Adjective endings: der rote Mantel
When an adjective stands before a noun, it needs an ending. After der/die/das in the Nominativ singular it is -e: der rote Mantel, die blaue Jacke, das weiße Hemd. Between nominative and accusative, only the masculine form changes: den roten Mantel. (In the plural it is -en: die roten Mäntel.) These are the forms you need most at A2.
| Nominativ | Akkusativ | |
|---|---|---|
| der | der rote Mantel | den roten Mantel |
| die | die blaue Jacke | die blaue Jacke |
| das | das weiße Hemd | das weiße Hemd |
Tip
In these definite-article phrases, feminine and neuter forms are the same in nominative and accusative. The masculine changes from der rote Mantel to den roten Mantel. Dative forms follow a different pattern.