Indefinite Articles
Indefinite articles (ein, eine, ein) mean 'a/an' in English. They change based on gender and case.
There is no indefinite article for plural nouns in German.
This lesson covers indefinite articles in all cases.
Explanation
Nominative: ein (masculine), eine (feminine), ein (neuter).
Accusative: einen (masculine), eine (feminine), ein (neuter).
Dative: einem (masculine), einer (feminine), einem (neuter).
Genitive: eines (masculine), einer (feminine), eines (neuter).
Only masculine and neuter articles change in accusative and dative. Feminine stays 'eine' in nominative and accusative.
Indefinite Articles - All Cases
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ein | eine | ein |
| Accusative | einen | eine | ein |
| Dative | einem | einer | einem |
| Genitive | eines | einer | eines |
Examples
Ein Mann kommt. (nominative)
A man comes.
Ich sehe einen Mann. (accusative)
I see a man.
Ich gebe einem Mann das Buch. (dative)
I give a man the book.
Das Auto eines Mannes ist rot. (genitive)
A man's car is red.
Common Mistakes
Ich sehe ein Mann
Ich sehe einen Mann
Direct objects are accusative. Masculine 'ein' becomes 'einen' in accusative.
ein Frau
eine Frau
Feminine nouns require 'eine' (not 'ein') for indefinite article in nominative and accusative.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.