Interrogative and exclamatory adjectives in German
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsSign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Our offer
The interrogative and exclamatory adjectives are used in combination with a noun, either to ask something specific about the noun, or to emphasize it.
There are two different constructions of it: 'welch' and 'was für'. These adjectives stand right before the noun.
For example:
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
The special form of 'welch-' is very often used in the expression 'welch ein' (what a) and sometimes stand before attributive adjectives.
The adjective 'welch-' can be used as an interrogative or exclamatory adjective.
To use 'welch-' as an interrogative adjective, it needs to be declined in order to fit to noun. The interrogatives are often used to ask question and to get special information about the noun.
For example:
Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nominative | welcher | welche | welches | welche |
Accusative | welchen | welche | welches | welche |
Dative | welchem | welcher | welchem | welchen |
Genitive | welches | welcher | welches | welcher |
By using an exclamatory adjective you don't need to decline anything. Just use the word stem on his own.
In the following table you can see two different ways to use sentences, while the right one uses the exclamatory 'welch'.
Without 'welch' | With 'welch' |
---|---|
Wie schön diese Reise ist! (How wonderful this journey is!) | Welch eine schöne Reise! (What a wonderful journey!) |
Er ist so ein kluger Mann! (He is such an intelligent guy!) | Welch kluger Mann er ist! (What an intelligent guy he is!) |
Das war eine unterwartete Überraschung! (This was an unexpected surprise!) | Welch unerwartete Überraschung! (What an unexpected surprise!) |
As you can see, the exclamatory sentences using the 'welch' construction are very short and emphasize the adjective even more.
The interrogative adjective 'was für' is even more used than the construction of 'welch'. In the singular, the sentence is used with the indefinite article 'ein' that takes adjective endings, depending on the grammatical use of the noun in the sentence. In plural, the indefinite article 'ein' is omitted and the construction therefore is only 'was für'.
The construction is often use to ask questions about certain persons, objects or processes.
For example:
Was für einen Kaffee hättest Du gerne? (What kind of coffee would you like to have?)
Was für Autos fahrt ihr? (What kind of cars do you drive?)
Is it also possible to use this adjective to ask a question. To do so, the constructions have to take adjective endigs.
Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nominative | was für ein(er) | was für eine | was für ein(es) | was für |
Accusative | was für einen | was für eine | was für ein(es) | was für |
Dative | was für einem | was für einer | was für ein(em) | was für |
Genitive | was für eines | was für einer | was für eines | was für |
Of course, the construction 'was für (ein-)' can also be used as an exclamatory adjective. This is used to emphasize the noun and its characteristics.
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Was für ein schönes Haus! (What a beatiful house!) | Was für schöne Häuser! (What beatiful houses!) |
Was für eine tolle Überraschung! (What a nice surprise!) | Was für tolle Überraschungen! (What nice surprises!) |
Was für ein leckerer Keks! (What a tasty cookie!) | Was für leckere Kekse! (What tasty cookies!) |
Keep in mind, that the indirect article 'ein' has to be declined in order to fit to the related noun. In plural cases the 'ein-' is omitted.
The difference between interrogative and exclamatory adjectives and pronouns is simple. The interrogative adjective is always used in combination with a noun and is emphasizing it or asking for something we don't know. The pronoun on the other side can stand alone.
Sentence with adjective | Sentence with pronoun |
---|---|
Welche Lunch-Box ist deine? (Which lunch-box is yours?) | Welche ist deine? (Which one is yours?) |
Welche Farbe sieht besser aus? (Which colour looks better?) | Was könnte ich dir zum Geburtstag schenken? (What should I buy you for your birthday?) |
In the second example, 'welche' is an interrogative adjective, because it refers to the noun 'Farbe'. In the other sentence 'was' is an interrogative pronoun, because it stands without a noun.
To get a deeper understanding of words used as interrogative pronouns, have a look at the chapter about it.
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Hello!
