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German grammar: Adjective endings after der/die/das

After der/die/das the rule is simple: if the article is in its dictionary form (der, die, das) the adjective takes -e; if the article has changed (den, dem, der, den) and in the plural it takes -en.

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Example questions with answers

Der berühmte Dom ist sehenswert. (der Dom)
The famous cathedral is worth seeing.
Why: The article is in its dictionary form (der) → -e.
Das bunte Fenster gefällt mir nicht. (das Fenster)
I don't like the colourful window.
Why: das is unchanged → -e.
Die neue Kamera ist teuer. (die Kamera)
The new camera is expensive.
Why: die is unchanged → -e.
Die netten Leute kommen aus Köln. (plural)
The nice people come from Cologne.
Why: Plural → always -en.
Ich finde den alten Dom toll. (der Dom)
I think the old cathedral is great.
Why: Accusative: der → den (changed) → -en.
Hast du das neue Museum gesehen? (das Museum)
Have you seen the new museum?
Why: das doesn't change in the accusative → -e.
Ich nehme die schicke Jacke. (die Jacke)
I'll take the stylish jacket.
Why: die doesn't change in the accusative → -e.
Wir sprechen mit dem netten Reiseführer. (der Reiseführer)
We're talking to the nice tour guide.
Why: mit → dative, der → dem (changed) → -en.
Wir wohnen in der kleinen Pension. (die Pension)
We're staying at the small guesthouse.
Why: in + where? → dative: die → der (changed) → -en.
Kennst du die neuen Cafés? (plural)
Do you know the new cafés?
Why: Plural → -en.
Ich gehe heute in den neuen Club. (der Club)
I'm going to the new club today.
Why: in + where to? → accusative: der → den (changed) → -en.
Das ist ein alter Dom. (der Dom)
This is an old cathedral.
Why: ein doesn't show the gender → the adjective does: der → -er.
Das ist der alte Dom. (der Dom)
This is the old cathedral.
Why: der already shows the gender → the adjective only takes -e.
Mit den bunten Prospekten sieht die Stadt schöner aus. (plural)
With the colourful brochures the city looks nicer.
Why: Dative plural → -en.
Der Dom ist sehr berühmt.
The cathedral is very famous.
Why: An adjective after the noun (after ist) takes no ending.
Which one ACCEPTS a suggestion?
→ Einverstanden.
Why: Einverstanden = Agreed / OK. The others object.
What does 'Ich bin dafür.' mean?
→ I'm in favour of it.
Why: dafür sein = to be in favour; dagegen sein = to be against.
Which one politely suggests something else?
→ Wollen wir nicht lieber ins Museum gehen?
Why: Wollen wir nicht lieber …? = Shouldn't we rather …? (a polite alternative)
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