ARTICLES & NOUNS · A1–A2

Artikel: Make articles change with the sentence.

Go beyond noun gender. Learn how definite and indefinite articles change when a noun becomes an object or follows a dative preposition.

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THE SHORT VERSION

Artikel, made clear.

Start with these three ideas. Then test them in real German sentences.

Start with gender and number

In nominative singular, definite articles are der, die, das. Indefinite articles are ein for masculine/neuter and eine for feminine.

Case changes the form

A masculine direct object changes der → den and ein → einen: “Ich sehe den Mann.” Feminine and neuter definite articles keep their nominative form in accusative singular.

Dative has another set

After a dative preposition like mit, use dem (masculine/neuter), der (feminine), or den (plural): “mit dem Mann”.

SEE THE DIFFERENCE

Der Mann kommt. → masculine subject: nominative

Ich sehe den Mann. → masculine direct object: accusative

Ich spreche mit dem Mann. → mit takes dative

The plural dative noun may also gain -n where its plural form allows it: mit den Kindern.

A CLOSER LOOK

A practical article map

First identify the noun’s gender and number. Then identify its role or the preposition governing it. Those two choices determine the article form.

Definite articles by case

Definite article forms
Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	der	die	das	die
Accusative	den	die	das	die
Dative	dem	der	dem	den
Genitive	des	der	des	der

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Indefinite articles and meaning

Introduce a new thing with ein/eine: “Hier ist ein Hund.” Refer to that known dog with der: “Der Hund schläft.” Singular indefinite forms include ein Mann → einen Mann → einem Mann (nominative → accusative → dative). There is no plural ein; use a bare plural or words such as keine or meine.

Try this: Ask: Is this noun the subject, a direct object, or governed by a preposition such as mit? Then choose the case.

For a fuller reference, see the Goethe-Institut German grammar overview ↗.

YOUR ARTIKEL CHALLENGE

Six sentences.
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Choose the missing word. Learn from each answer, then try the next sentence.

LEVEL 10 / 6 correct first try

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QUICK ANSWERS

Artikel, without the confusion.

What is the difference between der and den?

Der is masculine nominative singular; den is masculine accusative singular and also dative plural.

When do I use ein or eine?

In nominative singular, ein goes with masculine/neuter nouns and eine with feminine nouns.

Why is it mit dem Mann?

The preposition mit requires dative; masculine dative singular uses dem.