Chris Smith
6704c40bd5
Covers weak/mixed/strong declension for accusative adjectives. Learning record captures the two real misconceptions found: reaching for -es after a der-word (only valid in mixed/strong declension), and E-Mail's gender missed a second time despite an earlier correction.
312 lines
13 KiB
HTML
312 lines
13 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
|
<html lang="en">
|
|
<head>
|
|
<meta charset="UTF-8">
|
|
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
|
|
<title>Lesson 5 — Accusative Adjective Endings</title>
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" href="../assets/style.css">
|
|
<style>
|
|
.decl-block {
|
|
border-left: 4px solid var(--border);
|
|
padding: 0.75rem 1.25rem;
|
|
margin: 1.25rem 0;
|
|
border-radius: 0 var(--radius) var(--radius) 0;
|
|
}
|
|
.decl-block.weak { border-color: #2e5d9e; background: #eaeefd; }
|
|
.decl-block.mixed { border-color: #1e6b3c; background: var(--green-bg); }
|
|
.decl-block.strong { border-color: #8b1a1a; background: #fdecea; }
|
|
|
|
.decl-label {
|
|
font-size: 0.75rem;
|
|
text-transform: uppercase;
|
|
letter-spacing: 0.08em;
|
|
font-weight: bold;
|
|
margin-bottom: 0.3rem;
|
|
}
|
|
.weak .decl-label { color: #1d3f6e; }
|
|
.mixed .decl-label { color: #1e6b3c; }
|
|
.strong .decl-label { color: #8b1a1a; }
|
|
|
|
.decl-example {
|
|
font-family: 'Courier New', monospace;
|
|
font-size: 0.95rem;
|
|
margin-top: 0.4rem;
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
.ending {
|
|
color: #8b1a1a;
|
|
font-weight: bold;
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
.decl-table td, .decl-table th {
|
|
text-align: center;
|
|
padding: 0.5rem 0.9rem;
|
|
}
|
|
.decl-table td:first-child, .decl-table th:first-child {
|
|
text-align: left;
|
|
}
|
|
.decl-table .changed { background: #fffbe6; border-radius: 3px; font-weight: bold; }
|
|
|
|
.tip-box {
|
|
background: var(--bg-warm);
|
|
border: 1px solid var(--border);
|
|
border-radius: var(--radius);
|
|
padding: 0.9rem 1.25rem;
|
|
margin: 1.25rem 0;
|
|
font-size: 0.95rem;
|
|
}
|
|
</style>
|
|
</head>
|
|
<body>
|
|
<div class="page">
|
|
|
|
<p class="subtitle">Lesson 5 of your German course</p>
|
|
<h1>Accusative Adjective Endings</h1>
|
|
<p class="subtitle">B1.2 · Grammar · ~20 minutes</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lesson 3 covered how <em>articles</em> change in the accusative (<em>der → den</em>). Adjectives placed in front of a noun carry their own ending too — and that ending depends on <strong>what, if anything, comes before the adjective</strong>: a der-word, an ein-word, or nothing at all. This is the source of errors like <em>letzten Samstag</em>, <em>einen neuen Termin</em> — the rule is known, but which ending to reach for isn't automatic yet.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<h2>Three situations, three ending patterns</h2>
|
|
|
|
<div class="decl-block weak">
|
|
<div class="decl-label">Weak declension — after der/die/das</div>
|
|
<p style="margin: 0.4rem 0 0;">The article already shows the case, so the adjective ending is minimal.</p>
|
|
<div class="decl-example">
|
|
der neu<span class="ending">e</span> Termin → Ich habe den neu<span class="ending">en</span> Termin abgesagt.
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<div class="decl-block mixed">
|
|
<div class="decl-label">Mixed declension — after ein/eine/ein, kein, mein, sein...</div>
|
|
<p style="margin: 0.4rem 0 0;">Ein-words don't mark masculine nominative or neuter, so the adjective picks up the slack there.</p>
|
|
<div class="decl-example">
|
|
ein günstig<span class="ending">er</span> Mechaniker → Wir brauchen einen günstig<span class="ending">en</span> Mechaniker.
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<div class="decl-block strong">
|
|
<div class="decl-label">Strong declension — no article at all</div>
|
|
<p style="margin: 0.4rem 0 0;">With nothing in front, the adjective alone has to signal gender and case — it behaves like a der-word.</p>
|
|
<div class="decl-example">
|
|
frisch<span class="ending">er</span> Kaffee → Ich trinke frisch<span class="ending">en</span> Kaffee.<br>
|
|
(<em>letzt<span class="ending">en</span> Samstag</em> — same pattern, masculine accusative, no article)
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<h2>The endings, side by side</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>Accusative singular only — this is where your errors cluster:</p>
|
|
|
|
<table class="decl-table">
|
|
<thead>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th></th>
|
|
<th>masculine</th>
|
|
<th>feminine</th>
|
|
<th>neuter</th>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
</thead>
|
|
<tbody>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td>after der-word</td>
|
|
<td class="changed">den neu<strong>en</strong></td>
|
|
<td>die neu<strong>e</strong></td>
|
|
<td>das alt<strong>e</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td>after ein-word</td>
|
|
<td class="changed">einen neu<strong>en</strong></td>
|
|
<td>eine nett<strong>e</strong></td>
|
|
<td>ein kaputt<strong>es</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td>no article</td>
|
|
<td class="changed">frisch<strong>en</strong> (Kaffee)</td>
|
|
<td>frisch<strong>e</strong> (Milch)</td>
|
|
<td>kalt<strong>es</strong> (Wasser)</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
</tbody>
|
|
</table>
|
|
|
|
<div class="tip-box">
|
|
<strong>The one thing worth memorising first:</strong> in the accusative, only <strong>masculine</strong> ever changes — and it always changes to <strong>-en</strong>, no matter what (or whether anything) precedes the adjective. Feminine and neuter keep the same ending they'd have in the nominative. Exactly the same simplification as the article table from Lesson 3.
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Plural, no article, also stays simple — it takes <strong>-e</strong> in both nominative and accusative, same as the article <em>die</em> doesn't change:</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="decl-example" style="background:white; border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius: var(--radius); padding: 0.75rem 1.25rem;">
|
|
Ich brauche neu<span class="ending">e</span> Reifen. <span style="color: var(--ink-light); font-family: 'Georgia', serif; font-size: 0.85rem;">— I need new tyres.</span>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr style="border:none; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; margin: 2.5rem 0;">
|
|
|
|
<h2>Drill — choose the correct ending</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>Each sentence is accusative. Decide what precedes the adjective (der-word, ein-word, or nothing), then pick the ending.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="quiz-section" id="quiz"></div>
|
|
|
|
<div class="score-bar" id="score-bar">
|
|
<span class="score-number" id="score-number"></span> — <span id="score-comment"></span>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<h2>Primary source</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<ul style="margin: 0.5rem 0 0 1.25rem; line-height: 2;">
|
|
<li><a href="https://git.sometimescode.com/cgsmith/German-for-English-Speakers/src/branch/main/adjectives/adjective-declensions.md" target="_blank">German for English Speakers: Adjective Declensions</a> — the weak/mixed/strong framework in full, all four cases.</li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://yourdailygerman.com/adjective-endings-german/" target="_blank">Your Daily German: Adjective Endings</a> — the logic behind why the ending shifts (subscription).</li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://yourdailygerman.com/german-adjective-endings-charts/" target="_blank">Your Daily German: Adjective Endings Charts</a> — full reference tables, all cases (subscription).</li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://yourdailygerman.com/german-adjective-endings-exercise/" target="_blank">Your Daily German: Adjective Endings Exercise</a> — extra practice beyond this drill (subscription).</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="ask-teacher">
|
|
<strong>Ask your teacher:</strong> Bring a sentence where you weren't sure which adjective ending to use — especially anything with a time expression like <em>letzten Samstag</em> or <em>nächste Woche</em>, since those skip the article entirely and are easy to get wrong on reflex.
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<div class="lesson-nav">
|
|
<strong>Related:</strong>
|
|
<a href="0001-v2-word-order.html">Lesson 1: V2 Word Order</a> ·
|
|
<a href="0002-noun-gender-daily-life.html">Lesson 2: Noun Gender</a> ·
|
|
<a href="0003-the-four-cases.html">Lesson 3: The Four Cases</a> ·
|
|
<a href="0004-subordinate-clauses.html">Lesson 4: Subordinate Clauses</a>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<script>
|
|
const questions = [
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Ich habe den ___ (neu) Termin abgesagt.",
|
|
correct: "neuen",
|
|
options: ["neue", "neuen", "neuer"],
|
|
feedback: "<strong>Weak declension</strong> (after <em>den</em>) — masculine accusative always takes <strong>-en</strong>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Wir brauchen ___ (günstig) Mechaniker.",
|
|
correct: "einen günstigen",
|
|
options: ["ein günstiger", "einen günstigen", "einem günstigen"],
