Nominalized Adjectives: etwas Neues
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Learn neuter nominalized adjectives after alles, das, etwas, nichts, viel, wenig, and ein bisschen. Practise capitalization and the endings -e and -es.
Explanation
Adjectives used as neuter nouns
A German adjective can stand without an expressed noun and function as a noun itself. It is then capitalized:
Wir wünschen dir etwas Schönes.
The form refers generally to something such as a thing, message, or experience.
Forms after alles and das
After alles, and after das in the nominative or accusative, the nominalized adjective takes the declension ending -e: alles Gute, das Wichtige, das Beste, das Schönste. In a superlative, -st- belongs to the degree form; the declension ending is still -e. Other cases differ, for example mit dem Besten.
Forms after etwas, nichts, viel, wenig, and ein bisschen
Use the declension ending -es: etwas Neues, nichts Wichtiges, viel Interessantes, wenig Brauchbares, ein bisschen Süßes.
A comparative can also be nominalized: etwas Besseres.
With an expressed noun, the adjective stays lowercase: ein wichtiges Ziel. Without it, capitalize the adjective: etwas Wichtiges.
For nominative and accusative, remember: alles/das + -e; etwas/nichts/viel/wenig/ein bisschen + -es.
Exercises
- Form a nominalized adjective. Mind the ending and capitalization. (10)
- Insert the correct forms from the word bank into the dialogue or text. (3)
- Replace the general noun with a nominalized adjective and write the complete sentence. (10)
B1 · German · Grammar