German Adjective Declension

German adjectives are invariable in predicate position, but before nouns they are declined. The endings of the adjective vary. Let us look at examples with masculine, feminine, neuter and plural nouns in nominative and accusative.

The word nett means nice. In predicate position it is invariable:

Der Mann ist nett. (The man is nice.)
Die Frau ist nett. (The woman is nice.)
Der Kind ist nett. (The child is nice.)
Die Kinder sind nett. (The children are nice.)

In attributive position, however, different endings are needed.

Der nette Mann ist hier. (The nice man is here.)
Die nette Frau ist hier. (The nice woman is here.)
Das nette Kind ist hier. (The nice child is here.)
Die netten Kinder sind hier. (The nice children are here.)

Hast du den netten Mann getroffen? (Have you met the nice man?)
Hast du die nette Frau getroffen? (Have you met the nice woman?)
Hast du das nette Kind getroffen? (Have you met the nice child?)
Hast du die netten Kinder getroffen? (Have you met the nice children?)

Unlike English, German adjectives are declined before nouns. In certain positions, however, the same endings are used. This is the case for masculine, feminine and neuter nouns with definite articles in the nominative. The endings for adjectives following indefinite articles and no articles are different. German uses more inflection than English.