Adjektivstellung

Adjektivstellung is the part of German grammar that describes where adjectives appear in relation to the noun and how they are declined. In standard phrases, adjectives can be attributive (before the noun) or predicative (after a linking verb such as sein).

In attributive position, the adjective directly precedes the noun and carries declension endings that depend on the determiner before the noun. There are three main declension patterns:

- Weak declension: after definite articles or der-words (der, die, das, dieser, jener, jeder, welcher). Examples: der gute Mann, die gute Frau, das gute Kind, die guten Männer. Endings: -e in singular, -en in plural.

- Mixed declension: after indefinite articles or possessives (ein-, kein-, mein-, dein-, sein-, etc.). Examples: ein guter Mann, eine gute Frau, ein gutes Kind, meine guten Freunde. Endings: -er/-e/-es in singular, -en in plural.

- Strong declension: after no determiner (no article present). Examples: guter Mann, gute Frau, gutes Kind, gute Männer. Endings: -er/-e/-es in singular, -e in plural.

Predicative position uses the adjective after a linking verb (sein, bleiben, werden). Here, adjectives are usually uninflected when there is no determiner: Der Mann ist groß. If a determiner precedes the predicative adjective, the usual attributive endings apply: Er ist ein guter Mann.

Multiple adjectives before a noun follow a conventional order (opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose) and each adjective takes the appropriate ending.