Brottin

TOPIC · Adjectives (Adjektive)

Adjectives as Nouns

B1

After this lesson you can recognize, form and correctly decline adjectives used as nouns in German.

In German, adjectives can function as nouns when they are capitalized and declined like nouns. These substantivierte Adjektive (adjectives used as nouns) help avoid repetition and often sound more formal or written.

1Basic rule: capitalization and article

An adjective becomes a noun when it:

  • is capitalized: der Alte, das Gute
  • has an article, pronoun or quantity word before it: der, die, das, dieser, manche, viel, nichts etc.
  • is used in a noun position in the sentence (subject, object, after prepositions).

Examples:

  • Der Alte wartet an der Haltestelle. (The old man is waiting at the bus stop.)
  • Ich helfe dem Kranken. (I help the sick person.)
  • Sie spricht über das Neue. (She talks about the new thing.)

2Referring to people

Very often substantivierte Adjektive refer to people. Grammatically they keep adjective endings, but are written with a capital letter.

Masculine nounFeminine nounAdjective
der Altedie Altealt
der Reichedie Reichereich
der Krankedie Krankekrank
der Verzweifeltedie Verzweifelteverzweifelt
der Erwachsenedie Erwachseneerwachsen

Examples:

  • Der Alte sitzt auf der Bank. (The old man is sitting on the bench.)
  • Die Reiche gibt gerne Geld aus. (The rich woman likes to spend money.)
  • Ich besuche die Kranken im Krankenhaus. (I visit the sick people in the hospital.)

Note: Many of these forms can sound impolite because they reduce a person to one characteristic. Often it is better to say ein alter Mann, eine kranke Frau.

3Abstract ideas (mostly neuter)

With das, adjectives can become abstract concepts. They express a general quality, idea or category.

Neuter nounNoun with quantityAdjective
das Schönenichts Schönesschön
das Guteviel Gutesgut
das Neueetwas Neuesneu
das Wichtigealles Wichtigewichtig

Examples:

  • Das Gute besiegt am Ende das Böse. (Good defeats evil in the end.)
  • Ich habe nichts Neues gehört. (I have heard nothing new.)
  • Lies zuerst das Wichtige. (Read the important things first.)

Pay attention to endings after quantity words:

  • viel Gutes, nichts Schönes, etwas Interessantes.

4Participles as nouns

Partizip I (e.g. lernend) and Partizip II (e.g. gefangen) can also be used as nouns. They often describe people by an action or state.

Masculine nounFeminine nounParticiple
der Reisendedie Reisendereisend
der Lernendedie Lernendelernend
der Schlafendedie Schlafendeschlafend
der Gefangenedie Gefangenegefangen

Examples:

  • Der Reisende hat nichts zu verlieren. (The traveler has nothing to lose.)
  • Die Lernende macht ihre Hausaufgaben. (The learner does her homework.)
  • Die Polizei befreit die Gefangenen. (The police free the prisoners.)

5Declension – short overview

Substantivierte Adjektive follow normal adjective endings. Singular examples:

CaseMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativder Altedie Altedas Gute
Akkusativden Altendie Altedas Gute
Dativdem Altender Altendem Guten
Genitivdes Altender Altendes Guten

After this lesson you can recognize and form adjectives as nouns in German and use them to sound more natural and concise.