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My query is: Why is "ein blaues Hemd" correct and not "ein blau Hemd"? Could you please give a detailed explanation.

Thanks

John
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  • Welcome John, you could have helped the people here in giving you a meaningful answer by telling us what you already know. – Carsten S Mar 02 '15 at 06:56
  • http://de.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Flexion:blau – Carsten S Mar 02 '15 at 07:20
  • This is not an exact duplicate as the Schäferhund answers don't address the issue under what circumstances "blau" matches "Hemd", grammatically. – Martin Schwehla Mar 02 '15 at 08:52
  • @CarstenSchultz, I'm still in the beginning stages of learning German, a little vocabulary, some verbs, usage of du/ihr/Sie/er etc. with simple verbs, basically adding t/st/en. So, not much – John Mar 02 '15 at 09:07
  • Related: Warum ist der Apfel rot, und nicht rote? –  Mar 02 '15 at 09:46
  • Es gibt ein Blauhemd, als Metapher für FDJ-Mitglieder, die seinerzeit eine Uniform trugen mit einem blauen Hemd. Dann wird es aber groß- und zusammengeschrieben. Ähnlich gibt es den Blaustrumpf, vor allem in früheren Zeiten (um 1900) eine Bezeichnung für Fraunrechtlerinneren (heute: Feministin o. Emanze (abw.)). – user unknown Mar 04 '15 at 01:34

1 Answers1

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The adjective is inflected in three ways, depending on the relationship between adjective and article and/or noun:

  1. Ein blaues Hemd liegt im Schrank. (A blue shirt lies in the closet)

Here you have an indefinite article with a so called "weak flection* (ein = a) which means, so to say, the adjective has to do the significant flection work, therefore the flection has to be strong.

  1. Das / Dieses blaue Hemd gefällt mir nicht. (The/this blue shirt does not appeal to me)

Here you have a definite article (das = the) or a demonstrative pronoun (dieses = this) which both already have a strong flection, therefore there is no need for the adjective to be significantly inflected and its flection is weak.

  1. Das Hemd gefällt mir nicht, weil das Hemd blau ist. (I don't like the shirt because it is blue)

Here there is no need to signify that the adjective is related to the noun by inflecting it because this is the statement of the sentence itself, and the "signifying work" is done by the verb. The adjective is equated with the noun as one of its qualities (Hemd = blau).

After your comment, let us check this with the other genders, as well:

Ein blauer Gürtel liegt im Schrank.

Dieser blaue Gürtel gefällt mir nicht.

Der Gürtel gefällt mir nicht, weil er blau ist.

Thus, no change with male gender (in English, same sentences as above, with a belt – male gender in German – instead of a shirt).

Eine blaue Hose liegt im Schrank.

Diese blaue Hose gefällt mir nicht.

Die Hose gefällt mir nicht, weil sie blau ist.

(In English, same sentences as above, with trousers – female gender in German – instead of a shirt.) So with female gender, the adjective carries no strong flection after the indefinite article. But if you understand the principle, you can easily grasp the exceptions from a grammar table, and indeed, to go into this more deeply you might consider the Schäferhund answers which I think are very good.

Martin Schwehla
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  • So, it has no relation with Hemd being Neutral? I've actually seen some sentences in which the gender of the Noun defines this, if so, how do we know if its the gender or the article that influences it. I could be very wrong here so.. – John Mar 02 '15 at 09:14
  • @John... it does have something to do wth the fact that "Hemd" is a neuter. Look online for adjective declenison in German and you'll find plenty of information. – Emanuel Mar 02 '15 at 11:44
  • @Martin Could you please edit the section regarding gender and add correct English translations too. – John Mar 02 '15 at 15:57