Introduction to Adjectives

Adjectives are an essential part of any language, including German. They add description and depth to the nouns they modify. In this lesson, we will learn about the concept of adjectives in German and how to use common adjectives in their basic form. Let's get started!

What are Adjectives?

Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns. They provide additional information about the noun's characteristics, qualities, or attributes. In English, adjectives generally come before the noun they modify, such as "a big house" or "an interesting book."

Basic Form of Adjectives in German

In German, adjectives have different forms depending on the gender, case, and number of the noun they modify. However, when an adjective is used in its basic form (without any article or case ending), its endings remain the same regardless of these factors.

The basic form of an adjective is usually obtained by removing any endings it may have. For example:

• Positive Form: groß (big)
• Positive Form: schön (beautiful)
• Positive Form: alt (old)

Using Common Adjectives in German

To use common adjectives in their basic form, you simply place them directly before the noun they describe. There is no need to change the adjective based on the gender, case, or number of the noun.

Here are some common adjectives in German along with their English translations:

• groß (big)
• klein (small)
• schön (beautiful)
• hässlich (ugly)
• alt (old)
• jung (young)
• schnell (fast)
• langsam (slow)
• gut (good)
• schlecht (bad)

Examples:

• ein großes Haus (a big house)
• eine schöne Blume (a beautiful flower)
• ein alter Mann (an old man)

Indefinite Articles with Adjectives

When using an indefinite article (ein, eine) with an adjective, the form of the adjective may change based on the gender and case of the noun. However, for now, we will only focus on using the basic form of adjectives.

Examples:

• Ein großes Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (A big book is lying on the table.)
• Ein schöner Tag für einen Spaziergang. (A beautiful day for a walk.)
• Ein altes Haus steht am Ende der Straße. (An old house is at the end of the street.)

Summary

In this lesson, we learned about the concept of adjectives in German and how to use common adjectives in their basic form. Remember:

• Adjectives describe or modify nouns.
• In their basic form, adjectives do not change based on the gender, case, or number of the noun.
• To use an adjective in its basic form, place it directly before the noun.

Continue practicing using adjectives in their basic form to become more comfortable with their usage. In the next lesson, we will explore how adjectives change to match the gender, case, and number of the nouns they modify.