German Grammar Lectures

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German Grammar Lectures

• Lecture 6
• German Adjective Endings
• Designed by Paul Joyce
• University of Portsmouth
• E-Mail Paul.Joyce_at_port.ac.uk

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6.1 Three types of endings

• So far we have looked at 2 types of endings
• Noun declension (i.e. genitive endings for
  masculine neuter nouns, dative plurals)
• Definite indefinite articles and their
  equivalents
• The third type of endings that must be learned by
  heart are adjective endings.

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6.2 What is an adjective?

• Adjectives are words that describe, modify or
  qualify nouns or pronouns - e.g. alt, jung, neu,
  grau, freundlich.
• German participles can be used adjectivally
• Ich sah ein untergehendes Schiff.
  (I saw a ship going down.)
• Ich sah ein untergegangenes Schiff.
  (I saw a ship that had gone down.)

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6.3 Predicative adjective usage

• Adjectives that follow the noun to which they
  refer (as part of a verbal construction) do NOT
  add endings.
• This is the predicative use of the adjective.
• Michael ist jung.
• Die Patientin liegt krank im Bett.
• Er streicht die Wand gelb.
  (He paints the wall yellow.)

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6.4 Attributive adjective usage

• Adjectives that appear directly before the noun
  to which they refer DO add endings.
• This is the attributive use of the adjective.
• Examples
• Michael ist ein junger Mann.
• Die kranke Patientin liegt im Bett.
• Er streicht die gelbe Wand.
  (He paints the yellow wall.)

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6.5 How to choose endings

• The endings that attributive adjectives take are
  determined by four factors
• 1) Gender of the noun
• 2) Number of the noun (singular / plural)
• 3) Case of the noun
• 4) Type of article preceding the adjective
• There are THREE basic types of endings.

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6.6 Weak adjective declension

• The weak adjective endings are used after the
  definite article and its equivalents
• der - the (definite article)
• dieser - this jener - that
• jeder - each welcher? - which?
• aller, sämtlicher - all
• beide ( plural) - both
  

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6.7 Weak adjective endings

• The weak declension only has TWO possible
  endings -e and -en.
• -e is only used with
  - the nominative
  singular of all genders
• - the accusative feminine singular
• - the accusative neuter singular
• -en is used
  - in all other combinations of
  case gender
  - in all plurals

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6.8 Weak adjective endings alt
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6.9 Careful learn the articles!

• The weak endings show little information - 2
  endings only!- because they are used after
  determiners whose endings clearly show the case,
  gender and number of the noun.
• This means that the endings of the adjective and
  the determiner which governs it decline in
  different ways - both must be learnt!
• The definite article endings were discussed in
  Lecture 4.

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6.10 Endings Definite Article
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6.11 Weak adjective declension
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6.12 Other determiners

• The same endings are found on the other
  determiners that take the weak declension
• Der Geruch dieses roten Apfels
• (The smell of this red apple.)
• Von welchem weißen Wein? (From
  which white wine?)
• Alle vernünftigen Menschen wissen das! (All
  sensible people know that!)

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6.13 beide / die beiden

• Beide ( both) can be used as a determiner - it
  then declines like dieser.
• It can also be used as a simple adjective, in
  which case it takes the endings determined by the
  article
• Beide Brüder sind gestern abgereist.
• Die beiden Brüder sind gestern abgereist.
• Seine beiden Brüder sind gestern abgereist.

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6.14 Quiz weak adjective endings

• Welch____ neu____ Haus gefällt Ihnen?
  ( Which new house do you like?)
• Östlich d____ deutsch____ Gebiet___ .
  ( To the east of the German territory.)
• Ich rede mit dies____ jung____ Dame.
  ( Im talking to this young lady.)
• Wir kennen jed____ britisch____ Film.
  ( We know every British film.)

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6.15 Quiz answers

• Welches neue Haus gefällt Ihnen?
  ( Which new house do you like?)
• Östlich des deutschen Gebiets.
  ( To the east of the German territory.)
• Ich rede mit dieser jungen Dame.
  ( Im talking to this young lady.)
• Wir kennen jeden britischen Film.
  ( We know every British film.)

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6.16 Strong adjective declension

• Strong adjective endings are used if there is
  no determiner before the adjective whose ending
  clearly shows the case, gender and number of the
  noun. This happens
• when there is no determiner at all
• after simple numerals - zwei, drei usw.
• after certain plurals - viele, wenige, ein paar,
  mehrere, einige, etliche, folgende

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6.17 Strong adjective endings neu
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6.18 Strong adjective declension
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6.19 Strong adjective declension

• Starkes Bier wirkt erfrischend.
  (Strong beer is refreshing.)
• Der Geruch heißen Tees ist überall.
  (The aroma of hot tea is everywhere.)
• Ich esse Spaghetti mit kalter Tomatensauce.
  (I eat spaghetti with cold tomato
  sauce)
• Brasilianischer Kaffee mit frischer Milch
  (Brazilian coffee with fresh milk.)

