Adjectives describe nouns, i.e. a person, a place, or a thing.
Using Adjectives
Rule 1: Adjectives can be placed:
- after the verb sein (to be), bleiben (to stay) or werden (to become). In this case, they are invariable.
- before the noun they describe. In this case, they must be declined with the noun they characterize (in gender, number and in case).
Comparative Form of Adjectives
Rule 2: Just like in English, German adjectives have three forms of degree when comparing things. The comparative is the first form of progression and describes things that are not equal.
Rule 3: Comparative degree is formed with the following structure:
- adjective + ending -er.
Adjectives with one syllable often form the comparative with umlaut (ä,ö,ü), i.e. "alt - älter".
Superlative Form of Adjectives
Rule 4: The superlative describes a progression that cannot be increased more, or the highest quality of a noun.
Rule 5: Superlative degree is formed with the following construction:
- a definite article "der/die/das" + adjective + declined ending -ste/n/m/r/s
or
- word "am" + adjective + ending -sten.
Adjectives with one syllable often form the superlative with umlaut.