Level: A2-B1

mit Artikel vs ohne Artikel

When to Use

With a definite article (der/die/das): weak endings (-e or -en). Without any article: strong endings (the adjective takes the article's role, showing gender/case). With indefinite (ein/eine): mixed — some strong, some weak. The key principle: someone must show the gender — either the article or the adjective.

Comparison

	mit Artikel	ohne Artikel
After der/die/das	Weak: -e, -en	—
After ein/eine	Mixed	—
No article	—	Strong: -er, -es, -e, -em, -en
Nom. masc.	der große Mann	großer Mann

Examples

Correct

der große Mann

Wrong

großer Mann

Rule: With article: weak ending -e. Without: strong ending -er

Correct

ein kaltes Bier

Wrong

kaltes Bier

Rule: Both have -es: ein doesn't show neuter, so adjective must

Correct

mit frischer Milch

Wrong

mit der frischen Milch

Rule: Without article: strong -er. With article: weak -en

Tips

The gender signal must appear somewhere. If the article shows it, the adjective relaxes (-e/-en).

After der/die/das: only -e (Nom. masc/fem, Akk. fem/neut) or -en (all other cases).

Without article, the adjective ending matches what the der-word ending would be: großer (=der), großes (=das).

Similar Comparisons

Nominativ vs Akkusativ

A1-A2

Akkusativ vs Dativ

A2-B1

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