My name is Tahereh and I'm a resident of Spain. I have a degree in Hispanic Philology and I am also accredited in DELE C2. I have a Master's degree in Latin American Studies and I am currently finishing a PhD in Cultural Studies at the University of Santiago de Compostela.
I am an accredited DELE examiner at levels A1 and A2; B1 and B2; C1 and C2 by the Instituto Cervantes. I have taken teacher training courses in ELE (Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language) given by the Instituto Cervantes and other Spanish academic institutions and I hold the title of certified teacher of Spanish as a Foreign Language.
I specialise in EFE (Teaching Spanish for Specific Purposes) and I am a certified teacher by the Instituto Cervantes as well as other Spanish universities.
I have more than 7 years of experience as a Spanish teacher both at university and in language schools.
I use modern learning methodologies based on a previous analysis of my students' needs. I make use of all kinds of interactive, didactic materials with a cultural component, making the class dynamic as well as fun and above all adapted to the interests and needs of the student.
My mother tongue is Persian (Farsi) and I also speak English (B2), Portuguese (A2), Galician (B1) and Arabic (A1).
I invite you to a free 30-minute trial lesson.
I hope to meet you soon and to help you improve your language skills.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Tahereh is a Spanish teacher who is ready to take you to the next level. She has good quality learning materials, great certifications and lots of experience with all kinds of audiences.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I'm a Italian/German bilingual teacher form Florence!
I offer lessons for beginners as well as for advanced speakers. I carry out different kinds of lessons: I could help you for example to prepare for a test, for your trip to Italy or for more advanced needs.
The lessons are focused on improving listening/comprehension skills as well as reading, writing, speaking and grammar.
If you want to know more about my methods, just book a trial lesson! It's free! I hope to see you soon!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
The lesson was perfectly geared to my needs. As my requirement for learning does not fit easily in any 'set course' or classroom situation, this individual approach, looking at what I need and then providing it, suits me very well indeed. I am very happy with the way in which the teaching / learning experience is going so far and would certainly recommend Niccoló.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Coucou c'est moi Lore, I'm your French teacher & mentor for the next month!
One month French Bootcamp is an intensive and immersive 30-day French crash course.
The perfect option if you want to see quick results. ?
Send me a message to know my current levels and time of study group.
Each lesson is 60 mn
Access to the video record of the live lesson
My 30-day conversational French online course is by far my most popular option.
With a focus on casual conversation, this group class meets 5 times a week for 1 hour.
Free assessment test to see what is your level.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Lore is a friendly and enthusiastic teacher. She supports her students and create personalized material for them. Great teacher!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
My name is Noemie, I am 27 years old, and I live in Europe. I am Belgian and French, and I am bilingual in English and French,Yo puedo hablar en espanol and ‘Wǒ zhèngzài xuéxí zhōngwén’ and я учу русский язык.
I love trying to understand the world and its mysteries through history, culture, philosophy, politics, arts and above all through traveling. Indeed, traveling is my job as I am a documentary photographer, this is why I know how crucial it is to acquire the ability to speak English. It is a gateway to deepening our self-understanding, to widening our professional horizons, and a bridge towards understanding people from all around the world.
My teaching adventure started three years ago when I decided to tour the world seeking for new adventures and new horizons to deepen my understanding of this world. Since then, I have been a TEFL certified English teacher both online and in real life. I've had the chance to teach children and adults from all around the world, in Russia, China, Vietnam and France.
This experience helped me developed my capacity to teach English to all, whether you are Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Italian, French, … language isn’t a barrier for me. Cultural exchange is my passion and if need be I will get to learn the key sentences in your language to ease the communication during our classes. I will adapt my teaching style to your learning style.
I will use what works for you to improve your comprehension skills, writing skills and pronunciation too, whether it is reading books, articles, poems and studying them, or engaging in conversation, working from a textbook, watching movies, exploring new sets of vocabularies, or practicing tongue twisters. I will tailor the class according to your level and your learning style and will provide you with the material to do so.
I used to be an actress working in Paris, so I know a lot about charisma and creating presence. With me, you will gain confidence in your oral expression, just like an actor.