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6.20 Strong adj. endings numerals

• Acht fleißige StudentInnen waren da.
  (Eight hard-working students were there.)
• Eine Begegnung mit drei alten Männern (A
  meeting with three old men.)
• Der Bau vier neuer Schiffe
  (The construction of four new ships)
• Seht ihr neunundneunzig rote Luftballons?
  (Do you see 99 red balloons?)

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6.21 Strong adjectives numerals (2)

• BUT if a number is used after an article, then
  the endings on any following adjective are
  governed by the article - not the number.
  
• Fünf kluge Schüler
  (BUT Die fünf klugen Schüler)
• Wegen fünf kluger Schüler
  (BUT Wegen der fünf klugen Schüler)
• Zwei artige Kinder
  (BUT Seine zwei artigen Kinder)

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6.22 Strong adj. endings plurals

• Mehrere richtige Antworten sind möglich.
  (Several correct answers are possible.)
• Es gibt viele gute Gründe.
  (There are many good reasons.)
• Trotz ein paar kleiner Schwierigkeiten.
  (Despite a few small
  difficulties)
• Eine Stadt mit einigen alten Bauwerken
  (A town with a few old buildings)

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6.23 Quiz strong adjective endings

• Der Geschmack belgisch____ Bier___ (
  The taste of Belgian beer)
• Gibt es genug heiß____ Wasser für alle?
  ( Is there enough hot water for everyone?)
• Er fand mehrer____ schwarz____ Löcher.
  ( He found several black holes.)
• Wegen viel____ typisch____ Fehler. (
  Because of many typical mistakes)

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6.24 Quiz (2) answers

• Der Geschmack belgischen Biers
  ( The taste of Belgian beer)
• Gibt es genug heißes Wasser für alle?
  ( Is there enough hot water for everyone?)
• Er fand mehrere schwarze Löcher. (
  He found several black holes.)
• Wegen vieler typischer Irrtümer
  ( Because of many typical mistakes)

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6.25 mancher, solcher etc.

• Some determiners vary in usage depending on
  number. The following determiners all take the
  weak declension in the singular
• folgender ? mit folgendem starken Partner
• irgendwelcher ? durch irgendwelchen puren Unsinn
• mancher ? mancher brave Mann
• solcher ? solches dumme Gerede

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6.26 mancher, solcher (2)

• BUT their usage is less clear in the plural.
• Weak endings are more usual after solche and
  irgendwelche
  ? solche schönen Tage (rarely schöne)
  ? irgendwelche dummen Leute
• Strong endings are more usual after manche ?
  manche neue Orte (less common neuen)
• Strong endings are the rule after folgende ?
  folgende gute Beispiele

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6.27 Mixed adjective declension

• The mixed adjective declension uses weak and
  strong endings according to context.
• The mixed adjective endings are used after the
  indefinite article and its equivalents
• ein - a, an (definite article)
• kein - not a, no
• possessives - mein, dein, sein, ihr / Ihr, unser,
  euer

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6.28 Mixed adjective endings

• Mixed adjective endings are so called because
  they mix weak and strong adjective endings
• Strong adjective endings are used with
  - the
  nominative singular of all genders - the
  accusative feminine singular -
  the accusative neuter singular
• The weak adjective ending -en is used
  - in
  all other combinations of case gender
  - in
  all plurals

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6.29 Mixed adjective endings gut
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6.30 Mixed adjective declension
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6.31 Indefinite Article Adjective

• Die Bundesrepublik ist ein großes Land.
  (The Federal Republic is a large
  country.)
• Er stahl einer jungen Frau die Handtasche.
  (He stole a handbag from a
  young woman.)
• Sie hatten keine weiteren Fragen.
  (They had no further questions.)
• Am Ende eines langen Tages
  (At the end of a long day)

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6.32 Endings Possessive Adjective
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6.33 Examples Possessive Adjective

• Ihr politischer Kurs nützt niemandem! (Your
  political course isnt helping anybody!)
• Das ist die Farbe unseres neuen Autos.
  (That is the colour of our new
  car.)
• Geht zu eurem hervorragenden Bäcker! (Go to
  your excellent baker!)
• Das liegt an meiner schwierigen Situation.
  (That is due to my difficult situation.)

