SparkAI logoSparkAI
Start learning free

German grammar lessons › Level A2 › German adjective endings

Adjective endings after der, die, das

After the definite article an adjective ends in -e or -en

Part of the free A2 German course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.

After sein, an adjective has no ending: Der Tisch ist neu (Adjectives after sein: Das Haus ist groß). But when the adjective stands before a noun, it needs an ending: der neue Tisch.

After der, die, das, the article already shows the gender and case, so the adjective has an easy job. It only ever ends in -e or -en. These are often called the weak endings.

MasculineFeminineNeuterPlural
Nominativeder neue Tischdie neue Lampedas neue Bettdie neuen Stühle
Accusativeden neuen Tischdie neue Lampedas neue Bettdie neuen Stühle
Dativedem neuen Tischder neuen Lampedem neuen Bettden neuen Stühlen
Genitivedes neuen Tischesder neuen Lampedes neuen Bettesder neuen Stühle

There are only five -e endings: the three nominative singulars, and the feminine and neuter accusative (where the article is still die and das). Everything else is -en, including every plural. The genitive is here for completeness: see The genitive: des Mannes, der Frau, Annas Auto.

  • Der neue Kollege kommt aus Hamburg.The new colleague is from Hamburg.
  • Ich nehme die rote Jacke.I'll take the red jacket.
  • Siehst du den kleinen Hund dort?Do you see the little dog over there?
  • Das alte Rathaus ist sehr schön.The old town hall is very beautiful.
  • Wir wohnen im gelben Haus an der Ecke.We live in the yellow house on the corner.
  • Die jungen Leute tanzen die ganze Nacht.The young people dance all night.

Same endings after dieser, jeder, welcher

Words that end like der, die, das take the same adjective endings: dieser, jeder, welcher, mancher and alle (plural).

  • Welches blaue Hemd gefällt dir?Which blue shirt do you like?
  • Jeder neue Mitarbeiter bekommt einen Laptop.Every new employee gets a laptop.
  • Alle neuen Wörter stehen im Heft.All the new words are in the exercise book.

Spelling changes

  • Adjectives ending in -el drop the e: dunkel → das dunkle Zimmer. So do teuer and sauer: die teure Uhr, saure Gurken.
  • hoch loses its c: der hohe Berg.
  • Adjectives already ending in -e add only -n or nothing: die leise Musik, mit der leisen Musik.

Remember the "five -e" rule: der, die, das in the nominative and die, das in the accusative take -e. Everywhere else, -en.

Common mistakes

  • der neuen Tisch (nominative) → der neue Tisch.
  • den neue Tisch → den neuen Tisch. Masculine accusative is -en.
  • die neue Schuhe → die neuen Schuhe. The plural is always -en after die.
  • das dunkele Zimmer → das dunkle Zimmer; der hoche Berg → der hohe Berg.
  • Der Tisch ist neue. → Der Tisch ist neu. No ending after sein.

Practice

  1. Der _____ (alt) Mann wohnt im Erdgeschoss.
    The old man lives on the ground floor.
    Show the answer

    alte — Masculine nominative after der: -e.

  2. Kennst du den _____ (neu) Lehrer?
    Do you know the new teacher?
    Show the answer

    neuen — Masculine accusative after den: -en.

  3. Hast du das _____ (rot) Auto gesehen?
    Did you see the red car?
    Show the answer

    rote — Neuter accusative after das: -e.

  4. Wir helfen der _____ (alt) Nachbarin.
    We're helping the old neighbour.
    Show the answer

    alten — helfen takes the dative; feminine dative after der: -en.

In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days, until you've answered it correctly on three separate days.
Learn this in the app, freeAll German lessons