GERMAN ADJECTIVES

Definition: Adjective is the context in which they are used indicates how to interpret them. Colors are adjectives (orange, green, black, yellow, red, etc.) Words that describe the weather (cold, hot, windy, warm, rainy, etc.) are adjectives. Words that describe people (tall, ugly, handsome, angry, happy, fat, skinny, etc.) are adjectives. Words that indicate the attributes of nouns are adjectives. Any kind of word describing a noun is an adjective.

When an adjective precedes the noun it modifies, it takes an ending. The form of the ending depends upon several factors: the gender and case of the noun, and the type of word which precedes the adjective-noun combination.

Examples in German:

They want to have a beautiful house.
Sie wollen ein schönes Haus haben.

They build beautiful houses.
Sie bauen schöne Häuser.

Types of Adjectives.
There are two types of adjectives in German. These types are based on the position of the adjective in relationship to the noun being described.

Predicate Adjectives:
An adjective following its noun is predicative. Predicate adjectives appear somewhere to the right of their noun. Often, predicate adjectives are separated from their noun by a verb.

Examples in German:

The table is long and narrow.
Der Tisch ist lang und schmal.

This bag is blue.
Diese Tasche ist blau.

The girl is small.
Das Mädchen ist klein.

Predicate adjectives do not take an ending.

the man is nice
der Mann ist nett

the woman is nice
die Frau ist nett

the child is nice
das Kind ist nett

women are nice
die Frauen sind nett

The house is beautiful.
Das Haus ist schön.