A1 Case System 15 min read Easy

German Indefinite Articles: A and An (ein, eine)

Pick ein for boys and things, eine for girls; add an -n for boys in the object spot.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

German indefinite articles 'ein' and 'eine' change based on the gender of the noun they describe.

  • Use 'ein' for masculine {der|m} and neuter {das|n} nouns: 'ein Hund', 'ein Kind'.
  • Use 'eine' for feminine {die|f} nouns: 'eine Katze'.
  • Indefinite articles are only used for singular nouns; they don't exist for plurals.
ein/eine + Noun

Overview

In German, every noun possesses a grammatical gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter. This inherent gender dictates the form of its accompanying articles, including the indefinite articles ein and eine. Unlike English, which employs a simple ‘a’ or ‘an’ regardless of the noun’s nature, German indefinite articles inflect, meaning they change their endings to agree with the gender of the noun they precede, as well as its grammatical role in the sentence (its case).

Mastering ein and eine is fundamental, as it introduces the intricate system of noun declension and case marking that underpins German grammar. This initial encounter with noun gender and case through the indefinite article lays the groundwork for understanding definite articles (der, die, das), adjective endings, and pronoun usage. Ignoring these foundational elements will impede progress in comprehension and fluent expression.

While this concept may seem abstract, it is a core feature of many Indo-European languages, including Latin and Russian. German's system, while initially challenging, provides precision. It allows for clearer communication about the relationships between words in a sentence, which can sometimes compensate for flexible word order.

Think of it as a crucial navigational tool for understanding who or what is performing an action, and who or what is affected by it.

How This Grammar Works

German indefinite articles, similar to their English counterparts 'a' or 'an', are used to introduce an unspecified or generic noun. Their form is determined by a three-fold agreement system: gender, number, and case. Ignoring any of these factors leads to grammatical errors that can obscure meaning.
Firstly, Gender: Every German noun (e.g., Tisch (table), Lampe (lamp), Buch (book)) is classified as masculine (der), feminine (die), or neuter (das). This assignment is often arbitrary from an English perspective; it does not necessarily correlate with biological sex. For instance, das Mädchen (girl) is grammatically neuter, while der Mond (moon) is masculine.
There is no intuitive rule for determining gender in most cases; therefore, learning each noun with its corresponding definite article (e.g., der Stuhl, die Tür, das Fenster) is imperative. This practice ensures that you internalize the correct gender from the outset, which is a prerequisite for correctly applying indefinite articles.
Secondly, Number: Indefinite articles are exclusively used with singular nouns. They indicate 'one' of something unspecified. For plural nouns, German does not use an indefinite article.
Instead, a zero article is employed. For example, you would say ein Hund (a dog) but simply Hunde (dogs) when referring to dogs in general or an unspecified number of dogs. This distinction is straightforward but a frequent point of error for learners accustomed to English's 'some' or the implied plurality of 'a/an' when contextually plural.
Thirdly, Case: This grammatical concept defines the function or 'role' of a noun within a sentence. German has four cases: Nominative, Accusative, Dative, and Genitive. At the A1 level, the primary focus for indefinite articles is on the Nominative and Accusative cases.
  • The Nominative case indicates the subject of the sentence – the entity performing the action or being described. For example, in Ein Mann liest., Ein Mann is the subject.
  • The Accusative case indicates the direct object of the sentence – the entity receiving the action. For instance, in Ich sehe einen Mann., einen Mann is the direct object.
The inflectional nature of German means that the article's ending shifts to reflect these grammatical roles. This allows for greater flexibility in word order compared to English, where word order largely determines subject and object. The article's ending serves as a marker, clearly signaling the noun's function, regardless of its position in the sentence.
This system provides a linguistic safety net, ensuring clarity even when sentences are structured differently than expected by English speakers. Understanding this agreement is key to constructing grammatically correct and comprehensible German sentences.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of German indefinite articles depends on the noun's gender and the grammatical case it occupies. The base form is ein for masculine and neuter nouns, and eine for feminine nouns. However, these forms change specifically in the Accusative case for masculine nouns, and the feminine form consistently retains its -e ending across both Nominative and Accusative.
2
Step 1: Identify the Noun's Gender
3
This is the absolute first step. Every noun must be learned with its definite article (e.g., der Tisch, die Lampe, das Buch). Without knowing the gender, you cannot correctly assign the indefinite article.
4
Step 2: Determine the Noun's Case
5
Decide whether the noun is functioning as the subject (Nominative) or the direct object (Accusative) in your sentence. Verbs typically dictate the case of their objects. For A1 learners, common verbs like haben (to have) and brauchen (to need) typically take an Accusative object, while sein (to be) takes a Nominative complement.
6
Step 3: Apply the Correct Indefinite Article Form
7
Once gender and case are established, select the appropriate article from the following patterns:
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| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
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| :-------- | :---------------- | :---------------- | :---------------- |
10
| Nominative| ein | eine | ein |
11
| Accusative| einen | eine | ein |
12
Let's examine these patterns with examples:
13
Nominative Masculine: ein
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Das ist ein der Mann. (That is a man.)
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Ein der Hund bellt. (A dog barks.)
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Nominative Feminine: eine
17
Das ist eine die Frau. (That is a woman.)
18
Eine die Katze schläft. (A cat sleeps.)
19
Nominative Neuter: ein
20
Das ist ein das Kind. (That is a child.)
21
Ein das Auto fährt schnell. (A car drives fast.)
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Accusative Masculine: einen
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Ich sehe einen der Mann. (I see a man.)
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Du brauchst einen der Stift. (You need a pen.)
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Accusative Feminine: eine
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Ich habe eine die Katze. (I have a cat.)
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Wir kaufen eine die Lampe. (We buy a lamp.)
28
Accusative Neuter: ein
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Er liest ein das Buch. (He reads a book.)
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Sie hat ein das Problem. (She has a problem.)
31
Observe that only the masculine indefinite article changes from ein to einen in the Accusative case. Feminine and neuter indefinite articles retain their Nominative forms in the Accusative. This -en ending on the masculine article is a crucial signal in German, distinguishing the masculine subject from the masculine direct object.
32
No Plural Indefinite Article:
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German does not have an indefinite article for plural nouns. When referring to unspecified plural items, no article is used. This is often referred to as the zero article.
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Ich habe Bücher. (I have books.) – not ein Bücher.
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Sind das Stühle? (Are those chairs?) – not eine Stühle.
36
This absence of a plural indefinite article simplifies the rule but requires careful attention to avoid direct translation from English, where 'some' or simply omitting 'a/an' might imply plurality.

