German Adjective Endings with Indefinite Articles: Simple Guide & Rules

Introduction

In German, adjective endings change depending on the article, gender, and case. When using indefinite articles like “ein” or “eine,” there are specific rules to follow. In this article, we explain how these adjective endings work with indefinite articles. For a general overview of German adjective endings, see our page on German adjectives endings. If you want to compare how these endings differ with definite articles, check out this article: here.

Table of German Adjective Endings with Indefinite Articles

Below is a chart showing the adjective groß (big) used with indefinite articles (ein for masculine/neuter, eine for feminine). Notice the adjective endings in bold:

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	ein großer Mann	eine große Frau	ein großes Kind
Genitive	eines großen Mannes	einer großen Frau	eines großen Kindes
Dative	einem großen Mann	einer großen Frau	einem großen Kind
Accusative	einen großen Mann	eine große Frau	ein großes Kind

Note that masculine and neuter nouns in the genitive case usually take an -s or -es on the noun itself (e.g., Mannes, Kindes), while the adjective ending remains the same pattern for indefinite articles.

Example Sentences with Indefinite Articles

Here are some sentences illustrating how these adjective endings appear in different cases:

German	English
Ich sehe einen kleinen Hund im Park.	I see a small dog in the park.
Eine freundliche Frau hat mir geholfen.	A friendly woman helped me.
Sie kauft eine schöne Vase.	She buys a beautiful vase.
Ein kleines Kind spielt draußen.	A small child is playing outside.
Hast du ein neues Auto gekauft?	Have you bought a new car?
Ein freundlicher Hund begrüßt die Besucher.	A friendly dog greets the visitors.

Adjective Endings Quizzes Practice

Training your skills with practical exercises is essential. You can test your knowledge with our free quizzes:

• Adjective Quiz 1
• Adjective Quiz 2
• Adjective Quiz 3

Each quiz gives you immediate feedback, making it easier to understand and remember the correct endings.

Tips for Mastering Adjective Endings with Indefinite Articles

1. Learn the Patterns Pay attention to how adjective endings change for masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns in different cases. Repetition will help these patterns stick.
2. Build on Your Grammar Knowledge If you’re unsure about indefinite articles, check out our German Articles guide. Strengthening your knowledge of German articles and cases will make learning adjective endings easier.
3. Practice with Your Own Sentences Create simple sentences using ein, eine, or einen with an adjective and noun in different cases. Say them out loud to get comfortable and boost your confidence.
4. Start with Definite and Indefinite Articles Focus first on mastering adjective endings with definite and indefinite articles. Once you’re comfortable, you can move on to other declension tables.
5. Use Quizzes to Reinforce Learning Regular practice is key. Take quizzes that focus on adjective endings to track your progress and improve over time.

Conclusion

Nailing German adjective endings with indefinite articles is important for speaking and writing naturally. Practice using them in everyday sentences, and it’ll start to click. Keep at it, and soon enough, picking the right ending will just feel natural.

FAQ

Do these rules differ from definite article endings?

Yes. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) affect adjective endings differently than definite articles (der, die, das).

How do I know which case to use?

Identify the grammatical role of the noun (e.g., subject, direct object, etc.). Nominative is for subjects, accusative for direct objects, dative for indirect objects, and genitive often indicates possession. You can get more information about the cases in German: here.

Where can I practice the German adjetive endings?

Use our quizzes to test what you have learned: adjective quiz 1, adjective quiz 2,  adjective quiz 3.