After definite article (weak)

Often -e / -en endings follow a fixed grid.

After ein (mixed) / no article (strong)

Endings carry more information about case/gender.

Practice

Learn one article + adjective + noun column at a time.

Practical Examples

1. Der neue Mitarbeiter hat sich schnell eingelebt.

• The new employee quickly settled in.
• Usage Note: Weak declension. After the definite article "der" (masculine, nominative singular), the adjective takes the ending -e.

1. Ich habe den interessanten Artikel gelesen.

• I read the interesting article.
• Usage Note: Weak declension. After the definite article "den" (masculine, accusative singular), the adjective takes the ending -en.

1. Sie hilft der jungen Frau beim Umzug.

• She is helping the young woman with the move.
• Usage Note: Weak declension. After the definite article "der" (feminine, dative singular), the adjective takes the ending -en.

1. Die spannenden Geschichten fesselten die Zuhörer.

• The exciting stories captivated the listeners.
• Usage Note: Weak declension. After the definite article "die" (plural, nominative), the adjective takes the ending -en.

1. Ein guter Freund hat mir dieses Buch empfohlen.

• A good friend recommended this book to me.
• Usage Note: Mixed declension. After the indefinite article "ein" (masculine, nominative singular), the adjective takes the strong ending -er.

1. Hast du ein neues Handy gekauft?

• Did you buy a new phone?
• Usage Note: Mixed declension. After the indefinite article "ein" (neuter, accusative singular), the adjective takes the strong ending -es.

1. Mit meinem alten Fahrrad fahre ich jeden Tag zur Arbeit.

• I ride my old bicycle to work every day.
• Usage Note: Mixed declension. After the possessive pronoun "meinem" (masculine, dative singular), the adjective takes the weak ending -en.

1. Das ist kein wichtiges Problem.

• That is not an important problem.
• Usage Note: Mixed declension. After "kein" (neuter, nominative singular), the adjective takes the strong ending -es.

1. Frische Luft tut immer gut.

• Fresh air always does good.
• Usage Note: Strong declension. Without an article (feminine, nominative singular), the adjective takes the strong ending -e.

1. Er trinkt gern heißen Kaffee am Morgen.

• He likes to drink hot coffee in the morning.
• Usage Note: Strong declension. Without an article (masculine, accusative singular), the adjective takes the strong ending -en.

1. Trotz schwieriger Umstände haben sie es geschafft.

• Despite difficult circumstances, they managed it.
• Usage Note: Strong declension. After the preposition "trotz" (which takes genitive) and without an article (plural, genitive), the adjective takes the strong ending -er.

1. Gibt es hier billige Hotels in der Nähe?

• Are there any cheap hotels nearby?
• Usage Note: Strong declension. Without an article (plural, nominative), the adjective takes the strong ending -e.

1. Der Geschmack frischen Brotes ist unübertroffen.

• The taste of fresh bread is unsurpassed.
• Usage Note: Strong declension. Without an article (neuter, genitive singular), the adjective takes the strong ending -en.

1. Suchst du eine passende Jacke für den Winter?

• Are you looking for a suitable jacket for winter?
• Usage Note: Mixed declension. After the indefinite article "eine" (feminine, accusative singular), the adjective takes the weak ending -e.

1. Die Ursache des plötzlichen Ausfalls ist noch unklar.

• The cause of the sudden failure is still unclear.
• Usage Note: Weak declension. After the definite article "des" (masculine, genitive singular), the adjective takes the ending -en.