German adjective endings – the declension in three tables
An adjective in front of a noun takes an ending: der neue Tisch, ein neuer Tisch, neuer Wein. Which one depends on three things: the gender of the noun, the case – and what comes before it: der, ein or no article at all. That makes three tables.
After der, die, das (weak declension)
The same after dieser, jener, jeder, welcher and after alle in the plural. There are only two endings: -e and -en.
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativwer?nominative | neue | neue | neue | neuen |
| Akkusativwen?accusative | neuen | neue | neue | neuen |
| Dativwem?dative | neuen | neuen | neuen | neuen |
| Genitivwessen?genitive | neuen | neuen | neuen | neuen |
After ein, kein, mein (mixed declension)
The same after dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer. “Ein” has no plural – the plural column applies after keine, meine, deine.
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativwer?nominative | neuer | neue | neues | neuen |
| Akkusativwen?accusative | neuen | neue | neues | neuen |
| Dativwem?dative | neuen | neuen | neuen | neuen |
| Genitivwessen?genitive | neuen | neuen | neuen | neuen |
With no article (strong declension)
With no article in front, the adjective itself carries the ending of the article: neuer Wein like der Wein, mit neuem Wein like dem Wein. Only the masculine and neuter genitive take -en.
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativwer?nominative | neuer | neue | neues | neue |
| Akkusativwen?accusative | neuen | neue | neues | neue |
| Dativwem?dative | neuem | neuer | neuem | neuen |
| Genitivwessen?genitive | neuen | neuer | neuen | neuer |
The rule of thumb
- If the article already shows gender and case, -e or -en is enough. After der, die, das it is -e in the nominative singular, otherwise almost always -en.
- If it does not, the adjective steps in. “Ein” can be masculine or neuter – so ein neuer Tisch, but ein neues Buch.
- In the dative and genitive it is always -en after an article: mit dem neuen Tisch, mit einem neuen Tisch.
- So here, too: if you do not know that it is der Tisch and das Buch, you cannot choose between neuer and neues. Gender first, then the ending.
One noun through all three tables
- Nominativ
- Der neue Wein ist da.
- Akkusativ
- Ich trinke den neuen Wein.
- Dativ
- mit dem neuen Wein
- Genitiv
- der Preis des neuen Weines
- Nominativ
- Ein neuer Wein ist da.
- Akkusativ
- Ich kaufe einen neuen Wein.
- Dativ
- mit einem neuen Wein
- Genitiv
- der Preis eines neuen Weines
- Nominativ
- Neuer Wein ist süß.
- Akkusativ
- Ich mag neuen Wein.
- Dativ
- mit neuem Wein
- Genitiv
- der Preis neuen Weines
Practise the gender
Panderdiedas practises the step before: der, die or das. The game does not practise adjective endings. Over 2300 words, read aloud, free.
Frequent questions
Why is it “ein neuer Tisch” but “der neue Tisch”?
“Der” already shows that Tisch is masculine and in the nominative. “Ein” does not – it could just as well be “ein Buch”. So the adjective takes the ending -er that the article is missing.
What are strong, weak and mixed declension?
They are the names of the three tables above. Weak: after der, die, das, only -e and -en. Mixed: after ein, kein, mein. Strong: with no article – the adjective carries the endings of the article itself.
When does an adjective take no ending?
When it does not stand before the noun but after sein, werden or bleiben: Der Wein ist neu. The ending only appears before the noun.
How do two adjectives in a row decline?
Both take the same ending: der neue rote Tisch, ein neuer roter Tisch, mit frischem kaltem Wasser.