B1.2 · Ocean Depth II

Adjective Declension (Strong)

Adjektivdeklination (stark)

Strong adjective declension is used when no article or determiner stands before the adjective, so the adjective itself must show gender, case and number: kalter Kaffee, frisches Brot, frische Milch. The endings largely copy the definite article — -er like der, -e like die, -es like das — with masculine accusative switching to -en, as in Ich trinke kalten Kaffee.

Decline adjectives without articles.

Rules & Explanations

Strong Adjective Declension

Starke Adjektivdeklination

When there's no article before an adjective, the adjective must do all the work of showing gender, case, and number. This is called strong declension — the adjective endings are strong because they carry the full grammatical information. Think: 'kaltER Kaffee' (cold coffee) — the -er tells you it's masculine nominative!

German has three adjective declension patterns: strong (no article), weak (with der/die/das), and Mixed (with ein/eine/kein). Strong endings are the most distinctive because they mirror the definite article endings.

English adjectives never change: 'cold coffee,' 'cold water,' 'cold milk' — always just 'cold.' German adjectives change their endings based on gender, case, and whether there's an article!

Why you need this Menus and food: 'frisches Brot' (fresh bread), 'kaltes Bier' (cold beer). Descriptions without articles: 'bei schönem Wetter' (in nice weather), 'mit großer Freude' (with great joy).

Ich trinke kalten Kaffee.

I drink cold coffee.

No article before 'Kaffee' → adjective takes strong ending '-en' (masculine accusative).

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Strong declension appears constantly: in food descriptions, weather expressions, abstract concepts, and after words like 'viel,' 'wenig,' 'etwas,' and numbers. You cannot avoid it!

When to Use Strong Declension

Wann benutzt man die starke Deklination?

The Rule: No Article = Strong Endings

Use strong adjective endings when there is no article or determiner before the adjective: • kaltER Kaffee (cold coffee) — no article • frischES Brot (fresh bread) — no article • heiße Suppe (hot soup) — no article The adjective must show the gender and case because nothing else does!

STARKE Endungen wenn kein Artikel oder Determinator vor dem Adjektiv steht.

Also After These Words

Strong endings also appear after words that don't show gender: • numbers: zwei kleine Kinder, drei große Häuser • viel/wenig: viel frisches Obst, wenig kaltes Wasser • etwas/nichts: etwas Neues, nichts Besonderes • manch/solch/welch (without ending): manch guter Freund • dessen/deren: dessen alter Freund These words don't indicate gender → adjective must!

Auch nach: Zahlen, viel/wenig, etwas/nichts, manch/solch/welch (ohne Endung).

The Key Insight: Mirror the Article

Strong adjective endings are almost identical to definite article endings: der → -er (masculine nominative) die → -e (feminine nominative) das → -es (neuter nominative) die → -e (plural nominative) Exception: Masculine/neuter genitive uses -en instead of -es. Think: 'What would the article be? Use that ending!'

Starke Endungen = fast wie Artikelendungen. der → -er, die → -e, das → -es.

Strong Adjective Endings

Starke Adjektivendungen

Nominative Strong Endings

MASCULINE: -er (like dER) • kaltER Kaffee ist gut. (Cold coffee is good.) FEMININE: -E (like diE) • frischE Milch schmeckt gut. (Fresh milk tastes good.) NEUTER: -es (like daS) • kaltES Bier ist erfrischend. (Cold beer is refreshing.) PLURAL: -E (like diE) • kleine Kinder spielen. (Small children play.)

Nominativ: Mask -er, fem -e, neut -es, Plural -e

Accusative Strong Endings

MASCULINE: -en (like dEN) ← changes! • Ich trinke kaltEN Kaffee. (I drink cold coffee.) FEMININE: -E (same as nominative) • Ich trinke frischE Milch. (I drink fresh milk.) NEUTER: -es (same as nominative) • Ich trinke kaltES Bier. (I drink cold beer.) PLURAL: -E (same as nominative) • Ich sehe kleine Kinder. (I see small children.)

