Adjective Declension
German adjective endings look chaotic at first (three tables, four cases, a dozen possible endings). But one principle explains everything: every noun phrase needs exactly one strong signal marking gender, case, and number. If the article already provides this signal, the adjective can relax (-e or -en). If there is no article, or the article is too weak, the adjective must step in and carry the signal itself.
Once you see this, the "chaos" resolves into something quite manageable.
In the EPD exam, gap-fill tasks (Satzergänzung) frequently test adjective endings, and a wrong letter costs points.
After the Definite Article (der, die, das)
The definite article already marks gender and case clearly (der, die, das, den, dem, des …). The adjective uses weak endings. The rule of thumb: -e in five positions (nominative singular in all genders + accusative feminine/neuter), -en everywhere else.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der alte | die alte | das alte | die alten |
| Akkusativ | den alten | die alte | das alte | die alten |
| Dativ | dem alten | der alten | dem alten | den alten |
| Genitiv | des alten | der alten | des alten | der alten |
Dative and genitive are almost 100% -en — the safest positions in the entire declension.
- Die nette Frau hilft dem kleinen Kind.
- Ich kenne den neuen Studenten aus dem letzten Semester.
- Wegen des schlechten Wetters bleiben wir zu Hause.
After the Indefinite Article (ein, eine, kein, mein ...)
"Ein" and possessive articles fail to signal gender in three positions: nominative masculine (ein, which lacks -r), nominative neuter (ein, which lacks -s), and accusative neuter. In those three positions, the adjective must take over the signal: -er (nom. masc.), -es (nom./acc. neuter). Everywhere else, the ending is -en again.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural (kein) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | ein alter | eine alte | ein altes | keine alten |
| Akkusativ | einen alten | eine alte | ein altes | keine alten |
| Dativ | einem alten | einer alten | einem alten | keinen alten |
| Genitiv | eines alten | einer alten | eines alten | keiner alten |
The three signal positions — nom. masc., nom. neuter, acc. neuter — are the only genuinely tricky spots. Everything else is -en.
- Ein freundlicher Arzt hat mir geholfen.
- Sie trinkt eine heiße Suppe.
- Ich habe ein interessantes Buch gelesen.
Which ending is missing? 'Ein gut___ Freund hilft immer.'
Without an Article
When there is no article — for instance with material nouns, fixed expressions, or after quantity words — the adjective carries the full signal ending on its own. These endings mirror the definite article forms: -er (der → nom. masc.), -e (die → nom./acc. fem.), -es (das → nom./acc. neuter), -em (dem → dat. masc./neuter), and so on.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | kalter Tee | kalte Milch | kaltes Bier | kalte Äpfel |
| Akkusativ | kalten Tee | kalte Milch | kaltes Bier | kalte Äpfel |
| Dativ | kaltem Tee | kalter Milch | kaltem Bier | kalten Äpfeln |
| Genitiv | kalten Tees | kalter Milch | kalten Biers | kalter Äpfel |
- Deutscher Wein schmeckt gut. (nom. masc.)
- Bei schlechtem Wetter bleiben wir zu Hause. (dat. neuter)
- Frische Luft tut gut. (nom. fem.)
Common Mistakes
These four positions cause the most errors on the EPD. Learn the reason, not just the correct form:
-
❌ ein große Mann → ✓ ein großer Mann Why: "Ein" does not signal masculine nominative → the adjective must: -er.
-
❌ ein kleine Kind → ✓ ein kleines Kind Why: Nom./acc. neuter after "ein": same logic applies, ending -es.
-
❌ alle neue Bücher → ✓ alle neuen Bücher Why: After "alle, beide, welche" the adjective behaves as after the definite article → almost always -en.
-
❌ ein junger, sportliche Mann → ✓ ein junger, sportlicher Mann Why: When two adjectives appear side by side, both get the same ending — the second copies the first, not the article.
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