Creating perfect sentences in German requires a deep understanding of adjective formation. In this guide, we will walk you through the intricacies of German adjectives, equipping you with the knowledge to form and use them correctly. From declension and comparison to adjective endings and placement, we cover it all.

Table of Contents

1. Understanding Declension and Adjective Endings
2. Grasping Strong, Weak, and Mixed Declension
3. Rules for Comparing German Adjectives
4. Placement of Adjectives in Sentences
5. Adjective Formation from Nouns and Verbs

Understanding Declension and Adjective Endings

In German, adjectives change their endings depending on the gender, case, and number of the noun they modify. This process is known as declension. To master German adjective formation, it is essential to understand the four cases and three genders in the language:

• Cases: Nominative, Accusative, Dative, and Genitive
• Genders: Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter

The following table provides an overview of the adjective endings for each case and gender:

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	-er	-e	-es	-en
Accusative	-en	-e	-es	-en
Dative	-em	-er	-em	-en
Genitive	-en	-er	-en	-er

Grasping Strong, Weak, and Mixed Declension

Adjective declension in German can be categorized into three types: strong, weak, and mixed. The type of declension depends on the context and the presence of a determiner in the sentence.

Strong Declension

Strong declension occurs when there is no determiner present before the adjective, or when an indefinite article or kein is used in the plural form. In this case, the adjective endings match the table provided earlier.

Weak Declension

Weak declension happens when a definite article (der, die, das) or a possessive pronoun (e.g., mein, dein, sein) precedes the adjective. In this case, the adjective endings are as follows:

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	-e	-e	-e	-en
Accusative	-en	-e	-e	-en
Dative	-en	-en	-en	-en
Genitive	-en	-en	-en	-en

Mixed Declension

Mixed declension is used when the adjective is preceded by an indefinite article (ein, eine, ein) or a possessive pronoun in the singular form. In this scenario, the adjective endings combine elements of both strong and weak declension:

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	-er	-e	-es
Accusative	-en	-e	-es
Dative	-en	-er	-en
Genitive	-en	-er	-en

Rules for Comparing German Adjectives

In German, adjectives can be compared by forming their comparative and superlative forms. This is done by adding specific endings and, in some cases, modifying the adjective’s stem:

• Comparative: Add the suffix “-er” to the adjective’s stem (e.g., schnell -> schneller)
• Superlative: Add the suffix “-st” or “-est” to the adjective’s stem, along with the definite article (e.g., schnell -> am schnellsten)

For some adjectives, additional modifications are needed, such as:

• Adding an umlaut to the stem vowel (e.g., alt -> älter -> am ältesten)
• Changing the stem vowel (e.g., groß -> größer -> am größten)

Placement of Adjectives in Sentences

In German, adjectives can be placed in two positions: attributive and predicative.

• Attributive: The adjective appears directly before the noun it modifies (e.g., das schnelle Auto).
• Predicative: The adjective appears after the verb and is separated from the noun (e.g., das Auto ist schnell).

When using multiple adjectives, they should be ordered according to the following categories, from first to last:

1. Quantity (e.g., viele, wenige, einige)
2. Quality (e.g., schön, hässlich, groß)
3. Size (e.g., klein, groß, lang)
4. Age (e.g., alt, jung, neu)
5. Shape (e.g., rund, eckig, oval)
6. Color (e.g., rot, blau, grün)
7. Origin (e.g., deutsch, amerikanisch, französisch)
8. Material (e.g., hölzern, metallisch, gläsern)
9. Purpose (e.g., Lehr-, Arbeits-, Schreib-)

Adjective Formation from Nouns and Verbs

In German, adjectives can be derived from nouns and verbs by adding specific suffixes. Here are some common suffixes and their meanings:

• -ig: This suffix often creates adjectives from nouns (e.g., König -> königlich, meaning “royal”).
• -lich: This suffix is similar to “-ig” and can also create adjectives from nouns (e.g., Freundschaft -> freundschaftlich, meaning “friendly”).
• -bar: This suffix creates adjectives from verbs, indicating the possibility of an action (e.g., sehen -> sichtbar, meaning “visible”).

In conclusion, mastering German adjective formation involves understanding declension, comparison, placement, and derivation from nouns and verbs. With this comprehensive guide, you are well on your way to forming and using German adjectives with ease and confidence.