Adjective Declension: the single rule
Explicação
The declension tables show 48 endings and that is where many learners quit. All 48 come from one rule — once it clicks, the table becomes a check, not a memorisation task.
The gender/case marker must appear once per phrase. If the article shows it, the adjective goes weak (-e or -en). If it does not, the adjective carries it.
Definite article — shows everything
der alte Mann · den alten Mann · dem alten Mann
Indefinite article — sometimes shows nothing
ein alter Mann · ein altes Auto · everything else: -en
No article — nothing shows
frischer Kaffee · frische Milch · frisches Brot
⚠️ Watch out
✗ mit einem alter Mann
✓ mit einem alten Mann
In the dative einem already marks case and gender, so the adjective goes weak.
🧠 One marker, once, per phrase. Strong article → weak adjective. Weak or absent article → strong adjective.
Exemplos
Der alte Mann schläft.
The old man sleeps. (nominative, masculine, definite → -e)
Ein alter Mann schläft.
An old man sleeps. (nominative, masculine, indefinite → -er)
Ich helfe dem alten Mann.
I help the old man. (dative → -en)
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