When To Use It

Indefinite articles in German serve similar functions to 'a' or 'an' in English, primarily when introducing something new, referring to an unspecified item, or making a general statement. Their precise application enhances clarity and grammatical correctness.
  1. 1Introducing a New or Unspecified Item:
When you mention an item for the first time, or when its specific identity is not important or unknown to the listener, use ein or eine.
  • Hier ist ein der Brief für dich. (Here is a letter for you.) – The listener doesn't know which specific letter.
  • Ich sehe eine die Wolke am Himmel. (I see a cloud in the sky.) – Any cloud, not a particular one.
  1. 1Making General Statements or Classifications:
To categorize something or make a general assertion about a type of item, indefinite articles are used.
  • Ein das Auto ist oft teuer. (A car is often expensive.) – Referring to cars in general.
  • Eine die Rose ist eine Blume. (A rose is a flower.) – Classifying a rose.
  1. 1With Verbs That Take an Accusative Object:
Many common German verbs, such as haben (to have), brauchen (to need), sehen (to see), kaufen (to buy), essen (to eat), and trinken (to drink), require their direct objects to be in the Accusative case. Therefore, the indefinite article preceding these objects will inflect accordingly, especially for masculine nouns.
  • Ich habe ein das Buch. (I have a book.) – Buch is neuter accusative.
  • Du brauchst einen der Bleistift. (You need a pencil.) – Bleistift is masculine accusative.
  • Sie trinkt einen der Kaffee. (She drinks a coffee.) – Kaffee is masculine accusative.
  1. 1After es gibt (there is / there are):
The expression es gibt always takes an object in the Accusative case. If that object is singular and unspecified, use ein or eine.
  • Es gibt ein das gutes Restaurant hier. (There is a good restaurant here.)
  • Gibt es einen der Bahnhof in der Nähe? (Is there a train station nearby?)
  1. 1Important Exception: Professions and Nationalities with sein (to be):
Unlike English, German generally omits the indefinite article when stating someone's profession or nationality using the verb sein (to be). In these instances, the noun functions as a predicative nominative and is treated as a characteristic rather than an individual item.
  • Ich bin Student. (I am a student.) – Not Ich bin ein Student.
  • Er ist Arzt. (He is a doctor.) – Not Er ist ein Arzt.
\ However, if an adjective modifies the profession or nationality, the indefinite article is reintroduced, as the noun is now being described in more detail.
  • Ich bin ein guter Student. (I am a good student.)
  • Er ist ein bekannter Arzt. (He is a well-known doctor.)

