Step 0: after sein, no ending at all
When the adjective comes after the noun, linked by sein (to be), werden (to become) or bleiben (to stay), it never changes. Endings appear only when the adjective stands directly in front of the noun.
Step 1: after der, die, das: only -e or -en
The definite article always shows gender and case clearly, so the adjective only needs a weak ending. There are just two: -e in the five shaded cells, -en in all the others. The same endings follow dieser (this), jeder (every), welcher (which) and alle (all).
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der gute Wein | die gute Suppe | das gute Brot | die guten Freunde |
| Accusative | den guten Wein | die gute Suppe | das gute Brot | die guten Freunde |
| Dative | dem guten Wein | der guten Suppe | dem guten Brot | den guten Freunden |
| Genitive | des guten Weins | der guten Suppe | des guten Brots | der guten Freunde |
The shaded -e cells form a recognisable shape: all of the nominative singular, plus feminine and neuter accusative, where the article does not change. Everywhere the article changes (den, dem, des) or the noun is plural, use -en. Articles are explained in the four cases.
Step 2: after ein, mein, kein: fill the three gaps
Ein has no ending in three cells: masculine nominative and neuter nominative and accusative. There, the adjective must carry the signal itself: -er for masculine (like der), -es for neuter (like das). Every other cell matches Step 1. The same pattern follows kein (no) and the possessives mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer.
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural (kein) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ein guter Wein | eine gute Suppe | ein gutes Brot | keine guten Freunde |
| Accusative | einen guten Wein | eine gute Suppe | ein gutes Brot | keine guten Freunde |
| Dative | einem guten Wein | einer guten Suppe | einem guten Brot | keinen guten Freunden |
| Genitive | eines guten Weins | einer guten Suppe | eines guten Brots | keiner guten Freunde |
Red cells are the three gaps. Compare the bold endings with Step 1: only those three are different.
Step 3: no article: the adjective does all the work
With no article at all, as in plural nouns, uncountable things (heißer Kaffee, hot coffee) and greetings (Guten Morgen!), the adjective takes the ending the definite article would have had: der → -er, die → -e, das → -es, dem → -em. The one exception: masculine and neuter genitive use -en, because the noun already adds -s.
Ending finder
Choose the article type, case and gender. The finder builds the phrase and explains the ending.
Adjectives in a flat advert
Descriptions are where adjective endings matter most. Endings are in red. Every word has its English meaning underneath.