Adjective Declension in German

New terminology:

Classic articles:Classic articles are definite and

indefinite articles that have a clear indicator as to what the gender is of the noun that follows it. Classic articles also have not been altered from their original

form. Ex. der (cl.)

becomes den (non cl.)

Non-classic articles:Non-classic articles are definite

and indefinite articles that have been altered from their original form.

Ex. When das (cl.) becomes dem (non cl.)

Examples of classic and non-classic articles:

Classic:• Die• Der • Das• Eine

Non-classic:• Die (used as plural)• Den • Dem• Der (used as fem. dat. or gen.)

• Des• Einen• Einem• Einer• Eines

The word ein has no ending and is neither classic nor non-classic, and it is neither strong

nor weak. It is nothing.

Ein__ großes Fest

Notice there’s nothing here!

Strong vs. Weak Endings: A strong or weak ending could be on an article or an adjective.

Strong:A strong ending gives clear

indication of the gender and case of the associated noun.

Ex. Der braune Hund. Der lets you know the noun is masculine and in the nominative case.

Ex. Stilles Wasser. The –es on the end of Stilles lets you know that Wasser is neuter and nominative.

Weak:A weak ending does not give

clear indication neither gender nor case.

Ex. Der braune Hund. The –e in braune is a weak ending. It does not indicate gender nor case.

Ex. In der großen Schule. –en is a weak ending. The der is what indicates feminine and dative. The –en indicates nothing.

Weak endings only serve the purpose of maintaining the correct rhythm of a sentence.

The word kein has the same rules as the indefinite article, “ein”

• Keine Schule• Es spielt keine Rolle• Sie hat keinen blauen Rock gekauft.• Mit keinem gelben Auto

All of the possessive articles follow the same rules as the indefinite article “ein” as well.

The possessive articles are:• Mein• Dein• Sein• Ihr• Euer• Unser• Ihr

Zum Beispiel:

• Tampa ist meine schöne Stadt.• Sie hat sein blaues Hemd geliehen.• Suzi hat bei Karstadt ihren neuen Rock

gekauft.• Wir leben in unserem großen Haus.

The following words are just like die, der, das:

• Dieser, starting a sentence with “this”• Jeder, each• Mancher, starting a sentence with

“some”• Solcher, starting a sentence with “such a”• Welcher, which