German · B1 · Everyday language
Describing what things contain in German
Describe materials and what everyday objects contain. Practise adjective endings with singular material nouns used without an article, such as weiche Wolle, feiner Sand and kaltes Metall.
What you'll learn
- Name common materials and describe their qualities.
- Use strong adjective endings with article-free singular nouns in the nominative and accusative.
- Recognise that only masculine adjectives change their ending between these two cases: -er becomes -en.
German phrases for describing what things contain
Weiche Wolle fühlt sich auf meiner Haut angenehm an.
Soft wool feels comfortable against my skin.
Weiche Wolle is the subject: feminine nominative without an article takes -e.
Wir brauchen reißfestes Garn für diesen Knopf.
We need strong thread for this button.
Reißfest means strong enough not to tear or break easily. Reißfestes Garn is a neuter accusative object, so the adjective takes -es.
In meinem Schuh ist feiner Sand.
There is fine sand inside my shoe.
Feiner Sand is the subject, even though it follows the verb. Masculine nominative takes -er.
Klares Glas lässt viel Licht durch.
Clear glass lets plenty of light through.
Klares Glas is the subject: neuter nominative takes -es.
Ich kann kaltes Metall unter der Abdeckung fühlen.
I can feel cold metal under the cover.
Kaltes Metall is a neuter accusative object. The adjective takes -es.
Frische Luft kommt durch das offene Fenster.
Fresh air comes through the open window.
Frische Luft is the subject: feminine nominative takes -e.
Diese Flasche enthält blaue Tinte.
This bottle contains blue ink.
Blaue Tinte is a feminine accusative object. The adjective takes -e.
Dicke Pappe würde das Modell stützen.
Thick cardboard would support the model.
Dicke Pappe is the subject: feminine nominative takes -e.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Wolle
wool
No usual plural when referring to the material.
das Garn
thread; yarn
Plural: die Garne, for different types. Singular without an article refers to the material.
der Sand
sand
Normally used without a plural in everyday language.
das Glas
glass
Uncountable in the material sense. Plural: die Gläser usually means drinking glasses.
das Metall
metal
Plural: die Metalle, for different metals. Singular refers to metal as a material.
die Luft
air
No usual plural in this meaning.
die Tinte
ink
Plural: die Tinten, for different types of ink.
die Pappe
cardboard
Plural: die Pappen, for types or pieces of cardboard. Usually singular when referring to the material.
reißfest
strong; tear-resistant
Useful for describing thread, fabric or paper that does not tear easily.
Strong adjective endings without an article
When a singular material noun has no article, the adjective uses a strong ending to show gender and case. Use the nominative for the subject and the accusative for a direct object. These endings apply whether you mean a little or a lot of the material.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine: nominative | adjective + -er | Feiner Sand liegt im Schuh. |
| Masculine: accusative | adjective + -en | Ich spüre feinen Sand. |
| Feminine: nominative | adjective + -e | Weiche Wolle fühlt sich angenehm an. |
| Feminine: accusative | adjective + -e | Wir brauchen weiche Wolle. |
| Neuter: nominative | adjective + -es | Klares Glas lässt Licht durch. |
| Neuter: accusative | adjective + -es | Ich fühle kaltes Metall. |
Put the ending on the adjective before the noun
Use these endings when the adjective comes directly before the article-free noun. An adjective describing the material after sein has no ending.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before the noun | kaltes + Metall | Kaltes Metall liegt auf dem Tisch. |
| After sein | Metall + ist + kalt | Das Metall ist kalt. |
More examples
Feiner Sand fällt aus meinem Schuh.
Fine sand falls out of my shoe.
Masculine subject: feiner takes -er.
Ich habe feinen Sand in meinem Schuh.
I have fine sand in my shoe.
Masculine direct object: feinen takes -en.
Für das Modell brauchen wir dicke Pappe.
We need thick cardboard for the model.
Feminine direct object: dicke keeps -e.
Blaues Glas liegt auf dem Tisch.
Blue glass is lying on the table.
Neuter subject: blaues takes -es.
Diese Flasche enthält klares Wasser.
This bottle contains clear water.
Neuter direct object: klares takes -es, just as in the nominative.