Remember that I used to be where you are, trying to learn a new language, so I totally understand how overwhelming it can be. I also have plenty of tips to help you develop your learning process in your daily life.
As a learner of many languages, and a theatre studies graduate,
I have been exposed to various learning techniques, leading me to develop my own approach to education which doesn’t only makes me an English teacher but also a coach.
I believe that the secret of a good class lies in the complicity between the teacher and the student which is why a friendly environment, a set of good activities and a good laugh is my unique recipe for learning English.
My job is accomplished when you are able to speak English—it doesn’t matter how many mistakes you make: as long as you have the motivation, the rest will follow.
I’m here to help you!
If you are interested, send me a message and let’s start the journey!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Noemie is an energetic and sunny person. She is an experienced teacher who is used to working with people from different cultures. Highly recommended!!!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello, my name is Katerina und I’m a qualified German teacher with 8 years teaching experience.
I would like to help you to master the German language. You will get your personal online lesson via Skype.
If you are interested in learning this world language, just contact me –
I’m looking forward to getting to know you!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Very expert and nice teacher. Organized, professional, she made my German lessons a pleasant experience. Customized learning materials according to you needs and interests. Highly recommended!
Katerina B.Dear Silvia, thank you very much!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi! Welcome to my page! I'm Milton a certified English teacher with experience as an instructor in different fields.
I'm passionate about language learning and as a multilingual speaker I'm aware of the challenges related to learning a second language.
My teaching method is based on the Communicative language teaching approach, which is student centered and focused on the functional aspects of the language. In this approach the student is encouraged to use English since day one, no matter what his level is!
I'm able to help the student to improve his vocabulary, his grammar knowledge and pronunciation.Given my work experience in different fields, I'm confident that I can help the student with business English and preparing fo job interviews as well.
I will use both original and published materials and I will adapt them to the student's level, goals and interests. The lessons will be prepared ahead and I'll give the student some homework to do between the sessions if he wishes.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Milton is a very friendly teacher. He makes his lesson interesting for his students and helps them learn the language with customized lesson materials.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
My name is Christina and I provide German & French language lesson for children and adult beginners or intermediate who want to strengthen their language skills, improve the grammar knowledge, enrich the vocabulary and get into the German culture! I can teach in English or French!
I had experince in teaching German, English and French to foreign people so I do have a lot of useful learning material I can provide you to make it easier!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Christina is very helpful in correcting my grammar and sentence structures and providing materials to learn new vocabulary.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello =)
My name is Karolin and since the beginning of 2017, while I was still living in Chile, I've been giving online classes. I really enjoy my work and it gives me the privilage to get to know people from all around the world, which is amazing.
Both in English and in German, I teach classes for beginners and advanced students. I speak Spanish fluently, but as I lived in Chile for around 5 years, both my pronounciation and my choice of words are influenced by that. I learned and teach the european Spanish but only for beginners (A1/A2). But if you don't mind the chilenean influence, I do teach to a higher level as well.
If you'd like to get to know me and my teaching methods, just contact me and we will do a free trial lesson (please do NOT by a lesson before the trial lesson, not every teacher is good for every student).
See you soon!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Karolin is very competent, she has a very good way of teaching and simplifying complicated rules, she's also organized and punctual. Highly recommended for whoever wants to learn German!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Learning a foreign language is a beautiful and awe-inspiring journey which is not strange to me.
Growing in Europe and living in Canada has shaped my thinking abilities to see beyond the surface of individual’s potential to study. It remodeled my senses in a special way to be able to respond with tact and compassion to the needs of my students. In the same time it taught me the value of persistence and creativity. These abilities have helped me to master the art of teaching. Every student makes me a better friend, family member and a person.
So far, I've helped different age groups to converse freely, to read, understand and love both English and Bulgarian. Beside that, my students not just improve their grades at school. Some of them became English teachers themselves.
No two students are exactly alike. That's why I mostly use personalized learning method. It builds a learning experience that addresses the unique abilities of each student.
