7.9 Adjectives following numbers

In Chapter 5 we looked at adjective endings after definite and indefinite articles. In this section we have met the third type of adjective endings. These are used in the following circumstances:

 

when an adjective follows a number greater than one:

- i.e. "zehn frische Brötchen"

when the adjective is preceded by a quantity:

- i.e. "ein Pfund grüne Bohnen"

when the adjective is not preceded by any type of article

- i.e. "Welche möchten Sie denn, grüne oder schwarze?"

The endings for an adjective which follows such endings, which we call the strong declension, are given below. First the singular endings:

 

Weak declension

We can now complete the endings tables for the other declensions by adding their plural forms. Firstly for adjectives following the definite article - also known as the weak declension. Note too the way that the definite articles decline in the plural:

Mixed declension

Finally, here is the "mixed" declension - namely the form of the adjective when it follows the indefinite article or a personal possessive. Note again the plural adjective endings, and the way in which "mein" ("dein", "sein" etc.) declines in the plural: