)
• Starke Deklination — when no article precedes the adjective

Schwache Deklination

Used after definite articles and other words that already signal gender and case clearly (dieser, welcher, alle, beide). Because the article carries the grammatical information, the adjective uses simpler endings — mostly -e or -en.

Kasus	Maskulin	Feminin	Neutral	Plural
Nominativ	der gute Mann	die gute Frau	das gute Kind	die guten Leute
Akkusativ	den guten Mann	die gute Frau	das gute Kind	die guten Leute
Dativ	dem guten Mann	der guten Frau	dem guten Kind	den guten Leuten
Genitiv	des guten Mannes	der guten Frau	des guten Kindes	der guten Leute

Gemischte Deklination

Used after indefinite articles (ein, eine) and possessive determiners (mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, kein). These words partially signal grammatical information, so the adjective must supply strong endings in the nominative masculine, nominative/accusative neuter, and nominative/accusative feminine — and -en in all other forms.

Kasus	Maskulin	Feminin	Neutral	Plural
Nominativ	ein guter Mann	eine gute Frau	ein gutes Kind	keine guten Leute
Akkusativ	einen guten Mann	eine gute Frau	ein gutes Kind	keine guten Leute
Dativ	einem guten Mann	einer guten Frau	einem guten Kind	keinen guten Leuten
Genitiv	eines guten Mannes	einer guten Frau	eines guten Kindes	keiner guten Leute

Starke Deklination

Used when no article or determiner precedes the adjective. The adjective must carry all grammatical information itself, so it takes endings that closely mirror the definite article forms.

Kasus	Maskulin	Feminin	Neutral	Plural
Nominativ	guter Kaffee	gute Milch	gutes Brot	gute Äpfel
Akkusativ	guten Kaffee	gute Milch	gutes Brot	gute Äpfel
Dativ	gutem Kaffee	guter Milch	gutem Brot	guten Äpfeln
Genitiv	guten Kaffees	guter Milch	guten Brotes	guter Äpfel

Vergleich der drei Deklinationstypen

Side-by-side comparison using nominative singular masculine:

Besondere Fälle

Mehrere Adjektive

When multiple adjectives modify the same noun, they all take the same ending.

Adjektive ohne Endung

Adjectives after linking verbs (sein, werden, bleiben) are predicate adjectives and take no ending.

Zusammenfassung

• Schwache Deklination: after definite articles; endings are mostly -e and -en.
• Gemischte Deklination: after indefinite articles and possessives; strong endings in nominative, weak -en elsewhere.
• Starke Deklination: no article; adjective carries all grammatical information with strong endings.
• The correct ending depends on gender, number, case, and what precedes the adjective.
• Multiple adjectives before the same noun all take the same ending.
• Predicate adjectives (after sein, werden, bleiben) take no endings.

Häufig gestellte Fragen – FAQ

What is the difference between weak, mixed, and strong adjective declension in German?

Weak declension follows definite articles (der gute Mann) with mostly -e/-en endings. Mixed declension follows indefinite articles and possessives (ein guter Mann) with strong endings in nominative/accusative, -en elsewhere. Strong declension has no article (guter Mann), so the adjective carries all grammatical markers.

How do I know which adjective ending to use in German?

First, check what precedes the adjective: definite article = weak, indefinite article/possessive = mixed, no article = strong. Second, identify the noun's gender, case, and number. Third, apply the ending from the declension table. Example: der alte Mann (weak), ein alter Mann (mixed), alter Mann (strong).

Why do adjectives after 'sein' take no endings in German?

Adjectives after linking verbs (sein, werden, bleiben) are in predicative position and function as complements, not noun modifiers. They take no endings: Der Mann ist alt. Only attributive adjectives before nouns decline: der alte Mann.

Do multiple adjectives before a noun take the same ending in German?

Yes. Multiple adjectives modifying the same noun all take identical endings based on gender, case, and number. Examples: der große, moderne Bahnhof (weak), ein langer, interessanter Film (mixed), kaltes, klares Wasser (strong).

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