Another method of teaching that I use is Learning by experiment. In that way students learn by doing. I create experiences for them to see the concepts in action. I found out that students tend to remember better when they see and then discuss what they learn from what they saw.
Beside these methods you will enjoy Modeling, Mistakes, Feedback and one of my top methods: Lesson Objective Transparency. When I clearly state my lesson goals and write it on the board, then you will feel relax because you will know what you are working towards.
Please, be assured you won’t regret giving me the opportunity to help you!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Didi is a very friendly and experienced teacher. She makes her lesson very interesting and easy to follow. She loves teaching and supports her students during their learning path.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
For me, learning German was a nightmare and I was certain that I will never learn the language. Sara sure did prove me wrong. With her, learning German became fun. I always wait with excitement for our next session. She drastically imporved my skills in a few months and most importantly, I made a good friend along the way. Ich kann mit Sicherheit sagen, dass Sara die Beste ist
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I have been an online teacher since 2012 in economics, logistics, and international trade. In 2020 I started teaching Portuguese and Spanish as well. I have also been doing translations of these languages since 2003, and in 2013 I started doing proofreading too.
I love sharing my language and my culture.
I have lived in several countries (Chile, Mexico, Malta, Angola, Bulgaria, and Spain) so I also love to share with people from other cultures.
I have an ELE course and a SIELE trainer.
I am currently doing the International Master for Teachers of Spanish Language and Culture.
I am Portuguese and Chilean (naturalized).
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Luz is a Portuguese teacher with a lot of experience in different platforms. She counts with learning materials that fit different purposes and can speak various languages!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hallo :) I'm a German language teacher with a Bachelor and Master degree in German and with many years of teaching experience.
I was born and lived in Switzerland for many years and grew up in a bilingual family, because of that I speak German, Swiss German, Croatian and English :)
- ABOUT THE CLASS -
I offer German language lessons for A1, A2, B1, B2 level and they include everything you need: grammar, speaking, listening audio, reading, writing and for some fun: games and role plays :)
This is ideal for students who want actively participate and speak more, learn new words and exercise the grammar.
All learning materials and exercises are included and will be provided during the lesson.
The learning material is from various books: Schritte International, Menschen, Sicher im Alltag und Beruf, Begegnungen, ....
If you wish to have only conversational lessons, I can arrange this also for you (only available for B1 and B2 level).
* IMPORTANT: coLanguage shows only my general availability, if you want to book a lesson, please sent me a message with your availability and language level, and I will contact you as soon as possible with more informations :)
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
she is very flexible about rescheduling the classes. she gives a lot of exercises that fit my level and make sure to correct me if I miss pronouncing some words or have difficulty to read them.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello,
my name is Nina, I'm from Austria and I also lived for one year and a half in Canada. I worked there as a German Teacher for adults, so I speak German, English and French.
I also teach English for beginners and advanced beginners.
My teaching methodes are totally based on the level of my student. If somebody is already advanced, I focus on communication and pronunciation. We will arrange on a topic and talk and discuss in the lesson about it.
If my student is a beginner, I'm gonna start with the basics of the German language. (the articles, the verb "to be", the pronouns...)
The learning material is all made by myself, because I'm a German teacher, so that means, I already got lots of working sheets for many topics. I send these to my student via e-mail or put it directly on the coLanguage homepage.
I'm available from Monday to Thursday between 5pm and 08:00 pm. For the weekend it's the best to just send me a request.
Of course is a free trial lesson (it's about 20 minutes) possible.
I'm happy to teach you :-)
See you soon! Nina
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Sehr Gut lesson. We read some german news, worked on konjugations. Learned new vocab and really worked on pronunciation.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello, my name is Katerina und I’m a qualified German teacher with 8 years teaching experience.
I would like to help you to master the German language. You will get your personal online lesson via Skype.
If you are interested in learning this world language, just contact me –
I’m looking forward to getting to know you!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I can not recommend enough Katja. She makes the lessons extremely enjoyable. Her materials are diverse and well thought through.
Katerina B.Dear Marcia, thank you!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials