German Grammar Lectures

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1 German Grammar Lectures
German Adjective Endings Designed by Paul Joyce University of Portsmouth

2 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.

3 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.)

4 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.)

5 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.)

6 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.

7 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

8 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

9 6.8 Weak adjective endings: alt

10 6.9 Careful – learn the articles!
The weak endings show little information 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.

11 6.10 Endings: Definite Article

12 6.11 Weak adjective declension

13 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!)

14 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.

15 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 (= I’m talking to this young lady.) Wir kennen jed____ britisch____ Film (= We know every British film.)

16 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 (= I’m talking to this young lady.) Wir kennen jeden britischen Film (= We know every British film.)

17 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

18 6.17 Strong adjective endings: neu

19 6.18 Strong adjective declension

20 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.)

21 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?)

22 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)

23 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)

24 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)

25 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)

26 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

27 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

28 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

29 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

30 6.29 Mixed adjective endings: gut

31 6.30 Mixed adjective declension

32 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)

33 6.32 Endings: Possessive + Adjective

34 6.33 Examples: Possessive + Adjective
Ihr politischer Kurs nützt niemandem! (Your political course isn’t 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.)

35 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 (= That’s not a bad idea.) Wegen eu____ besoffen____ Lehrer___ (= Because of your drunk teacher)

36 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 (= That’s not a bad idea.) Wegen eures besoffenen Lehrers (= Because of your drunken teacher)

37 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.)

38 6.37…or 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.)

39 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)

40 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)

41 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

42 6.41 Adjectival Noun + definite article

43 6.42 Adjectival Noun + indefinite article

44 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

45 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)

46 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)

47 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

48 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

49 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.)