IV Nouns
22 The article
22.1 Just as English employs two different articles, namely ‘the’ and ‘a’, German also
distinguishes between a definite and indefinite article. The German case system (16–21)
means that these articles, along with nouns ( 28 ) and adjectives (43–49), must be in the
appropriate case.
22.2 The definite article ‘the’ is declined as follows:
See 17–21 (pp. 23–35) for examples of the use of the articles in the various cases.
Below is the same table but with boxes drawn to highlight some important patterns.
Note, for example, how:i) the accusative case is different from the nominative form only in the masculine
singular;
ii) masculine and neuter forms are the same in the dative and genitive singular;
iii) the feminine singular forms and the plural forms (all genders) are the same, except
in the dative.See also 24.1 (p. 42).
Singular PluralMasculine Neuter Feminine All gendersNominative der das die die
Accusative den das die die
Dative dem dem der den
Genitive des des der derSingular PluralMasculine Neuter Feminine All gendersNominative der das die dieAccusative den das die dieDative dem dem der denGenitive des des der der