C1 Adjectives & Adverbs 13 min read Hard

German Adjective Endings without Articles (Strong Endings)

Without an article, the adjective must carry the gender and case marker by mimicking the definite article's ending.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

When no article is present, the adjective must 'carry' the gender and case information by taking the strong ending.

  • Masculine Nominative: 'Guter {Wein|m} schmeckt.'
  • Feminine Dative: 'Mit guter {Milch|f} backen.'
  • Plural Genitive: 'Wegen alter {Bücher|n} lesen.'
Adjective + Ending = Gender/Case Marker

Overview

In German grammar, adjectives function as crucial indicators of a noun's grammatical properties: its case ({Nominativ}, {Akkusativ}, {Dativ}, {Genitiv}), gender ({Maskulinum}, {Femininum}, {Neutrum}), and number ({Singular} or {Plural}). This essential role becomes particularly prominent in what is known as Strong Adjective Inflection (die starke Adjektivdeklination). This pattern applies when an adjective modifies a noun but is not preceded by any article (definite or indefinite) or other determiner (like dieser, jener, jeder, mancher, alle, beide).

In such instances, the adjective must solely convey all the necessary grammatical information, stepping into the role typically shared by a preceding article.

The term 'strong' reflects the adjective's intensified grammatical burden; it carries the full inflectional load to clarify the noun phrase's function within the sentence. This system prevents ambiguity, ensuring that the listener or reader can correctly identify the noun's grammatical relationship to other sentence elements. For instance, kaltes Wasser immediately signals that Wasser das is in the {Nominativ} or {Akkusativ} case, even without an article like das.

Mastery of strong inflection is a hallmark of C1 proficiency, enabling precise expression and comprehension in diverse contexts, from nuanced literature to concise advertising.

How This Grammar Works

The mechanism behind strong adjective endings is fundamentally rooted in the principle of grammatical signaling. German requires clear marking of a noun's case, gender, and number within a noun phrase. If a determiner (an article like der, ein, or a demonstrative pronoun like dieser) precedes the adjective and noun, it usually provides the primary signal, allowing the adjective to adopt simpler, 'weak' endings.
However, when no such determiner is present, the adjective absorbs these critical signals directly. It effectively takes on the endings that the definite article (der, die, das) would have carried.
Consider the masculine nominative: der gute Mann. Here, der signals nominative masculine. If the article is removed, gut must become guter Mann, with the -er ending now fulfilling the signaling role of der.
This is not a random assignment but a systematic transfer of grammatical information. The adjective essentially 'copies' the distinctive ending of the corresponding definite article. This linguistic economy ensures that essential grammatical information is never lost, even in truncated or article-less noun phrases.
A crucial exception, often termed the "Genitive Trap," occurs in the masculine and neuter genitive singular. While the definite article des ends in -s, the strong adjective ending here is -en, not -es. For example, des guten Weines becomes guten Weines.
The reason for this apparent deviation lies in redundancy: masculine and neuter nouns in the genitive singular typically receive an -s or -es ending themselves (e.g., des Weines, des Kindes). Since the noun already signals the genitive, the adjective adopts a generalized -en ending, avoiding an unnecessary double -s signal. This subtle adjustment highlights the interconnectedness and efficiency of the German inflectional system.

Formation Pattern

1
To correctly apply strong adjective endings, you must first identify the noun's grammatical properties: its gender, number, and case. Once these are established, the adjective adopts the ending that the definite article (der, die, das) would have taken for that specific combination.
2
Here is the comprehensive table of strong adjective endings. Notice how many endings directly mirror the characteristic endings of the definite articles, with the Genitive Masculine and Neuter singular being the principal exception where -en is used.
3
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
4
| :---------- | :-------------- | :-------------- | :-------------- | :-------------- |
5
| Nominative | -er (der) | -e (die) | -es (das) | -e (die) |
6
| Accusative | -en (den) | -e (die) | -es (das) | -e (die) |
7
| Dative | -em (dem) | -er (der) | -em (dem) | -en (den) |
8
| Genitive | -en (des) | -er (der) | -en (des) | -er (der) |
9
Let's break down the application:
10
Step 1: Identify the Noun. Determine its gender ({Maskulinum} der, {Femininum} die, {Neutrum} das) and whether it's singular or plural.
11
Step 2: Determine the Case. Is the noun the subject ({Nominativ}), direct object ({Akkusativ}), indirect object ({Dativ}), or indicating possession ({Genitiv})?
12
Step 3: Select the Corresponding Ending. Use the table above to find the correct ending for your identified gender, number, and case.
13
Example Applications:
14
Nominative Masculine Singular: der alte Baum → alter Baum (no article, so alt takes -er from der).
15
Accusative Feminine Singular: die schöne Blume → schöne Blume (no article, so schön takes -e from die).
16
Dative Neuter Singular: dem kleinen Kind → kleinem Kind (no article, so klein takes -em from dem).
17
Genitive Masculine Singular: des neuen Hauses → neuen Hauses (no article, neu takes -en despite des).
18
Dative Plural: den jungen Leuten → jungen Leuten (no article, jung takes -en, and noun takes -n if applicable).
19
It's crucial to memorize this table. Regular practice with diverse nouns and cases will solidify your understanding and application.

