German · A2 · Everyday language
The small details matter in German
Use qualities such as colour, size and texture to show exactly which familiar object you mean. Practise adjective endings after der, die, das and den when naming subjects and direct objects.
What you'll learn
- Identify familiar objects with an adjective before the noun.
- Use -e after definite articles with singular nominative nouns.
- Use -en with masculine accusative nouns and with plural nouns in both cases.
- Keep -e with feminine and neuter accusative nouns.
German phrases for the small details matter
Der runde Spiegel ist im Flur.
The round mirror is in the hall.
Der runde Spiegel is the masculine subject: rund takes -e.
Ich brauche den langen Löffel.
I need the long spoon.
Den langen Löffel is a masculine direct object: lang takes -en.
Kannst du das rote Handtuch erreichen?
Can you reach the red towel?
Das rote Handtuch is a neuter direct object: rot takes -e.
Das kleine Fenster ist offen.
The small window is open.
Das kleine Fenster is the neuter subject: klein takes -e.
Wir nehmen das weiche Kissen mit.
We are taking the soft cushion.
Das weiche Kissen is a neuter direct object: weich takes -e.
Die blauen Tassen sind schon sauber.
The blue cups are already clean.
Die blauen Tassen is a plural subject: blau takes -en.
Ich kann die dicken Socken nicht finden.
I cannot find the thick socks.
Die dicken Socken is a plural direct object: dick takes -en.
Der grüne Deckel passt auf dieses Glas.
The green lid fits this jar.
Der grüne Deckel is the masculine subject: grün takes -e.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Spiegel; plural: die Spiegel
mirror
der Flur; plural: die Flure
hall, hallway
der Löffel; plural: die Löffel
spoon
das Handtuch; plural: die Handtücher
towel
das Fenster; plural: die Fenster
window
das Kissen; plural: die Kissen
cushion, pillow
die Tasse; plural: die Tassen
cup
die Socke; plural: die Socken
sock
der Deckel; plural: die Deckel
lid
das Glas; plural: die Gläser
jar; drinking glass
Here, Glas means a jar with a lid.
rund, lang, klein
round, long, small
Use these to distinguish objects by shape or size.
rot, blau, grün
red, blue, green
Colour adjectives take the same endings as other adjectives.
weich, dick
soft, thick
Subjects: definite article + adjective in the nominative
An adjective before a noun takes an ending. After a definite article, use -e for all singular nominative nouns and -en for plural nominative nouns.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | der + adjective-e + noun | der kleine Spiegel |
| Feminine singular | die + adjective-e + noun | die kleine Tasse |
| Neuter singular | das + adjective-e + noun | das kleine Fenster |
| Plural | die + adjective-en + noun | die kleinen Tassen |
Direct objects: definite article + adjective in the accusative
For direct objects, masculine der becomes den and the adjective takes -en. Feminine and neuter singular forms keep -e. Plural forms keep -en.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | den + adjective-en + noun | Ich brauche den kleinen Löffel. |
| Feminine singular | die + adjective-e + noun | Ich brauche die kleine Tasse. |
| Neuter singular | das + adjective-e + noun | Ich brauche das kleine Handtuch. |
| Plural | die + adjective-en + noun | Ich brauche die kleinen Tassen. |
Add the ending only when the adjective comes before the noun
Compare an adjective before a noun with one after ist or sind. In these patterns, only the adjective before the noun takes an ending.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before the noun | definite article + adjective with ending + noun | Das weiche Kissen ist hier. |
| After ist | noun phrase + ist + adjective without ending | Das Kissen ist weich. |
More examples
Der kleine Löffel ist sauber. Ich nehme den kleinen Löffel.
The small spoon is clean. I am taking the small spoon.
Masculine: der kleine as the subject changes to den kleinen as the direct object.
Die rote Tasse ist hier. Ich nehme die rote Tasse.
The red cup is here. I am taking the red cup.
Feminine: die rote stays the same in both cases.
Das weiche Kissen ist hier. Ich nehme das weiche Kissen.
The soft cushion is here. I am taking the soft cushion.
Neuter: das weiche stays the same in both cases.
Die dicken Socken sind hier. Ich nehme die dicken Socken.
The thick socks are here. I am taking the thick socks.
Plural: die dicken keeps -en in both cases.