German adjectives

• Compare this table with the definite article endings (see German articles). The only difference is the adjectival ending -en in the masculine and neuter genitive singular.

The mixed inflection is used:

• after the indefinite article ein-, kein-, and the possessive determiners.

Weak inflection is used:

• After the definite article
• After derselb- (the same), derjenig- (the one)
• After dies- (this), jen- (that), jeglich- (any), jed- (every), which decline like the definite article.
• After manch- (some), solch- (such), welch- (which), which decline like the definite article.
• After mir, dir, ihm
• After arm (meagre), alt (old), all (all)

Plural nouns being attributed by an adjective of any of the three inflections stated always have an -n added to the plural form in the indirect-object or dative case. This is so unless the plural already ends in -n or is a foreign plural like Autos. This process then yields the following:den armen Leuten, ihren armen Kindern, or kalten Getränken.

Several adjectives take no ending at all:

• Singular limiting adjectives: wenig, etwas, genug, and viel
• The plural limiting phrase 'ein paar'

German adjectives take different sets of endings in different circumstances. Essentially, the adjectives must provide case, gender and number information only if the articles do not. This is among the more confusing aspects of German grammar for those learning the language. However, the adjective endings nearly always adhere to the following rules:

The strong inflection is used when there is no article at all, or if the noun is preceded by a non-inflectable word or phrase such as ein bisschen, etwas or viel ("a little, some, a lot of/much"). It is also used when the adjective is preceded merely by another regular (i.e non-article) adjective.

The mixed inflection is used when the adjective is preceded by an indefinite article (ein-, kein-) or a possessive determiner.

Note: The prevailing view is that the mixed inflection is not a true inflection in its own right, but merely the weak inflection with a few additions to compensate for the lack of the masculine nominative and neuter nominative and accusative endings.

The weak inflection is used when there is a definite word in place (der, die, das, den, dem, des, jed-, jen-, manch-, dies-, solch- and welch-). The definite word has provided most of the necessary information, so the adjective endings are simpler.

The endings are applicable to every degree of comparison (positive, comparative, and superlative).

The uninflected basic positive form is identical to the root of the adjective. So the positive form of the adjective is quite simple to build, you take the stem of the adjective and attach the corresponding ending to it.

schön (basic positive form)

das schöne Lied ("the beautiful song")

The basic comparative form consists of the stem and the suffix -er. Inflected, the corresponding adjective ending is attached.

schöner (basic comparative form)

das schönere Lied ("the more beautiful song")

A predicate form of the superlative is actually a prepositional phrase. You attach the suffixes -st and the adjective ending -en to the root, and the word am is put before it.

am schönsten ("the most beautiful")

Ich finde dieses Haus am schönsten. ("I find this house the most beautiful.")

The attributive superlative form adds the "st" to the comparative root and then the conventional adjective ending.

das schönste Lied

This form can also be placed in a predicate position with the appropriate adjective ending:

Dieses Haus ist das schönste. ("This house is the most beautiful.")