Key points about types of adjectives
The demonstrative adjectivedies- is used to mean this, that or these. It is To decline means to change the ending of a noun, adjective, article or pronoun to show their gender, number and case. in the same way as the The definite article means 'the'. The definite article changes depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, neuter or plural. which means it must match the Grammatical gender refers to a noun being either masculine, feminine or neuter., The case shows how nouns function in a sentence and relate to other words. They indicate who is doing an action, who owns something and who is affected by an action. A preposition can also indicate which case to use. and Number refers to whether a noun is singular or plural. of the A noun is a naming word. It is the name of a person, place or object. it precedes.
An indefinite adjective is a word which describes people or things in a general way without saying exactly who or what eg every day, some people.
The indefinite adjectives jed-each or every, nächst-next and letzt-last must also match the gender, case and number of the nouns they precede.
The An interrogative adjective is a word that means which or what. They are used to find out more information about a noun.welch- is used to mean which or what. Like demonstrative and indefinite adjectives, it must also be declined to match the noun it is referring to.
Check your understanding
Using demonstrative adjectives
Demonstrative pronouns mean this, that, these and those. They are used to show a specific thing or person or to emphasise something. are used to point something out or to refer to something specific eg this pen, that book, these people.
The word dies- is used to mean this, that or these.
Demonstrative adjectives must match the gender, number and case of the noun they are referring to.
Demonstrative adjectives take the same endings as the definite article:
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| accusative | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| dative | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
For example:
Nominative
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - This excursion is interesting.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - These shoes are quite comfy.
Accusative
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I would like to buy this pen.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - This year I am travelling to Scotland.
Dative
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - There are two people in the photo.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Are you taking this bus?
Activity
Choose the correct demonstrative adjective.
Using indefinite adjectives in German
The indefinite adjectives jed-each or every, nächst-next and letzt-last are used to talk about something or people in a general way. For example:
Jeden Tag übe ich Gitarre.I practise the guitar every day.
Indefinite adjectives must match the gender, number and case of the noun they are referring to.
For example:
Nominative case
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| jed | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| nächst- | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| letzt- | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Every person is unique.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Next month is March.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Last week was very cold.
Accusative case
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| jed | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| nächst- | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| letzt- | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I go to the park every day with my friends.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Next week, I am going to Berlin.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Last year, I stayed at a campsite.
Mini quiz
Translate the sentence into English.
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
I go to the swimming pool every week.
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Last Monday, I visited my aunt.
Using interrogative adjectives
The interrogative adjective welch- is used to mean which and what.
Interrogative adjectives must match the gender, number and case of the noun they are referring to.
Interrogative adjectives take the same endings as the definite article:
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| accusative | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| dative | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
For example:
Nominative
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Which book is better?
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Which pair of trousers did you buy?
Accusative
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Which film would you like to watch?
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Which t-shirt do you think is the best?
Dative
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Which train are you taking?
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - Which shops did you shop in?
Mini quiz
Choose the correct interrogative adjective to complete the sentence.
- ________________ Hemd ist schicker?
Which shirt is more fashionable?
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Hemd is a neuter noun. It is the subject of the question so the nominative case is needed.
- In _____________ Hotel bleibt ihr?
Which hotel are you staying in?
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Hotel is a neuter noun and follows the preposition in in the dative case.
Quiz
Select correct adjective to complete the sentence.
More on Nouns, determiners and cases
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