A2.4 - At the airport and in the plane

Adjectives: „den/die/das“ + accusative, „dem/der“ + dative

Adjektive:„den/die/das" +Akkusativ, „dem/der"

Verwendung von Adjektiven nach bestimmten, unbestimmten oder ohne Artikel, z.B. „blau, wichtig, schnell, alt".

(Use of adjectives after definite, indefinite, or no article, e.g. „blau, wichtig, schnell, alt".)

What this topic is really about

In German, the article (der/die/das → den/dem/der…) usually shows the case.

The adjective ending is then a small signal that “matches” what the article already tells you.

  • Accusative (direct object): “I check what?”
  • Dative (indirect object): “I give / show / help to whom?”

Step 1: Find the case (quick and practical)

  1. Look at the verb pattern
    • jemanden kontrollieren / buchen / verpassen → accusative object
    • jemandem helfen → dative person
    • jemandem etwas geben / jemandem etwas zeigen → dative person + accusative thing
  2. Confirm with the article
    • den often = accusative masculine
    • dem / der often = dative (dem = masculine/neuter, der = feminine)
    • die / das can be accusative here (depends on role in the sentence)

Step 2: Choose the adjective ending (the patterns you need here)

With article (most common) Adjective ending Example
den + accusative (masc.) -en

Ich kontrolliere den neuen Reisepass.
die + accusative (fem.) -e

Sie zeigt die wichtige Sicherheitskontrolle.
das + accusative (neut.) -e

Wir buchen das bequeme Flugzeug.
dem + dative (masc./neut.) -en

Ich gebe dem freundlichen Mitarbeiter die Unterlagen.
der + dative (fem.) -en

Wir helfen der alten Passagierin.

The key “why”: when the article is strong, the adjective is usually simple

  • Articles like den / dem / der already clearly show the case.
  • So the adjective often takes a standard ending:
    • -e after die/das in accusative singular (in this unit)
    • -en after den/dem/der (very frequent and worth memorising)

Without an article: the adjective must show the case (important!)

If there is no article, the adjective ending becomes more “visible” because it carries more information.

Structure What to do Example
Dative plural, no article Adjective almost always -en

Er hilft kleinen Kindern am Flughafen.

Extra detail that saves mistakes: In dative plural, the noun often also gets -n if possible: Kindern, Passagieren, Mitarbeitern.

Common errors to avoid (quick self-correction)

  • After dem/der, don’t forget -en on the adjective:

    dem freundlich Mitarbeiter → dem freundlichen Mitarbeiter

  • Don’t mix up “person” and “thing” with geben/zeigen:

    Ich zeige dem Mitarbeiter (dative person) den Reisepass (accusative thing).

  • Without an article in dative plural, don’t use a “plain” adjective:

    Er hilft kleine Kinder. → Er hilft kleinen Kindern.

30-second checklist (use this before speaking)

  1. What does the verb need? (kontrollieren = Akk; helfen = Dat; geben/zeigen = Dat + Akk)
  2. Which article do I have? (den/dem/der/die/das)
  3. Add the ending:
    • den/dem/der → adjective usually -en
    • die/das (accusative singular here) → adjective -e
    • no article + dative plural → adjective -en + noun often -n
  1. The article shows the case (accusative or dative).
  2. The adjective follows the article and gets the correct ending.
  3. Without an article, the adjective has to do the “work” and clearly show the ending.
Artikel & Fall (Article & case)Beispiel (Example)
den + AkkusativIch kontrolliere den neuen Reisepass. (I check the new passport.)
die + AkkusativSie zeigt die wichtige Sicherheitskontrolle. (She shows the important security check.)
das + AkkusativWir buchen das bequeme Flugzeug. (We book the comfortable plane.)
dem + DativIch zeige dem freundlichen Mitarbeiter die Unterlagen. (I show the documents to the friendly employee.)
der + DativWir helfen der freundlichen Passagierin. (We help the friendly passenger.)
ohne Artikel + DativEr hilft kleinen Kindern am Flughafen. (He helps small children at the airport.)

 

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Am Check-in kontrolliere ich den ___ Reisepass.

At check-in I check the ___ passport.

2. Ich gebe dem ___ Mitarbeiter das Ticket.

I give the ticket to the ___ employee.

3. Wir verpassen die ___ Sicherheitskontrolle.

We miss the ___ security check.

4. Die Durchsage hilft ___ Kindern am Flughafen.

The announcement helps ___ children at the airport.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences with the correct adjective ending (accusative/dative). Write the adjective from the brackets in the gap.

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  1. Ich kontrolliere den ___ Reisepass. (neu)
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Ich kontrolliere den neuen Reisepass.
    (I check the new passport.)
  2. Sie zeigt die ___ Sicherheitskontrolle. (wichtig)
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Sie zeigt die wichtige Sicherheitskontrolle.
    (She shows the important security check.)
  3. Wir buchen das ___ Flugzeug. (bequem)
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Wir buchen das bequeme Flugzeug.
    (We book the comfortable airplane.)
  4. Ich gebe dem ___ Mitarbeiter die Unterlagen. (freundlich)
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Ich gebe dem freundlichen Mitarbeiter die Unterlagen.
    (I give the documents to the friendly employee.)

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Louis Fernando Hess

Bachelor of Science - Intercultural Business Psychology

Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences

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Germany


Last Updated:

Thursday, 07/05/2026 11:51