When To Use It

Strong adjective endings are employed in specific, yet very common, grammatical contexts where no preceding determiner signals the noun's properties. Mastering these scenarios is vital for C1 learners.
  1. 1With Undetermined Nouns (No Article Present):
  • Mass Nouns and Uncountable Concepts: When referring to substances, abstract ideas, or quantities that aren't typically counted with specific articles.
  • Kaltes Wasser schmeckt erfrischend. (Cold water tastes refreshing.)
  • Sie empfand tiefe Freude. (She felt deep joy.)
  • Frische Luft tut gut. (Fresh air does good.)
  • Plural Nouns without a Determiner: When a plural noun is introduced without die or any other quantifier.
  • Neue Bücher sind teuer. (New books are expensive.)
  • Ich sehe kleine Hunde. (I see small dogs.)
  • Wir brauchen gute Ideen. (We need good ideas.)
  1. 1After Indefinite Quantifiers that Don't Inflect Strongly:
These are words that precede the adjective but don't carry the full weight of a determiner's inflection, thus requiring the adjective to take strong endings.
  • viel, wenig, etwas: When these words are uninflected (often in singular or with mass nouns), the subsequent adjective will take a strong ending. Example: viel guter Wein (much good wine) - viel is uninflected, so gut takes the strong -er ending.
  • wenig warmes Wasser (little warm water)
  • etwas Neues (something new) - Here, neu is substantivized, still taking the strong ending.
  • Numbers (zwei, drei, etc.): When numbers (except ein) precede a plural noun, the adjective takes strong plural endings.
  • Zwei große Hunde sind im Garten. (Two big dogs are in the garden.)
  • Mit drei neuen Freunden gehe ich ins Kino. (I'm going to the cinema with three new friends.)
  • Uninflected solch- and welch-: Before nouns in exclamations or questions.
  • Solch schönes Wetter! (Such beautiful weather!)
  • Welch wundersamer Zufall! (What a wondrous coincidence!)
  1. 1In Fixed Expressions, Headlines, Advertisements, and Shortened Phrases:
Strong inflection often lends conciseness and impact, making it prevalent in contexts requiring brevity.
  • Greetings & Fixed Phrases:
  • Guten Morgen!, Guten Appetit!, Frohes Fest!
  • Liebe Grüße, Mit freundlichen Grüßen
  • Headlines & Slogans: For directness and capturing attention.
  • Starker Anstieg der Preise (Strong rise in prices)
  • Kaltes Bier – immer ein Genuss. (Cold beer – always a pleasure.)
  • Bester Service für Sie. (Best service for you.)
  • Lists of Adjectives or Appositions: When multiple adjectives describe a noun without a repeated article.
  • Ein großer, blauer Himmel. (A big, blue sky.)
  • Deutscher, frischer Apfelkuchen. (German, fresh apple pie.)
Understanding these specific applications helps you not just form the endings, but also to recognize and appreciate their functional and stylistic role in German.

