einen guten Film: German Accusative Adjective Endings

In this post we’ll look at German accusative adjective endings. These are the endings that you’ll use on adjectives in the accusative case. First, we’ll define what all of that means, so that you understand exactly what a case is, when the accusative case is used, and why German adjectives have endings in the first place.  Next, we’ll look at the German accusative adjective endings systematically, by breaking them down into three categories. We’ll give plenty of examples and clear explanations. Finally, we’ll wrap everything up with practice exercises so that you can test yourself.

German Cases and Adjectives

First, let’s make sure the terminology is all clear. Think of a noun case as a form that a noun takes in order to play a specific role (subject, direct object, indirect object, etc.) in a sentence. In German, noun cases mostly show up as differences in articles, for example ein, einen, einem, eines or der, den, dem, des. In a few cases, there are changes on the word ending, for example an N-noun like der Junge becomes den/dem/des Jungen in the other cases, and das Buch becomes des Buches in the genitive. You can learn more about German noun cases here if you’d like.

In this post, we’re going to be looking at the accusative case. That is the case that nouns take when they are the direct object of the sentence, or when they follow prepositions that take the accusative. Here are examples:

• Ich habe den neuen Lehrer kennengelernt.
  I met the new teacher.
  Den neuen Lehrer is the direct object of the verb kennenlernen; it is in in the accusative.
• Dieses Buch ist für den neuen Lehrer.
  This book is for the new teacher.
  Den neuen Lehrer is the object of the preposition für; it is in the accusative.

German Adjective Agreement

In German, like in many languages, adjectives “agree” with the noun that they modify. That means taking certain endings. This only happens in German when the noun is right before the noun, not when it’s separated by a verb like sein:

• Der Film ist sehr gut.
  The film is very good.
  Gut is not right before the noun it’s describing, so it doesn’t have any ending.
• Wir sehen einen sehr guten Film.
  We’re seeing a very good film.
  Gut is right before the direct object noun that it’s describing, so it takes the accusative ending –en.

Adjective agreement means that the adjective will take endings to agree with the noun it’s describing. If a noun is masculine and singular, like der Film, the adjective will take masculine singular endings.

Agreement for Case and Position

But German makes things a bit more complicated, because the adjective also has to agree in case (nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive). And German makes things even more complicated because there are different types of endings depending on what word comes right before the adjective! But don’t panic, it’s all logical. You just have to take it slowly and easily.

There are three sets of endings to choose from depending on what kind of word is right before the adjective:

• der-words. Der-words are words like the definite articles (der, die, das, den, dem…) A few other words are considered der-words, including dies– (this) and welch– (which).
  Examples: den guten Lehrer (the good teacher), dieses alte Haus (this old house)
• ein-words. Ein-words are words like the indefinite articles (ein, eine, einen, einem…). Kein (no, not any) and all of the possessives (mein, dein, sein, ihr, Ihr, unser, euer) are also ein-words.
  Examples: einen guten Lehrer (a good teacher), unseren alten Teppich (our old carpet)
• bare words: If there’s nothing at all before the adjective and noun, the adjective will take a third set of endings that’s nearly identical to the ein-word endings.
  Examples: kaltes Wasser (cold water), alte Häuser (old houses)

So, in other words, to pick the right German adjective ending, you have to ask yourself three different questions:

1. What’s the gender or number? (masculine, feminine, neuter, or plural)
2. What’s the case? (nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive)
3. What’s before the adjective? (a der-word, an ein-word, or nothing at all)

Practice 1

Now let’s pause to practice identifying those things. Don’t worry about the adjective endings themselves yet. Just focus on practicing how to answer those three questions.

1. Ich habe den ersten Film gesehen.
   (I saw the first movie.)
   a. masculine, feminine, neuter, plural?
   b. nominative, accusative, dative, genitive?
   c. after der-word, after ein-word, after nothing?
2. Eine freundliche Lehrerin ist wichtig.
   (A friendly teacher is important.)
   a. masculine, feminine, neuter, plural?
   b. nominative, accusative, dative, genitive?
   c. after der-word, after ein-word, after nothing?
3. Der Zug fährt durch einen langen Tunnel.
   (The train goes through a long tunnel.)
   a. masculine, feminine, neuter, plural?
   b. nominative, accusative, dative, genitive?
   c. after der-word, after ein-word, after nothing?
4. Sie trinken nur französischen Wein.
   (They only drink French wine.)
   a. masculine, feminine, neuter, plural?
   b. nominative, accusative, dative, genitive?
   c. after der-word, after ein-word, after nothing?

German Accusative Adjective Endings

Now let’s look at the endings themselves. We’ll divide them into the three types based on what kind of word they come after.

After der-Words

First we’ll look at der-words. After der-words, use the adjective ending –en for the masculine and plural, and –e for the feminine and neuter. 

• Ich mag den französischen Wein.
  I like the French wine.
• Wir fahren durch die Stadt.
  We’re driving through the city.
• Sie mag das deutsche Bier.
  She likes the German beer.
• Er wäscht die schmutzigen Teller.
  He washes the dirty plates.  

After ein-Words

Now let’s look at ein-words. Remember that the endings after ein words look a lot like the definite articles: –en (like den) for masculine, –e (like die) for feminine, and –es (like das) for neuter. The plural is –en.  

• Sie trägt einen schwarzen Rock.
  She’s wearing a black skirt.
• Wir haben eine kleine weiße Katze.
  We have a little white cat.
• Er hat ein neues Hemd gekauft.
  He bought a new shirt.
• Das Hotel hat keine großen Zimmer.
  The hotel has no big rooms.

