Why does
die Berliner Mauer
use the adjective with ending -er? Why isn't it
die Berline Mauer
This should be right, but it is not. Why?
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1Why do you think that the latter would be right? All possible declensions of the adjective berliner are berliner, never berline. See de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Berliner#Adjektiv. – Björn Friedrich Jun 5 '19 at 9:21
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Well, there's some gap in my knowledge. I use the analogy with other adjectives. I don't see the difference between die gute Frau and die berline Mauer. Mauer and Frau are feminine. They control the ending of the adjective... or they don't? And adjectives like berliner have their own declensions? – Oleg Jun 5 '19 at 9:31
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1die gute Frau, der gute Mann, das gute Kind – Björn Friedrich Jun 5 '19 at 9:33
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1@Oleg "gut" vs. "berliner" is not a good comparison since "gut" is a standalone adjective, but "berliner" is one derived from a noun (Berlin). Location-noun-to-adjective derivations especially can be very tricky, as there are various patterns (berliner, berline, berlinerische, berlinische, berlinesische...) and you basically have to know which one applies by heart (there are some rules of thumb though). – Annatar Jun 5 '19 at 11:20
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Proper nouns do not decline the same as adjectives, even when used in the same fashion. Die Chinesische Mauer, das Schweizer Taschenmesser, das Bermuda-Dreieck. – Janka Jun 5 '19 at 13:54
All declension forms of the adjective berliner are berliner. None form is berline. That's why it is
die Berliner Mauer
answered Jun 5 '19 at 9:32
