Strukturen 1A.2 LEKTION 1A 1A.2-1© 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Plurals Startblock Plurals in German follow several patterns. These patterns can help you remember the plural form of each noun you learn.

Strukturen 1A.2 LEKTION 1A 1A.2-2© 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Plurals In German dictionaries and vocabulary lists, singular nouns are listed along with a notation that indicates how to form the plural. There are five main patterns for forming plural nouns.

Strukturen 1A.2 LEKTION 1A 1A.2-3© 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Plurals ACHTUNG The best way of knowing a noun’s plural form is to memorize it when you learn the singular form. Being familiar with the patterns of plural formation can help you learn them.

Strukturen 1A.2 LEKTION 1A 1A.2-4© 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Plurals Most masculine and neuter nouns form the plural by adding -e or -er. Plurals with the -er ending always add an Umlaut when the vowel in the singular form is a, o, or u. der Tag ( day )  die Tagedas Buch  die Bücher

Strukturen 1A.2 LEKTION 1A 1A.2-5© 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Plurals ACHTUNG Two important exceptions to this pattern are die Mütter, plural of Mutter, and die Töchter (daughters), plural of Tochter.

Strukturen 1A.2 LEKTION 1A 1A.2-6© 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Plurals If the singular form of a noun ends in -el, -en, or -er, there is no additional plural ending, but an Umlaut is added to the stem vowel a, o, or u. der Apfel ( apple )  die Äpfeldas Zimmer (room )  die Zimmer

Strukturen 1A.2 LEKTION 1A 1A.2-7© 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Plurals For feminine nouns ending with -in, add -nen to form the plural. die Freundin  die Freundinnendie Studentin  die Studentinnen

Strukturen 1A.2 LEKTION 1A 1A.2-8© 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Plurals For other feminine nouns, add -n if the singular form ends in -e, -el, or -er. Add -en if it does not. Note that feminine nouns with regular plural endings never add an Umlaut. die Blume ( flower )  die Blumendie Frau  die Frauen

Strukturen 1A.2 LEKTION 1A 1A.2-9© 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Plurals The -s ending is added to most words borrowed from other languages and to nouns ending with vowels other than e. die DVD  die DVDsdas Auto  die Autos