Bare Forms

Next let’s look at the bare forms. If there is no article or other determiner, use the same endings as after ein-words, with one exception. The plural ending is –e instead of –en.

• Hast du schwarzen Pfeffer?
  Do you have black pepper?
• Ich hätte gern heiße Milch in meinem Kaffee.
  I’d like hot milk in my coffee.
• Sie trinkt kaltes Wasser.
  She’s drinking cold water.
• Ich liebe warme Tage.
  I love warm days.

Accusative Prepositions

Remember that all German prepositions take objects in either the accusative, genitive, or dative case. Some pronouns always take the accusative:

• durch through
• für for
• gegen against
• ohne without
• um around
• bis until
• entlang along
• wider against, contrary to

For example:

• Wir sind durch einen wunderschönen Park gegangen.
  We walked through a beautiful park.
• Der Vogel fliegt gegen einen starken Wind.
  The bird is flying against a strong wind.

There are a lot of common prepositions that can express either location or motion. For example in can mean located in or into. Auf can mean located on or onto. For these prepositions, use the accusative in cases where they refer to movement or motion, but not location.

• Wir fahren in eine große Stadt.
  We’re driving into a big city.
• Ich lege das Buch auf den kleinen Tisch.
  I’m laying the book on the small table.

Summary of German Accusative Adjective Endings

Here’s a table summarizing German accusative adjective endings. Notice that the bare forms are exactly like the forms after ein-words, with the exception of the plural. The forms after der-words are all –e in the singular, and –en in the plural.

Also note that the accusative endings are identical to the nominative endings, except for the masculine forms. All masculine accusative adjective endings are –en.                 

Practice 2

Add the missing endings on the adjectives and then translate the sentence.

1. Ich lese ein gut___ Buch.
2. Wir haben einen neu___ Computer gekauft.
3. Sie trägt eine schön___ Jacke.
4. Wir gehen durch den dunkel___ Wald.
5. Er sieht den alt___ Mann im Park.
6. Ich bestelle einen heiß___ Kaffee.
7. Sie liebt die klein___ Hunde.
8. Der Lehrer erklärt die schwierig___ Aufgabe.
9. Wir besuchen unseren best___ Freund.
10. Sie stellt das Buch auf den klein___ Tisch.
11. Ich brauche eine groß___ Tasche für die Reise.
12. Sie isst einen frisch___ Salat.
13. Sie hört laut___ Musik in ihrem Zimmer.
14. Ich habe einen interessant___ Film gesehen.
15. Er schenkt seiner Schwester eine bunt___ Blume.
16. Ich lege das Handy in die tief___ Tasche.
17. Wir setzen uns auf die bequem___ Stühle.
18. Ich habe den teuer___ Pullover im Laden gesehen.
19. Sie nimmt ein kalt___ Getränk aus dem Kühlschrank.
20. Der Hund bringt das schmutzig___ Spielzeug zurück.
21. Ich trage eine warm___ Mütze im Winter.
22. Er repariert das kaputt___ Fahrrad.
23. Ich liebe die spannend___ Bücher.
24. Wir laufen um den groß___ See.

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Answer Key

Practice 1

1. Ich habe den ersten Film gesehen.
   masculine, accusative, after der-word
2. Eine freundliche Lehrerin ist wichtig.
   feminine, nominative, after ein-word
3. Der Zug fährt durch einen langen Tunnel.
   masculine, nominative, after der-word
4. Sie trinken nur französischen Wein.
   masculine, accusative, after nothing

Practice 2

1. Ich lese ein gutes Buch.
2. Wir haben einen neuen Computer gekauft.
3. Sie trägt eine schöne Jacke.
4. Wir gehen durch den dunklen Wald.
5. Er sieht den alten Mann im Park.
6. Ich bestelle einen heißen Kaffee.
7. Sie liebt die kleinen Hunde.
8. Der Lehrer erklärt die schwierige Aufgabe.
9. Wir besuchen unseren besten Freund.
10. Sie stellt das Buch auf den kleinen Tisch.
11. Ich brauche eine große Tasche für die Reise.
12. Sie isst einen frischen Salat.
13. Sie hört laute Musik in ihrem Zimmer.
14. Ich habe einen interessanten Film gesehen.
15. Er schenkt seiner Schwester eine bunte Blume.
16. Ich lege das Handy in die tiefe Tasche.
17. Wir setzen uns auf die bequemen Stühle.
18. Ich habe den teuren Pullover im Laden gesehen.
19. Sie nimmt ein kaltes Getränk aus dem Kühlschrank.
20. Der Hund bringt das schmutzige Spielzeug zurück.
21. Ich trage eine warme Mütze im Winter.
22. Er repariert das kaputte Fahrrad.
23. Ich liebe die spannenden Bücher.
24. Wir laufen um den großen See.

Translations

1. I’m reading a good book.
2. We bought a new computer.
3. She is wearing a beautiful jacket.
4. We are walking through the dark forest.
5. He sees the old man in the park.
6. I’m ordering a hot coffee.
7. She loves the small dogs.
8. The teacher is explaining the difficult task.
9. We are visiting our best friend.
10. She puts the book on the small table.
11. I need a big bag for the trip.
12. She is eating a fresh salad.
13. She listens to loud music in her room.
14. I saw an interesting movie.
15. He is giving his sister a colorful flower.
16. I put the phone in the deep bag.
17. We are sitting on the comfortable chairs.
18. I saw the expensive sweater in the store.
19. She takes a cold drink from the fridge.
20. The dog brings back the dirty toy.
21. I wear a warm hat in winter.
22. He is repairing the broken bicycle.
23. I love the exciting books.
24. We are running around the big lake.

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