Akkusativ: Mask -en (ändert sich!), fem -e, neut -es, Plural -e

Dative Strong Endings

ALL genders: -em (masc/neut) or -er (fem) or -en (plural) MASCULINE: -em • mit kaltEM Kaffee (with cold coffee) FEMININE: -er • mit frischER Milch (with fresh milk) NEUTER: -em • mit kaltEM Bier (with cold beer) PLURAL: -en • mit kleinEN Kindern (with small children)

Dativ: Mask -em, fem -er, neut -em, Plural -en

Genitive Strong Endings

MASCULINE: -en (exception! not -es) • trotz kaltEN Wetters (despite cold weather) FEMININE: -er • trotz großER Hitze (despite great heat) NEUTER: -en (exception! not -es) • trotz schlechtEN Wetters (despite bad weather) PLURAL: -er • trotz kleiner Probleme (despite small problems)

Genitiv: Mask -en, fem -er, neut -en, Plural -er

Special Cases and Patterns

Sonderfälle und Muster

After Numbers (zwei, drei, vier...)

After numbers, adjectives take strong endings: • zwei kleine Kinder (two small children) • drei große Häuser (three big houses) • fünf neue Bücher (five new books) The number doesn't show gender → adjective must!

Nach Zahlen: starke Endungen. zwei kleine Kinder, drei große Häuser.

After viel/wenig (much/little)

viel and wenig (uncountable) don't decline → strong adjective: • viel frisches Obst (much fresh fruit) • wenig kaltes Wasser (little cold water) • mit viel gutem Willen (with much good will) But: viele/wenige (countable plural) → adjective can be weak or strong.

Nach viel/wenig (unzählbar): starke Endungen.

After etwas/nichts (something/nothing)

After etwas/nichts, the adjective is Nominalized (capitalized) with neuter endings: • etwas Neues (something new) • nichts Besonderes (nothing special) • etwas Interessantes (something interesting) Always neuter because it refers to an abstract 'thing.'

Nach etwas/nichts: nominalisiertes Adjektiv mit Neutrum-Endung. etwas Neues.

Multiple Adjectives

When multiple adjectives appear together, they all take the same strong ending: • kalter, schwarzer Kaffee (cold, black coffee) • frisches, warmes Brot (fresh, warm bread) • mit gutem, altem Wein (with good, old wine) All adjectives share the burden equally!

Mehrere Adjektive: Alle bekommen die gleiche starke Endung.

Common Mistakes with Strong Declension

Häufige Fehler bei der starken Deklination

✗Ich trinke kalt Kaffee.
✓Ich trinke kalten Kaffee.
No article = adjective must have an ending! Masculine accusative = -en.
Kein Artikel = Adjektiv muss eine Endung haben! Maskulin Akkusativ = -en.
✗frischer Brot
✓frisches Brot
Brot is neuter (das Brot), not masculine. Neuter nominative = -es.
Brot ist Neutrum (das Brot), nicht maskulin. Neutrum Nominativ = -es.
✗mit kaltes Wasser
✓mit kaltem Wasser
mit takes dative. Neuter dative = -em, not -es!
mit braucht Dativ. Neutrum Dativ = -em, nicht -es!
✗zwei kleiner Kinder
✓zwei kleine Kinder
Plural nominative/accusative = -e, not -er.
Plural Nominativ/Akkusativ = -e, nicht -er.
✗etwas neues
✓etwas Neues
After etwas/nichts, the adjective is Nominalized = capitalized!
Nach etwas/nichts wird das Adjektiv nominalisiert = großgeschrieben!
✗trotz kaltes Wetters
✓trotz kalten Wetters
Genitive masculine/neuter strong ending is -en (exception!), not -es.
Genitiv maskulin/neutrum stark = -en (Ausnahme!), nicht -es.

Strong Adjective Endings Table

Tabelle: Starke Adjektivendungen

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	-ER (kalter)	-E (kalte)	-ES (kaltes)	-E (kalte)
Accusative	-EN (kalten)	-E (kalte)	-ES (kaltes)	-E (kalte)
Dative	-EM (kaltem)	-ER (kalter)	-EM (kaltem)	-EN (kalten)
Genitive	-EN (kalten)	-ER (kalter)	-EN (kalten)	-ER (kalter)

Strong Endings vs. Article Endings

Starke Endungen vs. Artikelendungen

Case	Article (M)	Strong Ending (M)	Same?
Nominative	dER	-ER	✓ Yes
Accusative	dEN	-EN	✓ Yes
Dative	dEM	-EM	✓ Yes
Genitive	dES	-EN	✗ No! -EN

At the Market

Auf dem Markt

Verkäufer

Guten Tag! Wir haben heute frisches Obst und frisches Gemüse.

Good day! We have fresh fruit and fresh vegetables today.

frisches Obst, frisches Gemüse (neuter nom.)

Kunde

Ich hätte gern reife Tomaten und grünen Salat.

