German adjectives can appear in different positions within a sentence, primarily as attributive or predicate adjectives. Understanding the difference between these two uses is key to mastering German grammar.
Predicate Adjectives
Predicate adjectives come after a linking verb (usually sein, werden, or bleiben) and describe the subject. They do not take any endings because they are not directly modifying a noun in the sentence.
Examples
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Die Blume ist schön. | The flower is beautiful. |
| Das Fenster bleibt offen. | The window remains open. |
| Er wird müde. | He is becoming tired. |
Attributive Adjectives
Attributive adjectives come directly before a noun and are part of the noun phrase. They must change their endings to agree with the noun’s gender, number, and case, as well as the definiteness (the article or determiner used).
Agreement Patterns
The endings depend on the article:
- Definite articles (der, die, das): Adjective endings are usually -e or -en.
- Indefinite articles (ein, eine) or no article: Adjective endings carry more information (e.g., -er, -es, -e, -en).
Examples with Definite Articles
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| die schöne Blume | the beautiful flower |
| das offene Fenster | the open window |
| der müde Mann | the tired man |
Examples with Indefinite Articles
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| eine schöne Blume | a beautiful flower |
| ein offenes Fenster | an open window |
| ein müder Mann | a tired man |
Summary
| Type | Position in Sentence | Endings? | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Predicate Adjective | After linking verb | No endings | Die Blume ist schön. |
| Attributive Adjective | Before noun | Yes (depends on case, gender, number, article) | die schöne Blume |
What determines the ending of an attributive adjective in German?
Noun's gender, number, case, and the article or determiner used.
Attributive adjective endings depend on the grammatical gender, number, and case of the noun, as well as which article or determiner precedes it.
Practice
Identify whether the adjective is predicate or attributive. If attributive, note the ending.
| German | English | Type | Ending Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Das ist ein schöner Tag. | That is a beautiful day. | Attributive | “Tag” is masculine singular accusative; “ein” is indefinite → -er |
| Die Lampe ist hell. | The lamp is bright. | Predicate | After verb “ist,” no ending → hell |
| Ich sehe den alten Mann. | I see the old man. | Attributive | “Mann” is masculine singular accusative; definite article “den” → -en |
| Der Kaffee ist heiß. | The coffee is hot. | Predicate | After verb “ist,” no ending → heiß |
| Wir trinken kaltes Wasser. | We drink cold water. | Attributive | “Wasser” is neuter singular accusative; no article → -es |
Understanding these rules will help you use adjectives correctly in German sentences.
What type of adjective is in the sentence and what is its ending? "Der Kaffee ist heiß."
Predicate, no ending because it follows the linking verb 'ist'.
'heiß' is predicate, describing the subject 'Kaffee' after the verb 'ist.' Predicate adjectives have no endings.
Flashcards (1 of 14)
- English Example: The flower is beautiful.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
