Adjective Formation in German Grammar
- Forming German Adjectives from other Adjectives
- Forming German Adjectives from Nouns
- Forming German Adjectives from Verbs
- Online exercises to improve your German
- Lingolia Plus German
How to Form German Adjectives
Some German adjectives can be formed by adding a suffix (ending) to nouns, verbs or even other adjectives.
Learn how to build German adjectives with Lingolia, then put your knowledge to the test in the exercises.
Forming German Adjectives from other Adjectives
Adding the suffix -lich to adjectives is similar to when we add -ish to words in English:
- Example:
- Das Kleid ist nicht richtig blau, aber es schimmert bläulichThe dress isn’t really blue, but it has a blue shimmer.
- bläulich = blueish
Sometimes adding -lich to an adjective can completely change its meaning:
- Example:
- klein (= small) – kleinlich (= stingy, miserly)
Forming German Adjectives from Nouns
To make adjectives from nouns, we remove the noun ending (-ung, -ik, -e, etc.) and add an adjective ending.
The table below shows the typical endings we use to make adjectives from nouns:
Ending | Noun | Adjective | Example |
---|---|---|---|
-lich | die Feierfestival | feierlichfestive | eine feierliche Stimmunga festive mood |
-ig | der Schmutzdirt | schmutzigdirty | die schmutzige Wäschethe dirty laundry |
-haft | der Traumdream | traumhaftwonderful | ein traumhafter Abenda wonderful adventure |
-sam | die Müheeffort | mühsamdifficult | eine mühsame Arbeita difficult job |
-isch | EuropaEurope | europäischEuropean | ein europäisches Landa European country |
-ern | das Holzwood | hölzernwooden | eine hölzerne Brückea wooden bridge |
Forming German Adjectives from Verbs
To make adjectives from German verbs, we remove the verb ending -en and add an adjective ending.
We can also use the participle forms of verbs as adjectives.
The table below shows some typical examples of adjectives made from verbs:
Ending | Verb | Adjective | Example |
---|---|---|---|
-bar | lösento solve | lösbarsolvable | eine lösbare Aufgabea solvable problem |
-sam | schweigento be silent | schweigsamsilent | ein schweigsames Kinda silent child |
Partizip I | fragento ask/question | fragendquestioning | ein fragender Blicka questioning look |
Partizip II | gefährdento endanger | gefährdetendangered | eine gefährdete Tierartan endangered species |