I would like ripe tomatoes and green salad.

reife Tomaten (pl. acc.), grünen Salat (masc. acc.)

Verkäufer

Sehr gern! Möchten Sie auch frische Eier?

Gladly! Would you also like fresh eggs?

frische Eier (pl. acc.)

Kunde

Ja, und haben Sie guten Käse?

Yes, and do you have good cheese?

guten Käse (masc. acc.)

Verkäufer

Natürlich! Probieren Sie mal — mit frischem Brot schmeckt er am besten.

Of course! Try it — with fresh bread it tastes best.

mit frischem Brot (neuter dat.)

Kunde

Bei schönem Wetter kaufe ich immer hier ein!

In nice weather I always shop here!

bei schönem Wetter (neuter dat.)

Shopping at a farmers market without articles.

Einkaufen auf einem Bauernmarkt ohne Artikel.

Strong Adjective Declension Summary

Zusammenfassung: Starke Adjektivdeklination

What Next

Learn weak declension (after der/die/das) and Mixed declension (after ein/eine/kein) to complete the picture.

Golden Rule

No article = strong endings. The adjective takes over the job of showing gender and case. Endings mirror definite articles (except genitive M/N = -en).

Kein Artikel = starke Endungen. Das Adjektiv übernimmt die Aufgabe, Genus und Kasus zu zeigen.

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Ask: 'What would the definite article be?' Use that ending! der → -er, die → -e, das → -es. Exception: Genitive M/N = -en.

Frage: 'Welcher bestimmte Artikel wäre es?' Nimm diese Endung!

▸NOMINATIVE: -er (M), -e (F), -es (N), -e (Pl)
▸ACCUSATIVE: -en (M), -e (F), -es (N), -e (Pl)
▸DATIVE: -em (M), -er (F), -em (N), -en (Pl)
▸GENITIVE: -en (M), -er (F), -en (N), -er (Pl)
▸After numbers: zwei kleine Kinder
▸After viel/wenig: viel frisches Obst
▸After etwas/nichts: etwas Neues (capitalized!)

Examples

Kalter Kaffee schmeckt nicht gut.

Cold coffee does not taste good.

Kalter Kaffee

No article + masculine nominative = -ER. Like dER → kaltER.

Word	Meaning
Kalter	cold (-er = masc. nom.)
Kaffee	coffee (der Kaffee = masc.)

Frisches Brot ist lecker.

Fresh bread is delicious.

Frisches Brot

No article + neuter nominative = -ES. Like daS → frischES.

Word	Meaning
Frisches	fresh (-es = neut. nom.)
Brot	bread (das Brot = neut.)

Frische Milch ist gesund.

Fresh milk is healthy.

Frische Milch

No article + feminine nominative = -E. Like diE → frischE.

Word	Meaning
Frische	fresh (-e = fem. nom.)
Milch	milk (die Milch = fem.)

Kleine Kinder spielen gern.

Small children like to play.

Kleine Kinder

No article + plural nominative = -E. Like diE → kleinE.

Word	Meaning
Kleine	small (-e = pl. nom.)
Kinder	children (die Kinder = pl.)

Ich trinke kalten Kaffee.

I drink cold coffee.

kalten Kaffee

No article + masculine ACCUSATIVE = -EN. Like dEN → kaltEN.

Word	Meaning
kalten	cold (-en = masc. acc.)
Kaffee	coffee (direct object)

Ich esse frisches Obst.

I eat fresh fruit.

frisches Obst

No article + neuter accusative = -ES (same as nominative).

Word	Meaning
frisches	fresh (-es = neut. acc.)
Obst	fruit (das Obst = neut.)

Mit gutem Wein feiert man besser.

With good wine one celebrates better.

Mit gutem Wein

mit + no article + masculine dative = -EM. Like dEM → gutEM.

Word	Meaning
Mit	with (+ dat.)
gutem	good (-em = masc. dat.)
Wein	wine (der Wein)

Bei schönem Wetter gehen wir spazieren.

In nice weather we go for a walk.

Bei schönem Wetter

bei + no article + neuter dative = -EM.

Word	Meaning
Bei	in/at (+ dat.)
schönem	nice (-em = neut. dat.)
Wetter	weather (das Wetter)

Mit großer Freude nehme ich an.

With great joy I accept.

Mit großer Freude

mit + no article + feminine dative = -ER. Like dER → großER.

Word	Meaning
Mit	with (+ dat.)
großer	great (-er = fem. dat.)
Freude	joy (die Freude)

Zwei kleine Hunde spielen im Garten.

