korrekten

Korrekten is the inflected form of the German adjective korrekt, meaning “correct” or “proper.” It is not a separate lexical item but a grammatical form used to modify nouns. Korrekten occurs in the attributive position when the adjective is declined according to the weak declension, typically with definite determiners or der-/die-/das- words, and it is most common in the plural as well as certain singular forms.

In the plural, korrekten appears in all cases after definite determiners: die korrekten Antworten (nominative plural), die korrekten Antworten (accusative plural), den korrekten Antworten (dative plural), der korrekten Antworten (genitive plural). In singular forms, the ending depends on gender and case: der korrekte Mann (masculine nominative), den korrekten Mann (masculine accusative), das korrekte Buch (neuter nominative/accusative), die korrekte Lösung (feminine nominative/accusative). After indefinite articles or without a determiner, endings vary differently (e.g., ein korrekter Weg, eine korrekte Lösung, ein korrektes Buch).

Etymology traces korrekt back to the adjective korrekt, from Latin correctus, via historical stages in German. Korrekten exemplifies how German adjectives are declined to indicate number, gender, and case, with the -en ending serving as the characteristic weak-declension plural form.

Common usage notes: korrekten is widely used in education, journalism, science, and everyday speech to emphasize accuracy, precision, or conformity to standards. It is a standard part of German adjective declension and is encountered in formal and informal contexts.