Adjectives
Definition - Adjectives are words that describe and give information about nouns.
Types - The following is a list of the most common types of adjectives.
Qualifying adjectives express characteristics of people, things, places, or ideas:
• groß [big], dünn [thin], blau [blue], dunkel [dark], wichtig [important], alt [old], ...
Numerals define the number of nouns:
• zwei [two], dreßig [thirty], sechshundert [six hundred], ...
Demonstrative adjectives refer to location:
• dieser [this], jener [that], ...
Use - In German, the adjectives change their form depending on the gender and the position of the nouns to which they refer. When the adjectives follow a noun and the verb 'sein' [to be], the adjectives are invariable. This is called 'predicative use of adjectives'. However, when the adjectives come before a noun, they may be written with endings that change according to the gender (masculine - feminine - neuter), the number (singular - plural), and other elements like the presence of articles (definite - indefinite). This is called 'attributive use of adjectives'.
Examples of predicative use of adjectives:
• Der Tisch ist lang und schmal. [The table is long and narrow.]
• Diese Tasche ist blau. [This bag is blue.]
• Das Mädchen ist klein. [The girl is small.]
• Die Leute sind glücklich. [The people are happy.]
Examples of attributive use of adjectives:
• Das ist ein langer, schmaler Tisch. [This is a long, narrow table.]
• Diese blaue Tasche ist schwer. [This blue bag is heavy.]
• Das kleine Mädchen ist schön. [The small girl is beautiful.]
• Die glücklichen Leute sind jung. [The happy people are young.]
Types - The following is a list of the most common types of adjectives.
Qualifying adjectives express characteristics of people, things, places, or ideas:
• groß [big], dünn [thin], blau [blue], dunkel [dark], wichtig [important], alt [old], ...
Numerals define the number of nouns:
• zwei [two], dreßig [thirty], sechshundert [six hundred], ...
Demonstrative adjectives refer to location:
• dieser [this], jener [that], ...
Use - In German, the adjectives change their form depending on the gender and the position of the nouns to which they refer. When the adjectives follow a noun and the verb 'sein' [to be], the adjectives are invariable. This is called 'predicative use of adjectives'. However, when the adjectives come before a noun, they may be written with endings that change according to the gender (masculine - feminine - neuter), the number (singular - plural), and other elements like the presence of articles (definite - indefinite). This is called 'attributive use of adjectives'.
Examples of predicative use of adjectives:
• Der Tisch ist lang und schmal. [The table is long and narrow.]
• Diese Tasche ist blau. [This bag is blue.]
• Das Mädchen ist klein. [The girl is small.]
• Die Leute sind glücklich. [The people are happy.]
Examples of attributive use of adjectives:
• Das ist ein langer, schmaler Tisch. [This is a long, narrow table.]
• Diese blaue Tasche ist schwer. [This blue bag is heavy.]
• Das kleine Mädchen ist schön. [The small girl is beautiful.]
• Die glücklichen Leute sind jung. [The happy people are young.]