Common Mistakes

For C1 learners, common errors with strong adjective endings typically stem from misapplication of other inflectional patterns, overlooking specific exceptions, or failing to identify the correct grammatical context.
  1. 1Confusing Strong with Weak or Mixed Inflection:
The most frequent mistake is using weak endings (ending predominantly in -e or -en) when a strong ending is required due to the absence of an article.
  • Incorrect: Ich trinke gute Wein. (der Wein)
  • Correct: Ich trinke guten Wein. (Accusative masculine, takes -en).
  • Why it's wrong: Learners often default to the more common weak -e or -en from der or ein patterns, failing to recognize that gut must carry the full grammatical signal here.
  1. 1The Genitive Trap (Masculine and Neuter Singular):
As discussed, the tendency to apply a definite article-like -es ending to the adjective in genitive masculine/neuter singular is a persistent error.
  • Incorrect: Wegen schlechtes Wetters (das Wetter, Genitive)
  • Correct: Wegen schlechten Wetters.
  • Why it's wrong: While des ends in -s, the adjective takes -en. The noun Wetter itself takes the -s ending, making an -es on the adjective redundant.
  1. 1Forgetting Noun Inflection in Dative Plural:
In Dative Plural, both the adjective and the noun often receive an -n ending (if the noun doesn't already end in -n or -s). Learners sometimes inflect the adjective but forget the noun.
  • Incorrect: mit alten Freunde (die(pl) Freunde)
  • Correct: mit alten Freunden (both adjective and noun take -n).
  • Why it's wrong: This indicates an incomplete understanding of plural dative morphology, where the noun also signals the case.
  1. 1Incorrect Inflection of Irregular Adjectives:
A few common adjectives exhibit slight irregularities when inflecting strongly.
  • hoch (high): The ch drops when an ending is added.
  • Incorrect: ein hocher Berg
  • Correct: ein hoher Berg (Strong masculine nominative)
  • dunkel (dark), edel (noble), teuer (expensive): The e before the l or r is often dropped.
  • dunkel → dunkler Wein (strong masc. nom.), not dunkeler.
  • teuer → teures Auto (strong neut. nom./acc.), not teueres.
  • Why it's wrong: These are phonological adjustments for ease of pronunciation that must be learned specifically.
  1. 1Over-Application of Strong Endings:
Using strong endings when a determiner is present (e.g., der, ein, dieser).
  • Incorrect: Der guter Mann
  • Correct: Der gute Mann (Weak inflection required after der).
  • Why it's wrong: This demonstrates a failure to distinguish between the three inflectional patterns (strong, weak, mixed) and the role of determiners. The primary signal (der) is already present.
To mitigate these errors, consistently analyze the noun phrase's components: presence or absence of a determiner, the noun's gender/number, and the sentence's required case.

Real Conversations

Strong adjective endings are not confined to formal writing; they are an integral part of everyday German, conveying brevity, emphasis, and natural flow in various modern communication forms.

Informal Speech and Texting:

- Native speakers frequently omit articles for conciseness, particularly in exclamations or quick observations.

- "Wo ist meine Tasche?" – "Da, blaue Tasche!" (There, blue bag!)

- Super Idee! (Great idea!) – much more common than Eine super Idee!

- Klasse Film! (Great film!) – for quick approval.

- In social media captions, titles, or short status updates, strong endings are preferred for their directness.

- Wunderschöner Sonnenuntergang! (Beautiful sunset!)

- Langes Wochenende, gute Laune. (Long weekend, good mood.)

Advertisements and Product Descriptions:

- Strong inflection is a staple in marketing due to its punchy, direct nature. It creates impact without unnecessary words.

- Frisches Brot vom Bäcker. (Fresh bread from the baker.)

- Bester Preis, höchste Qualität. (Best price, highest quality.)

- Neue Kollektion jetzt online. (New collection now online.)

- This stylistic choice aims to deliver information efficiently and persuasively.

Formal and Professional Contexts (Emails, Reports, Headlines):

- While often associated with informality, strong endings are also crucial in formal contexts, especially for headings, subject lines, and specific phraseology.

- Email Subject: Dringende Anfrage zu Projekt X. (Urgent inquiry regarding Project X.)

- Report Title: Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung im letzten Quartal. (Economic development in the last quarter.)

- Formal Address: Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, (Very esteemed ladies and gentlemen,) – geehrte takes the strong ending -e because there's no article before Damen und Herren.

Culinary and Descriptive Language:

- When describing food, drink, or sensory experiences, strong endings are natural, especially when referring to uncounted items.

- Kühles Blondes (a cold blonde beer).

- Leckeres Essen und guter Wein. (Delicious food and good wine.)

- Starker Kaffee am Morgen. (Strong coffee in the morning.)

These examples demonstrate that strong adjective endings are not merely a grammatical rule but a flexible tool for native speakers to adjust tone, conciseness, and formality across a wide range of communicative situations. Recognizing these patterns enhances both your comprehension and your ability to sound more natural in German.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to common questions C1 learners have about strong adjective endings, delving into nuances and distinctions.
Q: Do viel and wenig always trigger strong endings?

Not always directly.

  • When viel or wenig modify a singular mass noun or an abstract noun and are uninflected themselves (e.g., viel, wenig), the subsequent adjective will take a strong ending. Example: viel guter Rat (much good advice).
  • When viel or wenig are inflected as quantifiers for plural nouns (viele, wenige), they act like regular articles, and the adjective takes strong plural endings. Example: viele neue Ideen (many new ideas).
  • This nuance depends on whether viel/wenig itself is inflected, which is often omitted for singular uncountables.
Q: Is the Genitive Masculine and Neuter -en rule absolute?

For the vast majority of cases, yes. When masculine or neuter nouns in the genitive singular take an -s or -es ending, the preceding adjective always uses -en in strong inflection. The -s on the noun is the sufficient genitive marker. Very rare exceptions might exist with n-declension nouns where the noun itself doesn't take -s, but this is beyond typical C1 scope and doesn't invalidate the general rule. Stick with -en.

Q: What about alles, dieses, jenes, jedes, manches? Do they trigger strong endings?

No. Words like alles, dieses, jenes, jedes, and manches function as der-words (definite article equivalents). They already carry the full grammatical signal. Therefore, any adjective following them will take weak adjective endings (predominantly -e or -en).

  • Example: Dieses alte Haus (This old house) – alt takes a weak -e.
  • Example: Jeder gute Student (Every good student) – gut takes a weak -e.
Strong endings are only used when no determiner is present.
Q: Can I choose to use an article or omit it for stylistic reasons?

Often, yes, but with a change in nuance.

  • Omitting the article (strong inflection) makes the statement more general, concise, and often more impactful or exclamatory. Guter Wein ist teuer. (Good wine is expensive - general statement).
  • Including the definite article (weak inflection) specifies a particular instance or refers to something already known. Der gute Wein ist teuer. (The good wine [we are talking about] is expensive).
  • Including the indefinite article (mixed inflection) introduces a non-specific but singular item. Ein guter Wein ist teuer. (A good wine is expensive).
C1 learners should be aware of these subtle differences in meaning and usage to make deliberate stylistic choices.
Q: How do adjectives behave when modifying nouns after other adjectives that are strongly inflected?

If the first adjective is strongly inflected because there's no preceding determiner, all subsequent adjectives in the same noun phrase will also take strong endings.

  • Example: Kalter, frischer Wind weht. (Cold, fresh wind blows.) Both kalt and frisch take the strong -er ending for Nominative masculine.
The strong inflection "chain" continues as long as there is no intervening determiner.
Q: Are there any other irregular adjectives besides hoch?

The adjectives dunkel (dark), edel (noble), and teuer (expensive) can also be slightly irregular. They may drop the e before l or r when an ending is added.

  • dunkel → dunkler Wein (strong masc. nom.), not dunkeler.
  • teuer → teures Auto (strong neut. nom./acc.), not teueres.
These are phonological adjustments for easier pronunciation and are important for sounding native.

Strong Adjective Endings (No Article)

Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural
Nom.
-er
-e
-es
-e
Acc.
-en
-e
-es
-e
Dat.
-em
-er
-em
-en
Gen.
-en
-er
-en
-er

Meanings

Strong adjective endings are used when an adjective precedes a noun without a preceding article or determiner. The adjective takes on the inflectional ending to signal the noun's gender, number, and case.

1

Zero-Article Declension

Used when the noun is indefinite and lacks an article.

“Frisches {Brot|n} ist lecker.”

“Ich trinke kalten {Tee|m}.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Adjective Endings without Articles (Strong Endings)
Form Structure Example
Nom. Masc.
Adj + er
Guter {Wein|m}
Acc. Masc.
Adj + en
Kalten {Tee|m}
Dat. Fem.
Adj + er
Mit guter {Milch|f}
Gen. Neut.
Adj + en
Wegen großen {Glücks|n}
Nom. Pl.
Adj + e
Alte {Bücher|pl}
Dat. Pl.
Adj + en
Von alten {Leuten|pl}
Gen. Pl.
Adj + er
Vieler {Leute|pl}
Acc. Neut.
Adj + es
Frisches {Brot|n}

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Guter {Wein|m} ist teuer.

Guter {Wein|m} ist teuer. (General)

Neutral
Guter {Wein|m} ist teuer.

Guter {Wein|m} ist teuer. (General)

Informal
Guter {Wein|m} ist teuer.

Guter {Wein|m} ist teuer. (General)

Slang
Guter {Stoff|m}!

Guter {Stoff|m}! (General)

The Adjective's Role

Strong Ending

Function

  • Gender Gender
  • Case Case

Strong vs Weak

Strong
Guter {Wein|m} Good wine
Weak
Der gute {Wein|m} The good wine

Do I need a strong ending?

1

Is there an article?

YES
Use Weak/Mixed
NO
Use Strong

Case Endings

🏆

Nominative

  • • -er
  • • -e
  • • -es
  • • -e
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Examples by Level

1

Guter {Kaffee|m} ist heiß.

Good coffee is hot.

2

Kaltes {Wasser|n} bitte.

Cold water please.

3

Frische {Milch|f} schmeckt gut.

Fresh milk tastes good.

4

Gute {Leute|pl} helfen.

Good people help.

1

Ich trinke kalten {Tee|m}.

I drink cold tea.

2

Sie braucht frisches {Brot|n}.

She needs fresh bread.

3

Mit gutem {Wein|m} feiern wir.

We celebrate with good wine.

4

Alte {Bücher|pl} sind wertvoll.

Old books are valuable.

1

Wegen schlechten {Wetters|n} bleiben wir.

Because of bad weather we stay.

2

Er gibt ihr guten {Rat|m}.

He gives her good advice.

3

Frische {Luft|f} tut gut.

Fresh air does good.

4

Viele {Leute|pl} kommen.

Many people come.

1

Sehr geehrte {Damen|pl} und {Herren|pl}!

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

2

Trotz starken {Regens|m} gehen wir.

Despite heavy rain we go.

3

Er hat großes {Glück|n}.

He has great luck.

4

Mit freundlichen {Grüßen|pl}.

With kind regards.

1

Kalter {Wind|m} peitscht über das Land.

Cold wind lashes over the land.

2

Reines {Gold|n} ist weich.

Pure gold is soft.

3

Starker {Wille|m} führt zum Ziel.

Strong will leads to the goal.

4

Dunkler {Wald|m} umgibt das Haus.

Dark forest surrounds the house.

1

Von hohem {Wert|m} ist diese Kunst.

Of high value is this art.

2

Schwerer {Verlust|m} wiegt schwer.

Heavy loss weighs heavy.

3

Klarer {Verstand|m} ist nötig.

Clear mind is necessary.

4

Süßer {Wein|m} erfreut den Gaumen.

Sweet wine delights the palate.

Easily Confused

German Adjective Endings without Articles (Strong Endings) vs Weak vs Strong

Learners mix up the endings.

German Adjective Endings without Articles (Strong Endings) vs Mixed vs Strong

Learners use mixed endings after 'ein'.

German Adjective Endings without Articles (Strong Endings) vs Genitive endings

Using -es instead of -en.

Common Mistakes

✗

Gute {Wein|m}

✓

Guter {Wein|m}

Masculine nominative requires -er.
✗

Kaltes {Tee|m}

✓

Kalten {Tee|m}

Accusative masculine requires -en.
✗

Mit gutem {Milch|f}

✓

Mit guter {Milch|f}

Dative feminine requires -er.
✗

Wegen starken {Regen|m}

✓

Wegen starken {Regens|m}

Genitive requires -s on the noun.

Sentence Patterns

___ {Wein|m} schmeckt gut.

Ich trinke ___ {Tee|m}.

Mit ___ {Milch|f} backen.

Wegen ___ {Wetters|n} bleiben.

Real World Usage

Formal Letter very common

Sehr geehrte {Damen|pl} und {Herren|pl}.

Social Media common

Kaltes {Bier|n} gesucht!

Job Interview common

Guter {Wille|m} ist da.

Travel occasional

Schlechter {Weg|m}!

Food Delivery common

Frisches {Essen|n}!

Academic Paper very common

Reines {Gold|n} zeigt...

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💡

Check the Article

If there is no article, use the strong ending.
⚠️

Genitive Exception

Remember the -en ending for Genitive Masc/Neut.
🎯

Memorize the Table

The table is your best friend.
💬

Formal Writing

Strong endings are essential for professional tone.

Smart Tips

Think of the definite article ending.

Gute {Wein|m} → Guter {Wein|m}

Remember -en for Masc/Neut.

Wegen gutes {Wetters|n} → Wegen guten {Wetters|n}

Use strong endings for greetings.

Sehr geehrte {Damen|pl} und {Herren|pl} → Sehr geehrte {Damen|pl} und {Herren|pl}

Don't overthink, just practice.

