Introduction
In German, adjectives that come after the definite articles der, die, and das change their endings based on gender, case, and number. These endings show agreement with the noun and the definite article.
Adjective Endings with Definite Articles
| Case |
Masculine |
Feminine |
Neuter |
Plural |
| Nominativ |
der -e Mann |
die -e Frau |
das -e Kind |
die -en Kinder |
| Akkusativ |
den -en Mann |
die -e Frau |
das -e Kind |
die -en Kinder |
| Dativ |
dem -en Mann |
der -en Frau |
dem -en Kind |
den -en Kindern |
| Genitiv |
des -en Mannes |
der -en Frau |
des -en Kindes |
der -en Kinder |
Examples of Adjectives with Definite Articles
- Der schöne Garten ist groß. (The beautiful garden is large.) - Nominativ, Masculine
- Ich sehe die schöne Blume. (I see the beautiful flower.) - Akkusativ, Feminine
- Wir spielen mit dem kleinen Kind. (We are playing with the small child.) - Dativ, Neuter
- Die großen Häuser sind teuer. (The large houses are expensive.) - Nominativ, Plural
Special Cases and Notes
Some adjectives might change slightly to match the case endings, particularly in the Genitiv case for masculine and neuter nouns:
- des alten Mannes (of the old man) - Genitiv, Masculine
- des roten Autos (of the red car) - Genitiv, Neuter