05-B1: Adjectives (+ definite Articles – Singular)

Adjectives
 
describe or modify nouns. In German they agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Their endings also depend on the case (Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative).
 
 
Study the table, read, listen, repeat and write your own sentences.
 
 
 
  +             +             +    
Singular
 
Case Gender Gender  Gender  
  masculine feminie neuter  
Nominative   (wer?)
 der kluge  Mann die kluge Frau das kluge Kind  
Genitive        (wessen?)
 des klugen Mannes der klugen Frau des klugen Kindes  
Dative           (wem?)
 dem klugen Mann der klugen Frau dem klugen Kind  
Accusative    (wen?)
 den klugen Mann die kluge Frau das kluge Kind  


(„klug“ = „smart“, „clever“, „intelligent“)

We use the:

Nominative   to answer the question „wer ? = who ?“ (for persons) or „was ? = what ?“ (for things).
Example:        Wer schreibt das Buch? – Die kluge Frau. = Who is writing a book? – The clever woman.
 
Genitive        to answer the question „wessen ? = whose ?“ (for persons).
Example:        Wessen Buch ist das? – Das ist das Buch des klugen Mannes. = Whose book is this?
 
Dative           to answer the question „wem ? = whom ?“.
Example:        Wem gehört das Buch? – Dem klugen Kind. = To whom belongs this bokk?
 
Accusative    to answer the question „wen ? = who ?“ (for persons) or „was ? = what ?“ (for things).
Example:        Wen rufst du an? – Die kluge Frau. = Who are you calling?