|
|
feedback: "<strong>Mixed declension</strong> (after <em>ein</em>) — masculine accusative: article becomes <em>einen</em>, adjective takes <strong>-en</strong> too."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Ich hatte ___ (letzt) Samstag einen Termin.",
|
|
correct: "letzten",
|
|
options: ["letzte", "letzten", "letzter"],
|
|
feedback: "<strong>Strong declension</strong> (no article) — masculine accusative still takes <strong>-en</strong>, even with nothing in front of it."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Ich rufe die ___ (neu) Kollegin an.",
|
|
correct: "neue",
|
|
options: ["neue", "neuen", "neues"],
|
|
feedback: "<strong>Weak declension</strong>, feminine — accusative doesn't change from nominative here: stays <strong>-e</strong>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Er hat ___ (nett) E-Mail geschickt.",
|
|
correct: "eine nette",
|
|
options: ["eine nette", "einen netten", "ein nettes"],
|
|
feedback: "<em>die E-Mail</em> is feminine — mixed declension accusative feminine stays <strong>-e</strong>, same as nominative. Article stays <em>eine</em>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Wir haben das ___ (alt) Auto verkauft.",
|
|
correct: "alte",
|
|
options: ["alte", "alten", "altes"],
|
|
feedback: "<strong>Weak declension</strong>, neuter — accusative doesn't change from nominative: stays <strong>-e</strong>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Ich habe ___ (kaputt) Rad gefunden.",
|
|
correct: "ein kaputtes",
|
|
options: ["ein kaputtes", "einen kaputten", "eine kaputte"],
|
|
feedback: "<em>das Rad</em> is neuter — mixed declension accusative neuter stays <strong>-es</strong>, same as nominative. Article stays <em>ein</em>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Ich brauche ___ (neu) Reifen.",
|
|
correct: "neue",
|
|
options: ["neue", "neuen", "neuer"],
|
|
feedback: "<strong>Strong declension, plural</strong> (no article) — takes <strong>-e</strong>, same in nominative and accusative."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Er hat den ___ (teuer) Kostenvoranschlag akzeptiert.",
|
|
correct: "teuren",
|
|
options: ["teure", "teuren", "teures"],
|
|
feedback: "<strong>Weak declension</strong> (after <em>den</em>) — masculine accusative: <strong>-en</strong>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
sentence: "Ich trinke ___ (frisch) Kaffee.",
|
|
correct: "frischen",
|
|
options: ["frische", "frischen", "frischer"],
|
|
feedback: "<strong>Strong declension</strong> (no article), masculine — accusative: <strong>-en</strong>, same pattern as <em>letzten Samstag</em>."
|
|
}
|
|
];
|
|
|
|
const quiz = document.getElementById('quiz');
|
|
let answered = 0;
|
|
let correct = 0;
|
|
const total = questions.length;
|
|
|
|
questions.forEach((q, i) => {
|
|
const block = document.createElement('div');
|
|
block.className = 'question-block';
|
|
block.id = 'q' + i;
|
|
|
|
const displaySentence = q.sentence.replace('___', '<span style="display:inline-block;min-width:110px;border-bottom:2px solid #aaa;"> </span>');
|
|
|
|
block.innerHTML = `
|
|
<div class="question-text"><strong>${i + 1}.</strong> ${displaySentence}</div>
|
|
<div class="options" style="flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;">
|
|
${q.options.map(opt => `<button class="option-btn" style="flex:1;min-width:120px;text-align:center;" onclick="answer(${i},'${opt}',this)">${opt}</button>`).join('')}
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="feedback" id="fb${i}"></div>
|
|
`;
|
|
quiz.appendChild(block);
|
|
});
|
|
|
|
function answer(i, chosen, btn) {
|
|
const q = questions[i];
|
|
const block = document.getElementById('q' + i);
|
|
const fb = document.getElementById('fb' + i);
|
|
const buttons = block.querySelectorAll('.option-btn');
|
|
buttons.forEach(b => b.disabled = true);
|
|
|
|
const isCorrect = chosen === q.correct;
|
|
answered++;
|
|
if (isCorrect) {
|
|
correct++;
|
|
block.classList.add('correct');
|
|
btn.classList.add('selected-correct');
|
|
fb.className = 'feedback show correct-fb';
|
|
fb.innerHTML = '✓ ' + q.feedback;
|
|
} else {
|
|
block.classList.add('incorrect');
|
|
btn.classList.add('selected-incorrect');
|
|
fb.className = 'feedback show incorrect-fb';
|
|
fb.innerHTML = '✗ ' + q.feedback;
|
|
buttons.forEach(b => { if (b.textContent.trim() === q.correct) b.classList.add('reveal-correct'); });
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
if (answered === total) showScore();
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
function showScore() {
|
|
const bar = document.getElementById('score-bar');
|
|
const num = document.getElementById('score-number');
|
|
const comment = document.getElementById('score-comment');
|
|
bar.classList.add('show');
|
|
num.textContent = correct + ' / ' + total;
|
|
if (correct === total) {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'All ten — the masculine -en pattern is locking in. Watch for it in your own writing this week.';
|
|
} else if (correct >= 8) {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'Strong. Re-read the feedback on the ones you missed — they usually come down to which declension type applies.';
|
|
} else if (correct >= 6) {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'The framework is forming. Focus on spotting whether there is a der-word, an ein-word, or nothing before the adjective.';
|
|
} else {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'Reread the three declension blocks slowly, then try again. Masculine -en is the single highest-value pattern to lock in.';
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
</script>
|
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|