Definite articles are used to refer to specific nouns that are known to the speaker and listener. They also change form depending on the noun's gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular, plural), and grammatical case (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive).
Forms of Definite Articles
Here are the definite articles for each gender/number and case:
| 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 |
Examples
| Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Der Mann liest ein Buch. | The man* is reading a book. |
| Ich sehe die Frau. | I see the woman. |
| Das Kind spielt mit dem Ball. | The child is playing with the ball. |
| Das ist das Haus der Familie. | That is the family’s house. |
Indirect Object: Which article correctly completes this sentence? „Ich gebe ___ Kind einen Ball.“ (I give the child a ball.)
dem
Dem is the dative masculine/neuter singular article used for the indirect object "Kind."
Usage Rules
- Use definite articles when the noun is specific or already known.
- Articles agree with the noun’s gender, number, and case.
- In the genitive singular, masculine and neuter nouns add "-s" or "-es" to the noun.
- Plural definite article is always die, except in dative case where it’s den and an "-n" is added to the noun if possible.
Summary
- Definite articles mean "the" in English.
- They change form based on gender, number, and case.
- They indicate the grammatical role of the noun in the sentence.
- They are used for specific, known nouns.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- Sentence: Der Mann liest ein Buch.
- English Translation: The man is reading a book.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
