As you can see, the definite article changes in accordance with the
gender, number and case of the noun it is linked to. This process is called
declension.
In the following sections the main determiners and their declension
pattern are shown in more detail.The definite article
Referring to a specific noun
The definite article is used before a noun when referring to a specific or
somehow known person, thing or idea:Die Hauptstadt von Deutschland ist Berlin.
The capital of Germany is Berlin.Differences between German and English
The use of the definite article can sometimes differ in English and German.
The definite article is used in German with:- names of countries which have masculine or feminine gender such
asder Irak,die Schweiz, and names of countries in the plural form
(die USA); - institutionssuch as schools and street names:
Nadine geht in die Schule.
Nadine goes to school.
Er wohnt in der Goethestraße.
He lives in Goethestrasse. - monthsandseasonssuch as der Sommer‘(the) summer’, der August
‘August’ etc. and meals:
Der August was schön.
August was lovely.
Nach dem Mittagessen...
After lunch... - abstract nounssuch as Leben‘life’,Natur‘nature’,Kunst ‘art’ and often
withinfinitives used as nouns:
Das Leben in London ist sehr teuer.
Life in London is very expensive.
16 Unit 3: Articles and other determiners