special cases

Weak declension

The weak declension is typically used after the definite article and all determiners which decline like dieser. There are only two endings, -e (used in the nominative singular and the accusative singular feminine and neuter) and -en (used everywhere else):

masculine feminine neuter plural

nom. der gute Wein die gute Suppe das gute Brot die guten Weine acc. den guten Wein die gute Suppe das gute Brot die guten Weine gen. des guten Weines der guten Suppe des guten Brotes der guten Weine dat. dem guten Wein der guten Suppe dem guten Brot den guten Weinen

Strong declension

The strong declension is almost identical to the endings of dieser (see 3.4). It is typically used if there is no determiner, or if the determiner has no ending, like singular viel or wenig (e.g. mit vielkaltem Wasser):

masculine feminine neuter plural

nom. guter Wein gute Suppe gutes Brot gute Weine acc. guten Wein gute Suppe gutes Brot gute Weine gen. guten Weines guter Suppe guten Brotes guter Weine dat. gutem Wein guter Suppe gutem Brot guten Weinen

Mixed declension

There is also a so-called ‘mixed’ declension, which is used after the indefinite article ein, the negative kein and the POSSESSIVES. After these determiners,adjectives have weak endings except in the nominative singular masculine and the nominative/accusative singular neuter. Here they have the strong endings because the determiner has no ending:

masculine feminine neuter plural

nom. sein guter Wein seine gute Suppe sein gutes Brot seine guten Weine acc. seinen guten Wein seine gute Suppe sein gutes Brot seine guten Weine gen. seines guten Weinesseiner guten Suppe seines guten Brotes seiner guten Weine dat. seinem guten Wein seiner guten Suppe seinem guten Brot seinen guten Weinen

4.2 Adjective declension:some special cases

There are a few instances where adjective declensions do not follow the patterns outlined in section 4.1.

Adjectives have strong endings after einige, manche, mehrere, viele and wenige used in the plural.