Each noun has an article. The article accompanies the noun and depends on the gender of the noun.
German
English
ein Buch
a book
Types of Articles
Rule 1: The article can be male, female, or neutral, as well as singular or plural. It is put into one of the 4 German cases together with the noun and changes according to the case.
Here are categories:
- definite (der, die, das)
German
English
der Hund
the dog
- indefinite (ein, eine, ein)
German
English
ein Hund
a dog
- negating (kein, keine, kein)
German
English
kein Hund
no dog
- possessive articles (mein, dein, sein, etc.)
German
English
mein Hund
my dog
Definite Articles
Rule 2: Definite articles (der, die, das) are used for a specific noun or a group of nouns. For example, something previously mentioned or known, something unique, or something being identified by the speaker.
German
English
Laura ist die Schwester von Marc.
Laura is Marc's sister.
Die Aussicht ist sehr schön.
The view is very nice.
Indefinite Articles
Rule 3: Indefinite articles (ein, eine, ein) are used with nouns that are not specific or nouns that have not previously been mentioned.
German
English
Ein Hund bellt auf der Straße.
A dog barks on the street.
Rule 4: There are no indefinite articles in the plural form.
German
English
Hunde bellen auf der Straße.
Dogs bark on the street.
Negative Articles
Rule 5: Negative articles (kein, keine, kein) are used when we want to say that one noun or a group of nouns do not exist. You can use them like the indefinite article "ein/eine", but remember a "k" in front of it.
German
English
Er hat einen Hund ➝ Er hat keinen Hund
He has a dog. ➝ He doesn't have a dog.
Rule 6: Be aware that negative articles can also accompany plural nouns:
German
English
Sie hat Kinder. ➝ Sie hat keine Kinder.
She has children. ➝ She has no children.
Possessive Articles
Rule 7: Possessive articles (mein, dein, sein, ...) are used when we want to say that something or someone belongs to me, you, him, etc...
Here they are:
| English | German |
|---|---|
| mine | mein- |
| yours | dein- |
| his | sein- |
| hers | ihr- |
| its | sein- |
| ours | unser- |
| yours | euer- |
| theirs | ihr- |
| English | German |
|---|---|
| mine | mein- |
| yours | dein- |
| his | sein- |
| hers | ihr- |
| its | sein- |
| ours | unser- |
| yours | euer- |
| theirs | ihr- |
Rule 8: Possessive articles have the same endings as indefinite articles "ein/eine" and exist in the plural form.
German
English
Es ist meine Katze.
It's my cat.
Ich mag ihre Augen.
I like her/their eyes.