Emphasizing Types with solch-
When exploring an exclusive auto show, you will see many extravagant vehicles. To emphasize a specific type or a remarkable quality, use the demonstrative solch- (such).
When combined with the singular indefinite article (ein, eine, ein), solch usually comes before the article and takes no endings.
| Such a trade fair really thrills me. | Solch eine Messe begeistert mich wirklich. |
| Such an interior needs a lot of leather. | Solch ein Innenraum braucht viel Leder. |
solch- in the Plural
In the plural, solch- stands alone before the noun and takes strong adjective endings (like -e in the nominative and accusative).
| Such sports cars accelerate incredibly fast. | Solche Sportwagen beschleunigen unglaublich schnell. |
The Everyday Alternative: so ein-
In everyday spoken German, people frequently replace solch ein- with so ein- ("such a"). The word so never changes, while ein- declines normally for gender and case.
| Such a sports car is often louder than a sedan. | So ein Sportwagen ist oft lauter als eine Limousine. |
| We are photographing the sedans that we see at such a trade fair. | Wir fotografieren die Limousinen, die wir auf so einer Messe sehen. |
Reversing the Order: ein solch-
You can also place solch- after the indefinite article. When you do, solch- acts like a regular adjective and takes standard mixed adjective endings (like -es for a nominative neuter noun).
| Such a design always thrills me. | Ein solches Design begeistert mich immer. |
Using the Dative Case
Whether you use solch ein-, ein solch-, or so ein-, they all decline normally for case. Here is how they look in the dative:
| In such a luxurious interior, you sit very comfortably. | In so einem luxuriösen Innenraum sitzt man sehr bequem. |
| Sedans with such a design accelerate quietly. | Limousinen mit solch einem Design beschleunigen leise. |
