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© Leigh McClelland 2002

2. In German
there are so many
words for 'the' and 'a'

3. Which one is right? m f n pl 1 der die das 2 den 3 dem ein eine ein
einen
eine
ein
einem
einer
einem

4. Row 1 (‘Nominative case’) Row 2 (‘Accusative case’)
A noun could play one of several parts in a sentence, each represented by the word you chose for ‘the’ or ‘a’:
Row 1 (‘Nominative case’)
Row 2 (‘Accusative case’)
Row 3 (‘Dative case’)
In German the spelling of the word for ‘a’ and ‘the’ (and similar ‘initial’ words) changes depending on what part the noun plays in the sentence (what case it is).

5. Row 1Nominative
‘The’ from the top row is used to indicate the subject in the sentence.
This is the ‘doer’ of the sentence. That is, the person or thing doing the action described by the verb.
Der Mann fährt ski.
To find what snaps with the verb always ask yourself: ‘Who or what’ before the verb in English?
e.g. Who or what is skiing?
= der Mann

6. Who/what is going to school?
Die Sonne scheint.
Who/what is shining?
= die Sonne
Der Vogel singt.
Who/what is singing?
= der Vogel
Der Bus fährt zur Schule.
Who/what is going to school?
= der Bus

7. Row 1 Nominative is also used BOTH before & after these verbs:
sein
to be
werden
to become
heißen
to be called

8. Row 2 Accusative Der Junge wirft den Ball.
‘The’ from the second row is used to indicate direct object of the verb.
This is often the ‘receiver’ of the action or thought described by the verb.
Der Junge wirft den Ball.
To check always ask yourself: ‘Whom or what’ after the verb in English?
e.g. Throws whom/what?
= den Ball

9. = die Tasche = Fußball = einen Hund
Der Mann trägt eine Tasche.
Carries whom/what?
= die Tasche
Der Junge spielt Fußball.
Plays whom/what?
= Fußball
Er hat einen Hund.
Has whom/what?
= einen Hund

10. The accusative second row is also required after these prepositions:
f u d g e b o w
= für
(for)
= um
(at/about)
= durch
(through)
= gegen
(against)
= entlang
(along)
= bis
(until)
= ohne
(without)
= wider
(against)

11. Row 3Dative
‘The’ from the third row is used to to express the idea of ‘to’ or ‘for’ someone or something. This is usually the person or thing to whom something is offered, given, etc.
Der Junge gibt dem Mann ein Geschenk.
‘The boy gives a present to the man.’ or
‘The boy gives the man a present.’
The English equivalent is ‘to…’ but this idea is often hidden (but understood) in English.

12. The third row is also required after these prepositions:
a b g m n s v z
= aus
(from, out of)
= bei
(at)
= gegenüber
(opposite)
= mit
(with)
= nach
(to, after)
= seit
(since)
= von
(from, of)
= zu
(to)

13. Know gender first (column)...
...then case (row)
Gender m f n pl
Nom case
der
die
das
Acc
case
den
Dat
dem
ein
eine
ein
einen
eine
ein
einem
einer
einem