what is it?
When an adjective appears between an ein-word (ein, kein, mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, Ihr) and a noun, it follows the mixed declension. The name «mixed» reflects the logic: ein-words lack a gender ending in three slots (masculine nominative, neuter nominative, neuter accusative), so the adjective steps in and carries that signal itself. In all other slots, where the ein-word already shows a clear ending, the adjective simply takes -en. The same pattern applies to kein and all possessive pronouns.
when to use it
The noun phrase begins with an ein-word: ein, kein, mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, Ihr.
One or more adjectives follow the ein-word directly before the noun. Predicate adjectives (after sein, werden, etc.) take no ending at all.
This declension is distinct from the weak declension (after der/die/das) and the strong declension (no article at all).
formation
The table below shows the endings for a single adjective after an ein-word. The bold endings are the three slots where the adjective carries the gender signal; all others are -en.
| case | masculine | neuter | feminine | plural (kein/possessive) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | -er (ein neuer Tisch) | -es (ein neues Haus) | -e (eine neue Lampe) | -en (keine alten Stühle) |
| accusative | -en (einen neuen Tisch) | -es (ein neues Haus) | -e (eine neue Lampe) | -en (keine alten Stühle) |
| dative | -en (einem neuen Tisch) | -en (einem neuen Haus) | -en (einer neuen Lampe) | -en (keinen alten Stühlen) |
| genitive | -en (eines neuen Tisches) | -en (eines neuen Hauses) | -en (einer neuen Lampe) | -en (keiner alten Stühle) |
Rule of thumb: Ask whether the ein-word itself already shows a gender ending. If yes → adjective takes -en. If no (the three bold slots above) → adjective takes the strong ending: -er / -es / -e matching the gender.
examples in context
common pitfalls
Using -e everywhere. Learners often write «*ein neue Tisch» or «*ein neue Haus». The adjective must carry the gender signal in the three bare slots: masculine nominative needs -er, neuter nominative/accusative needs -es. Only feminine nominative/accusative takes -e.
Confusing masculine and neuter in nominative. «*ein neuer Haus» is wrong because Haus is neuter, not masculine. The correct form is ein neues Haus. Always check the grammatical gender of the noun first.
Leaving the adjective bare. «*ein neu Tisch» is not grammatical. An attributive adjective between an ein-word and a noun always takes an ending. Only predicate adjectives (e.g. «Der Tisch ist neu.») appear without one.
Keeping the stem vowel in -el/-er adjectives. Adjectives ending in -el or -er drop the stem -e- when inflected. Write ein dunkles Zimmer (not «*ein dunkeles Zimmer») and ein teures Auto (not «*ein teueres Auto»).
Irregular stems: hoch and uninflected colour loans. The adjective hoch changes its stem when inflected: ein hoher Turm (not «*ein hocher Turm»). Conversely, colour loans such as rosa and lila are invariable and never take endings: eine rosa Bluse (not «*eine rosane Bluse»).
A quick self-check: look at the ein-word. Does it end in -e, -en, -em, -er, -es? If yes, the adjective takes -en. If the ein-word has no ending at all, the adjective must supply the gender signal (-er / -es / -e).