A predicate adjective follows a verb such as sein (to be) or werden (to become) and modifies the subject of the sentence. No ending is required on predicate adjectives.
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Meine Tante ist ziemlich alt.
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My aunt is rather old.
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Ein Freund von mir wurde reich.
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A friend of mine became rich.
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Except for in the use of predicate adjectives, English and German differ greatly in how adjectives are used. German requires specific adjective endings for adjectives that directly modify nouns.
Adjectives in the nominative case should be looked at carefully because the noun’s gender plays a key role in the choice of adjective endings. When a der word precedes the adjective, the der word indicates the noun’s gender. Adjectives that follow der words have an -e ending. When an ein word precedes the adjective, the adjective identifies the noun’s gender. Let’s look at some examples in the nominative case.
adjectives in the nominative case with der words
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masculine
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feminine
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neuter
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der neue Mantel
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die neue Decke
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das neue Heft
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dieser alte Wagen
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jene alte Jacke
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welches alte Buch
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adjectives in the nominative case with ein words
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masculine
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feminine
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neuter
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ein neuer Mantel
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eine neue Decke
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ein neues Heft
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kein alter Wagen
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seine alte Jacke
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ihr altes Buch
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Feminine and neuter adjectives, whether with der words or ein words, are identical in both the nominative and accusative cases.
All other adjectives that follow either der words or ein words will have an -en ending:
All other adjectives that follow either der words or ein words will have an -en ending:
1. in the masculine accusative
2. throughout the dative and genitive with all genders
3. throughout the plural in all the cases
For example:
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masculine
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feminine
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neuter
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plural
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nominative
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seine neuen Schuhe
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accusative
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diesen alten Schlips
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seine neuen Schuhe
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dative
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diesem alten Schlips
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ihrer besten Bluse
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meinem kleinen Auto
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seinen neuen Schuhen
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genitive
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dieses alten Schlipses
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ihrer besten Bluse
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meines kleinen Autos
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seiner neuen Schuhe
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When a declined adjective is not preceded by either a der word or an ein word, the der word endings become the adjective endings. For example:
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masculine
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feminine
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neuter
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plural
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nominative
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roter Wein
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kalte Milch
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gutes Wetter
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kranke Menschen
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accusative
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roten Wein
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kalte Milch
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gutes Wetter
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kranke Menschen
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dative
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rotem Wein
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kalter Milch
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gutem Wetter
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kranken Menschen
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genitive
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roten Weines
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kalter Milch
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guten Wetters
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kranker Menschen
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A few determiners require a special adjective declension. These determiners are used exclusively with plural nouns.
einige some
mehrere several
sämtliche all
viele many
wenige few
Notice how the declension of the adjectives that follow these determiners differs from the ones illustrated with der words and ein words. The adjective endings are like those used with adjectives that are not preceded by either der words or ein words.
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einige
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viele
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nominative
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einige junge Leute
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viele interessante Bücher
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accusative
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einige junge Leute
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viele interessante Bücher
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dative
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einigen jungen Leuten
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vielen interessanten Büchern
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genitive
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einiger junger Leute
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vieler interessanter Bücher
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With these determiners, both the determiners and adjectives always have the same endings.
Many adjectives can be used as adverbs. Adverbs in both German and English function in a similar way and are used quite easily. They can modify verbs: Er schreibt gut. (He writes well.) And they can modify adjectives or other adverbs: Er schreibt sehr gut. (He writes very well.) Unlike adjectives, German adverbs never require an ending.