Strong Declension for Adjectives: No Article Cases (Kalter Kaffee)

Learn how to use adjective endings when there is no article in front of the noun.

In German, adjectives change depending on the article before them:

• der/die/das → weak endings

• ein/mein/kein → mixed endings

• NO article → **strong endings
  **

This pillar focuses on the strong declension, used when the adjective itself must show all the case, gender, and number information.

Example (no article):
👉 Kalter Kaffee (not der kalte Kaffee)
👉 **Frische Luft
**👉 Gutes Essen

Let’s break it down.

1. What Is Strong Declension? (Simple Definition)

Strong adjective endings are used when:

👉 There is NO article before the adjective.

The adjective must show:

• gender (m/f/n)

• case (nom/acc/dat/gen)

• number (singular/plural)

Example:
**Guter Wein ist teuer.
**(no article → adjective shows gender & case)

2. Strong Declension Endings Table (A2-B1)

This is the full system you must memorize.

Strong Adjective Endings

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	guter	gute	gutes	gute
---	---	---	---	---
Accusative	guten	gute	gutes	gute
---	---	---	---	---
Dative	gutem	guter	gutem	guten
---	---	---	---	---
Genitive	guten	guter	guten	guter
---	---	---	---	---

These endings apply to all adjectives (schön, kalt, frisch, alt…).

3. How To Recognize Strong Declension Instantly

Ask:

Is there a DER-word before the adjective?

→ No → go to next question.

Is there an EIN-word before the adjective?

→ No → use strong endings.

Examples that require strong endings:

• kalter Kaffee

• gutes Wetter

• schöne Häuser

• frische Milch

• alter Wein

• warmes Wasser

Strong declension often appears in:

• titles

• signs

• menus

• descriptions

• lists

• sentences beginning with adjectives

Example:
Gutes Wetter macht mich glücklich.

4. Strong Declension Explained by Case

Nominative Case (subject)

• M: schöner Tag

• F: schöne Tasche

• N: schönes Haus

• PL: schöne Häuser

Pattern: -er / -e / -es / -e

Accusative Case (object)

• M: schönen Tag

• F: schöne Tasche

• N: schönes Haus

• PL: schöne Häuser

Pattern: masculine becomes -en, others same as nominative.

Dative Case (receiver)

• M: schönem Tag

• F: schöner Tasche

• N: schönem Haus

• PL: schönen Häusern

Pattern: masculine/neuter → -em, feminine → -er, plural → -en (+ -n on noun)

Genitive Case (possession)

• M: schönen Tages

• F: schöner Tasche

• N: schönen Hauses

• PL: schöner Häuser

Pattern: -en / -er / -en / -er

5. Common Patterns to Memorize (A2 Shortcuts)

Rule 1 - Nominative: er / e / es / e

schöner Mann
schöne Frau
schönes Kind
schöne Häuser

Rule 2 - Accusative masculine = -en

Ich sehe kalten Kaffee.

Rule 3 - All dative plurals = -en (noun + -n)

mit schönen Häusern

Rule 4 - No article = strong endings

Frisches Brot ist lecker.
Klares Wasser ist sauber.

6. Strong Declension in Real Sentences

A. Nominative

• Kalter Kaffee schmeckt nicht gut.

• Frisches Brot riecht wunderbar.

B. Accusative

• Ich trinke kalten Kaffee.

• Sie kauft frisches Gemüse.

C. Dative

• Mit kaltem Wasser kann man kochen.

• Er hilft kleinem Kind.

D. Genitive

• wegen schlechten Wetters

• trotz starker Schmerzen

7. Contrast: Weak vs. Mixed vs. Strong

Article Type	Example	Declension	Look For
Weak	der schöne Mann	der/die/das	-e / -en
---	---	---	---
Mixed	ein schöner Mann	ein/mein/kein	-er / -es / -e / -en
---	---	---	---
Strong	schöner Mann	no article	full endings
---	---	---	---

If there is no article, use strong.

8. Strong Declension Practice (A2-B1)

A. Fill the correct strong ending

• kalt___ Kaffee (nom.)

• frisch___ Brot (acc.)

• klar___ Wasser (dat.)

• schön___ Blumen (nom. pl.)

B. Change the noun into all 4 strong cases

Example: schöner Garten
Now you do:

• frisch__ Brot (nom.)

• frisch__ Brot (acc.)

• frisch__ Brot (dat.)

• frisch__ Brot (gen.)

C. Rewrite with strong declension (remove article)

• der alte Hund → ___ Hund

• das neue Auto → ___ Auto

• die großen Häuser → ___ Häuser

D. Translate to German (strong endings)

• fresh water

• cold coffee

• old wine

• beautiful flowers

9. Answer Key

A.

• kalter

• frisches

• klarem

• schöne

B.

• frisches Brot

• frisches Brot

• frischem Brot

• frischen Brotes

C.

• alter Hund

• neues Auto

• große Häuser

D.

• frisches Wasser

• kalter Kaffee

• alter Wein

• schöne Blumen