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6.34 Quiz mixed endings

• Darf ich mein__ groß__ Bruder mitbringen? (
  Can I bring my big brother?)
• Nach unser____ letzt___ Afrikareise
  ( After our last journey to Africa)
• Das ist kein___ schlecht____ Idee.
  ( Thats not a bad idea.)
• Wegen eu____ besoffen____ Lehrer___
  ( Because of your drunk teacher)

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6.35 Quiz (3) answers

• Darf ich meinen großen Bruder mitbringen? (
  Can I bring my big brother?)
• Nach unserer letzten Afrikareise
  ( After our last journey to Africa)
• Das ist keine schlechte Idee.
  ( Thats not a bad idea.)
• Wegen eures besoffenen Lehrers (
  Because of your drunken teacher)

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6.36 Two or more adjectives...

• Two or more adjectives preceding a noun all have
  the same endings
• Sie trinken gutes bayrisches Bier.
  (They are drinking good Bavarian beer.)
• Die Lösung wichtiger sozialer Probleme.
  (The solution to important social problems.)
• Das ist mein lieber alter Vater.
  (That is my dear old father.)

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6.37or adverb adjective?

• BUT take care not to put adjective endings on an
  adverb that qualifies an adjective
• Das ist ein unglaubliches Ding
  (That is an unbelievable thing!)
• Das ist ein unglaublich schönes Gefühl.
  (That is an unbelievably beautiful feeling.)
• Alex ist ein unheilbar fauler Junge.
  (Alex is an incurably lazy boy.)
• Alex ist ein unheilbarer, fauler Junge.
  (Alex is an incurable lazy boy.)

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6.38 Participles used as adjectives

• Any part of speech used as an adjectives will
  take the appropriate endings
• Present Participle ? enttäuschende Zahlen
• Past Participle ? ein untergegangenes Schiff
• Comparative ? mein größerer Bruder
• Superlative ? das kleinste Handy der Welt
• (N.B. Linz ist die drittgrößte Stadt Österreichs)

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6.39 Adjectives used as nouns

• Adjectives used as nouns also have weak, mixed or
  strong endings depending on the determiner that
  precedes them.
• In other words, they take the same endings as an
  adjective would if it were in that position in
  the clause. They thus have the same endings as
  any preceding adjective
• e.g. ein zuverlässiger Angestellter ( a reliable
  employee), vom unbekannten Fremden ( from an
  unknown stranger)

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6.40 Key adjectival nouns

• der/die Deutsche the German
• der/die Fremde the stranger
• der/die Bekannte the acquaintance
• der/die Angestellte the employee

• der/die Jugendliche the youth
• der/die Reisende the traveller
• der/die Verwandte the relative
• der/die Vorsitzende the chairperson

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6.41 Adjectival Noun definite article
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6.42 Adjectival Noun indefinite article
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6.43 Adjectival nouns strong endings

• The following endings are taken by adjectives
  used as nouns in the strong declension
• Nominative ? Deutsche sind skeptisch
• Accusative ? Ekuador für Reisende
• Genitive ? das Gepäck Reisender
• Dative ? Er hilft Obdachlosen

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6.44 City adjectives ending in -er

• Adjectives in -er formed from the names of towns
  and cities are written with a capital letter and
  do not inflect (i.e. add endings)
• the Berlin Wall ? die Berliner Mauer
• Cologne cathedral ? der Kölner Dom
• a Viennese tradition ? eine Wiener Tradition
• Swiss cheese ? Schweizer Käse
• (the nineties ? die neunziger Jahre)

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6.45 Foreign colours

• Some foreign colour adjectives ending in a vowel
  do not take endings
• beige ? ein beige Mantel
• lila ? sein lila Trikot
• orange ? die orange Farbe
• rosa ? ihr rosa Sofa
• (Also prima ? eine prima Idee)

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6.46 Adjectives ending in -el

• Adjectives in -el always drop the -e- of the stem
  when the adjective takes endings
• dunkel ? ein dunkler Wald (NOT dunkeler)
• flexibel ? sein flexibles Design
• miserabel ? der miserable Service
• passabel ? mit einer passablen Leistung
• respektabel ? ein respektables Wachstum

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6.47 Adjectives ending in -er

• Foreign adjectives in -er and those with -au- or
  -eu- before the -er always drop the -e-
• makaber (foreign) ? die makabre Geschichte
• sauer (-au-) ? deine saure Miene
• teuer (-eu-) ? trotz teurer Geschenke
• Other -er adjectives keep the -e- however
• munter ? ein munteres Kind

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6.48 The adjective hoch

• When inflected, hoch has the special stem hoh- to
  which the endings are added
• Ist Ben Nevis ein hoher Berg?
  (Is Ben Nevis a high mountain?)
• Ja, der Berg ist sehr hoch.
  (Yes, the mountain is very high.)
• Wir fahren mit hoher Geschwindigkeit .
  (We are travelling at high speed.)