Two small dogs are playing in the garden.

Zwei kleine Hunde

After numbers, use strong endings. Plural nominative = -E.

Word	Meaning
Zwei	two (no ending)
kleine	small (-e = pl. nom.)
Hunde	dogs

Ich trinke viel kaltes Wasser.

I drink a lot of cold water.

viel kaltes Wasser

After viel (uncountable), use strong endings. Neuter accusative = -ES.

Word	Meaning
viel	much/a lot of
kaltes	cold (-es = neut. acc.)
Wasser	water

Ich habe etwas Interessantes gelesen.

I read something interesting.

etwas Interessantes

After etwas/nichts: nominalized adjective (capitalized!) with neuter ending -ES.

Word	Meaning
etwas	something
Interessantes	interesting (nominalized, neut. acc.)

Trotz schlechten Wetters gingen wir wandern.

Despite bad weather we went hiking.

Trotz schlechten Wetters

Genitive + no article + neuter = -EN (exception! not -es). Plus noun ending -s.

Word	Meaning
Trotz	despite (+ gen.)
schlechten	bad (-en = neut. gen.)
Wetters	weather (+s)

Ich mag heißen, starken Kaffee.

I like hot, strong coffee.

heißen, starken Kaffee

Multiple adjectives ALL take the same ending. Masculine accusative = -EN for both.

Word	Meaning
heißen	hot (-en)
starken	strong (-en)
Kaffee	coffee (masc. acc.)

Mit guten Freunden ist das Leben schöner.

With good friends life is more beautiful.

Mit guten Freunden

mit + no article + plural dative = -EN.

Word	Meaning
Mit	with (+ dat.)
guten	good (-en = pl. dat.)
Freunden	friends (+n dat. pl.)

Practice Exercises

15 interactive exercises

Question 1 of 15

Kalt___ Kaffee schmeckt nicht.

Cold coffee does not taste good.

Next up

Adjective Declension (Weak/Mixed)

Decline adjectives with definite/indefinite articles.

B1.2

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Common questions about strong adjective endings

When do I use strong adjective endings in German?

Whenever nothing before the adjective marks gender and case. That covers bare nouns (kalter Kaffee, frisches Brot), nouns after numbers (zwei kleine Kinder), and nouns after viel, wenig, etwas and nichts. It also applies after prepositions with no article: bei schönem Wetter, mit großer Freude.

What are the strong adjective endings in the nominative?

Masculine takes -er (kalter Kaffee ist gut), feminine takes -e (frische Milch schmeckt gut), neuter takes -es (kaltes Bier ist erfrischend) and plural takes -e (kleine Kinder spielen). Notice they echo the last letters of der, die, das and die, which is the fastest way to remember them.

How do strong endings change in the accusative and dative?

In the accusative only the masculine changes, to -en: Ich trinke kalten Kaffee, while frische Milch, kaltes Bier and kleine Kinder stay as they are. In the dative you get -em for masculine and neuter and -er for feminine, mirroring dem and der: mit kaltem Wasser, bei großer Hitze.

Why is it kalter Kaffee but der kalte Kaffee?

Because the work of marking masculine nominative has to be done exactly once. With no article, the adjective carries it and takes the strong -er. With der already showing gender and case, the adjective relaxes into the weak -e. German never marks the same information twice in a row.

Do adjectives after numbers take strong endings?

Yes. Numbers like zwei, drei and fünf give no gender or case information, so the adjective must: zwei kleine Kinder, drei große Häuser, fünf neue Bücher. The same logic applies after viel and wenig when uncountable — viel frisches Obst, wenig kaltes Wasser — since they do not decline either.

← All B1.2 topics

Adjective Declension (Strong)

Rules & Explanations

Strong Adjective Declension

When to Use Strong Declension

The Rule: No Article = Strong Endings

Also After These Words

The Key Insight: Mirror the Article

Strong Adjective Endings

Nominative Strong Endings

Accusative Strong Endings

Dative Strong Endings

Genitive Strong Endings

Special Cases and Patterns

After Numbers (zwei, drei, vier...)

After viel/wenig (much/little)

After etwas/nichts (something/nothing)

Multiple Adjectives

Common Mistakes with Strong Declension

Strong Adjective Endings Table

Strong Endings vs. Article Endings

At the Market

Strong Adjective Declension Summary

Examples

Practice Exercises

Related Topics

Common questions about strong adjective endings