![]() In this case, tea is masculine so heiß(hot) takes an -er ending. If there is no definite article before the noun, the adjective ending still changes. (I am giving the food to the old dog.)Īs the dog is the indefinite object in this sentence, it takes the dative case so alt (old) ends in -en. Genitive masculine nouns require their adjectives to end in -en. In the above sentence, the dog is the object-meaning it’s now in the accusative case-and follows the indefinite article, so takes an -en ending.ĭas Essen des alten Hunds ist hier. (The black dog is hungry.)Īs dog is masculine and in the nominative case we need to add an -e to the end of schwarz (black) when it follows a definite article. Here are five examples to show you adjective endings when the adjective is preceded by a definite article:ĭer schwarze Hund hat Hunger. Again, just like with definite and indefinite articles, there are loads of handy tables to help you figure out which ending you need to use. Not only do genders and cases dictate definite articles, but they also dictate the ending of any preceding adjectives. Adjective Endings Must Agree with a Noun’s Gender and Case Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)Ģ. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app. You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. ![]() If you struggle to keep up with German media, FluentU could be a good option for you.įluentU takes authentic videos-like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks-and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. But content created for learners can be slow and unnatural, so I recommend using authentic German videos. One tip I have for getting the hang of this is to actually see it in use. Confusing? You’re telling me! But, trust me, with time you’ll start to pick this up. Take a look at the sentence again. Masculine nouns take denwhen they are in the accusative case, so that means the man must be the one being bit. (In English, which has no case system, word order is more important because we don’t have these cues.) The German case system shows us the difference between who or what is acting and who or what is acted upon. (The dog bites the man.)Īt first glance, you might think the above sentence would translate as “the man bites the dog.” However, we should know that it’s the other way around. The genitive case is used to show possession so, as the food belongs to the dog in the above sentence, we use the genitive masculine definite article, des. More often than not, nouns after desusually add an -s or – es to the end, which is why Hund has turned into Hunds.ĭen Mann beißt der Hund. Here, the dog is in the dative case as it’s now the indefinite object. This means it’s in the accusative case, so derchanges to den. In this instance, the dog is the object of the sentence. Here are five examples of this in action:Īs Hund is a masculine noun and the subject of this sentence, it has to take der(the). You can see how genders and cases affect articles in this really useful table. Depending on the noun’s gender and sentence case, we might need to change their definite or indefinite article. In addition, their definite and indefinite articles (the, a/an) depend on their case.Ĭases affect nouns, and their case changes if they are the object, subject or indirect object in a sentence. In German, nouns are either masculine, feminine or neutral. One of the main differences between English and German is noun genders. A Noun’s Gender Determines Its Definite Article Verbs (Usually) Come Second in a Sentenceĭownload: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬan take anywhere. ![]() ![]() To get beginners up and running, here are six German grammar rules that are worth learning, as well as some key similarities and differences between English and German, so that you can start to build your confidence in understanding and forming German sentences. It may not sound as exciting as watching German movies or reading interesting novels, but it’s exactly those types of works that you’ll be able to fully appreciate and adore once you nail the rules. It’s important to see grammar as the nuts and bolts of any language. By Laura Harker Last updated: Novem6 German Grammar Rules That Every Beginner Should Know
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