Adjective Endings - Alternative Learning Method?

Question

While trying to finally nail the adjective endings I stumbled upon this article suggesting a simplified way of learning it:

https://www.learn-german-smarter.com/learn-german-adjective-endings/

But either I do not understand their 2nd principle or the entire idea falls apart while dealing with an example like this:

Ich bin im rheinhessischen Dorf Wiesoppenheim aufgewachsen.

Okay, that's a dual preposition and dative. If I understand the article correctly dative results in an im (in dem) but then where does the en ending in rheinhessischen come from?

Can someone please clarify?

Edit: Also I don't see how this unified table in the article will work with plurals. For instance for this example (plural and nominative):

Die anderen Kinder sind bösartig.

It would suggest e ending while the correct one is en. Does it also fall back to the 2nd principle where Die takes a case ending e? Where does the en came from again?

Answer 1

Ich bin im rheinhessischen Dorf Wiesoppenheim aufgewachsen.

You already found out: im = in + dem. And I think you also know, that dem is a definite article, and the whole nominal group is in dative case. And the noun Dorf is neuter (das Dorf). So you have to look for:

• definite article
• neuter
• dative case

So you need to consult table 1, line 3 column 2, and there you find: ∙en. So the attributive Adjective must be:

rheinhessischen

---

Die anderen Kinder sind bösartig.

Here we have:

• definite article
• plural
• nominative case

This means: Table 1 (definite article), line 1 (nominative), Column 4 (plural), and there again you find: ∙en. So the attributive Adjective must be:

anderen

So, nothing wrong with those tables.

Answer 2

Those tables are far too complicated. The single table that claims to simplify things is even worse.

If you understand the system behind adjective declension and learn a few simple rules you don't need to learn tables.

Here's how to work out the adjective ending:

1. Definite article (der/die/das) and similar (dieser, solcher etc.)

   • plural -en
   • dative/genitive -en
   • masc-accusative -en

     die netten Kinder, dem alten Mann, des alten Mannes, den alten Mann

   • all the rest -e

     der junge Mann

2. Indefinite article (ein/eine) and similar (kein, mein etc.)

   • where the definite article ending gets 'lost' (m/n-nominative, n-accusative) the adjective has to provide the missing definite article ending

     das rote Haus -> ein rotes Haus
     der alte Mann -> ein alter Mann

   • all the rest are the same as above

3. No article

   • the adjective provides the missing definite article ending

     frisches Brot, warme Brötchen

   • exception: m/n-genitive take -en

     heißen Kaffees

Summary: you want to see a case ending. If the article doesn't provide it, the adjective does