Kaltes {Tee|m} → Kalten {Tee|m}

Pronunciation

guter -> /guːtɐ/

Ending stress

Endings are unstressed.

Declarative

Guter {Wein|m} schmeckt. ↘

Neutral statement.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember the 'Article Shadow': The adjective ending is the shadow of the missing article.

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing in the rain without an umbrella (the article). They have to wear a heavy raincoat (the ending) to protect themselves.

Rhyme

Ohne Artikel, ganz allein, muss das Ende kräftig sein!

Story

A lonely adjective named 'Strong' walks into a room. There are no articles to help him. He has to wear a special hat (the ending) so everyone knows who he is. He changes his hat depending on the room (case) he enters.

Word Web

GuterKaltenFrischesGroßemAltenVieler

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your day without using any articles (e.g., 'Kalter {Kaffee|m} schmeckt').

Cultural Notes

Used in formal letters and academic writing.

Similar usage, often more formal.

Standard German rules apply.

Derived from Old High German declension patterns.

Conversation Starters

“

Was trinkst du gerne?

“

Wie ist das Wetter heute?

“

Was ist ein guter Rat?

“

Welcher Wein ist gut?

Journal Prompts

Describe your favorite meal without using articles.
Write a formal letter opening.
Describe a cold winter day.
Discuss the importance of good friends.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

___ {Wein|m} ist gut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Guter
Nominative masculine.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Ich trinke ___ {Tee|m}.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kalten
Accusative masculine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Mit gute {Milch|f} backen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: guter
Dative feminine.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Guter Wein ist teuer.
Correct syntax.
Translate to German. Translation

Cold water please.

Answer starts with: Kal...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kaltes Wasser bitte.
Nominative neuter.
Match the case. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -en
Genitive masculine strong ending.
Fill in the blank.

Wegen ___ {Wetters|n} bleiben.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: schlechten
Genitive neuter.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___ {Leute|pl} helfen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Gute
Nominative plural.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___ {Wein|m} ist gut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Guter
Nominative masculine.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Ich trinke ___ {Tee|m}.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kalten
Accusative masculine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Mit gute {Milch|f} backen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: guter
Dative feminine.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

ist / Guter / Wein / teuer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Guter Wein ist teuer.
Correct syntax.
Translate to German. Translation

Cold water please.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kaltes Wasser bitte.
Nominative neuter.
Match the case. Match Pairs

Genitive Masculine

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -en
Genitive masculine strong ending.
Fill in the blank.

Wegen ___ {Wetters|n} bleiben.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: schlechten
Genitive neuter.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___ {Leute|pl} helfen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Gute
Nominative plural.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank: Dative Plural Fill in the Blank

Ich spreche mit alt___ Freunden.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: en
Reorder to make a sentence. Sentence Reorder

trinke / Ich / liebsten / am / kalten / Tee

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich trinke am liebsten kalten Tee.
Translate into German. Translation

Expensive wine is not always good.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Teurer Wein ist nicht immer gut.
Select the correct caption for a photo of a forest. Multiple Choice

Caption for 'Beautiful nature':

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Schöne Natur!
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Ich mag süße Senf.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich mag süßen Senf.
Match the adjective ending to the gender/case. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Masc Nom -> -er, Fem Dat -> -er, Neut Acc -> -es, Plur Dat -> -en
Dative case usage. Fill in the Blank

Aus gut___ Grund hat er abgesagt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: em
Which is a valid advertising slogan? Multiple Choice

Choose the slogan:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Beste Qualität zum kleinen Preis.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

erfordert / Mut / Großer / dieses / Projekt

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dieses Projekt erfordert großen Mut.
Translate: 'Many small children' Translation

Many small children are playing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Viele kleine Kinder spielen.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

To show the case and gender when no article is present.

It takes practice, but the table helps.

When there is no article.

Plural has its own endings.

Yes, very common in formal German.

No, it's essential for accuracy.

Use the table and write sentences.

Yes, the Genitive masculine/neuter.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Adjective agreement

German has case; Spanish does not.

French partial

Adjective agreement

German has case-based endings.

German high

Strong declension

None.

Japanese low

Adjective conjugation

Japanese has no gender or case declension.

Arabic partial

Adjective agreement

Arabic uses prefixes/suffixes differently.

Chinese none

None

Chinese is isolating.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Weak Adjective Endings (after der/die/das)
Next
German Compound Adjectives (Zusammengesetzte Adjektive)

Learn These First

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