Basic German Grammar Topics
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German-Gender of Nouns4 Topics
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German-Nominative4 Topics
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German-Numbers4 Topics
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German-Adjectives4 Topics
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German-Personal Pronouns & the Verb sein4 Topics
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German-Regular Verbs in the Present Tense4 Topics
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German-Plural Formation4 Topics
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German-Haben and the Accusative Case4 Topics
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German-Word Order4 Topics
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German-Definite Articles4 Topics
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German-Indefinite Articles4 Topics
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German-Negation5 Topics
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German-Modal Verbs4 Topics
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German-Separable Prefix Verbs4 Topics
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German-Coordinating Conjunctions4 Topics
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German-Konjunktiv I4 Topics
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German-Possessive Pronouns4 Topics
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German Question Words4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect of Regular Verbs4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect of Irregular Verbs4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect of Mixed Verbs4 Topics
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German-Dative Case5 Topics
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German-Two Way Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Dative Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Conditionals4 Topics
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German-Future Tense4 Topics
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German-Dative Verbs4 Topics
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German-Simple Past Tense4 Topics
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German-Imperative4 Topics
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German-Comparative4 Topics
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German-Temporal Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect Separable Prefix Verbs4 Topics
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German-Irregular Verbs4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect Inseparable Prefix Verbs4 Topics
Participants 257
Adjectives are words that modify a noun or pronoun by describing a characteristic (size, age, shape, color, feeling, or opinion). They can be placed before a noun or pronoun (attribute position) or after a noun (predicative position). When adjectives are in the predicative position, they do not have endings and are the same for any noun or pronoun, regardless of gender, case and number (singular or plural).
Examples:
Das Haus ist schön. The House is beautiful. (das Haus – singular, neutral noun)
Die Blumen sind schön. The flowers are beautiful. (die Blumen – plural, feminine noun)
Ich bin schön. I am beautiful. (I – subject/nominative pronoun)
The adjective “schön” remains unchanged, regardless of the gender, case and number of the noun or pronoun, as long as it is placed behind the noun/pronoun it characterizes (predicative position).
Adjectives in the attributive position (for A2.2 students)
When adjectives are placed before the noun or pronoun, then we need to add endings depending on the gender, case and number of the noun or pronoun they modify. Adjectives that are preceded by German definite articles or “der” words (dieser, jeder, jener, etc) have weak adjective endings. There are only two possible weak endings: “-e” and “-en”
Examples:
Der leckere Kuchen riecht gut.
The delicious cake smells good. (der Kuchen, singular masculine, nominative)
Die schönen Blumen riechen gut.
The beautiful flowers smell good. (die Blumen, plural, feminine, nominative)
Adjectives that are preceded by German indefinite articlesor “ein” words (possessive articles, etc.) have strong adjective endings.
Examples:
Ich lese ein interessantes Buch.
I am reading an interesting book. (das Buch, singular, neutral, accusative)
Wir pflücken die schönen Blumen.
We are picking the beautiful flowers. (die Blumen, plural, feminine, accusative)
German Adjective endings are strong endings when they are not preceded by a determiner. This is often used in news articles, ads or job postings.
Examples:
Wohnung mit schönem Blick frei.
Apartment with beautiful view available. (der Blick, singular, masculine, dative)
Haus mit grosser Terrasse frei.
House with large patio available. (die Terasse, singular, feminine, dative)