Common Mistakes

German indefinite articles are a frequent source of errors for learners, particularly due to the distinctions based on gender and case. Recognizing and actively correcting these patterns is vital for achieving grammatical accuracy.
  1. 1Ignoring Grammatical Gender for Feminine Nouns: A pervasive error is to use ein for all singular nouns, regardless of gender. This specifically leads to incorrect usage with feminine nouns, which always require eine in both Nominative and Accusative cases.
  • Incorrect: Ich habe ein die Katze.
  • Correct: Ich habe eine die Katze. (I have a cat.)
  • Why it's wrong: The feminine -e ending on the article is non-negotiable. Omitting it indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of gender agreement.
  1. 1Forgetting the Accusative -en for Masculine Nouns: Many learners neglect to change ein to einen when a masculine noun is the direct object of a verb taking the Accusative case. This is perhaps the most distinctive and crucial inflection for indefinite articles.
  • Incorrect: Ich sehe ein der Mann.
  • Correct: Ich sehe einen der Mann. (I see a man.)
  • Why it's wrong: The -en on einen explicitly marks the masculine noun Mann as the direct object, distinguishing it from a masculine subject. Without it, the sentence's grammatical structure becomes ambiguous or incorrect.
  1. 1Attempting to Form a Plural Indefinite Article: English uses 'some' or simply omits 'a/an' for plural indefinite references. German exclusively uses the zero article for plural indefinite nouns.
  • Incorrect: Ich habe ein Bücher.
  • Correct: Ich habe Bücher. (I have books.)
  • Why it's wrong: Ein inherently means 'one' or 'a single'. It cannot logically precede a plural noun. This error demonstrates a direct translation approach rather than an understanding of German grammatical structure.
  1. 1Using ein with Professions/Nationalities after sein: As discussed, sein + profession/nationality generally does not take an indefinite article.
  • Incorrect: Mein Bruder ist ein Ingenieur.
  • Correct: Mein Bruder ist Ingenieur. (My brother is an engineer.)
  • Why it's wrong: In German, these are treated as inherent characteristics rather than specific, countable items when used in a predicative context. The article is redundant.
  1. 1Confusing ein (article) with eins (number): While phonetically similar and related etymologically, ein is a grammatical article, while eins is the cardinal number 'one'.
  • Ich hätte gerne eine die Brezel. (I would like a pretzel.) – Article.
  • Ich nehme nur eins. (I'll just take one.) – Number, often used when the noun is clear from context or implied, particularly with neuter nouns.
  • Why it's wrong: Using eins as an article or ein as a standalone number indicates a lack of distinction between their grammatical functions.

Real Conversations

Understanding how indefinite articles function in practical, modern German communication goes beyond textbook exercises. Here's how ein and eine appear in everyday interactions, including casual speech and digital communication.

- Introducing an Idea or Topic:

- Casual Chat: Ich habe da ein das Problem. (I have a problem there.)

- Text Message: Hab ne Idee! Treffen uns? (Got an idea! Wanna meet?) – Note the colloquial shortening of eine to ne.

- Expressing Possession or Need:

- Ordering Food: Ich hätte gerne einen der Cappuccino. (I'd like a cappuccino.)

- Asking for something: Kannst du mir bitte einen der Stift geben? (Can you please give me a pen?)

- Social Media Caption: So glücklich mit einer die neuen Pflanze! (So happy with a new plant!)

- Describing Something for the First Time:

- Pointing something out: Schau mal, das ist ein der süßer Hund! (Look, that's a cute dog!)

- In an email (informal): Ich habe ein das interessantes Buch gefunden. (I found an interesting book.)

- Making a General Observation (often with an adjective):

- Das war ein guter Tag! (That was a good day!)

- Berlin ist eine interessante Stadt. (Berlin is an interesting city.)

- Contrastive Emphasis: Sometimes, ein can be stressed to emphasize 'one' versus 'many' or 'none', or to highlight a particular instance.

- Das ist EIN Auto, kein Fahrrad! (That is a car, not a bike!) – emphasizing that it is indeed a car.

These examples demonstrate that while the formal rules are essential, native speakers integrate ein and eine naturally into their communication. The key is to internalize the gender-case agreement so that the article choice becomes instinctive, allowing for fluid expression even in informal contexts. Observing how Germans use these articles in films, podcasts, or online content will further solidify your understanding.

Quick FAQ

These frequently asked questions address common points of confusion regarding German indefinite articles.
Q: How can I reliably determine the gender of a German noun?

The most reliable method is to memorize each noun together with its definite article. Do not learn Tisch in isolation; learn der Tisch. Do not learn Blume; learn die Blume. This is non-negotiable. However, there are some helpful patterns:

  • Feminine Nouns (die): Often end in -e (e.g., die Lampe), -ung (e.g., die Übung), -heit (e.g., die Freiheit), -keit (e.g., die Möglichkeit), -schaft (e.g., die Freundschaft), -ion (e.g., die Nation).
  • Neuter Nouns (das): Often end in -chen or -lein (diminutives, e.g., das Mädchen, das Fräulein), or are infinitives used as nouns (e.g., das Essen).
  • Masculine Nouns (der): Often denote professions or male beings (e.g., der Lehrer), or end in -ich, -ling, -or. Many nouns related to weather or days of the week are masculine.
For a significant portion of nouns, no such rules exist, necessitating memorization.
Q: Why does only the masculine indefinite article change in the Accusative case?

This distinction is a remnant of older Germanic language stages where a richer system of noun declension existed. In modern German, the masculine singular noun (der word) retains a stronger inflectional pattern, particularly in the Accusative, serving as a clear indicator of its grammatical function as a direct object. Feminine and neuter nouns in the singular have largely simplified their Accusative forms to match the Nominative. This phenomenon reflects a broader linguistic trend where language systems often reduce complexity over time, but some key distinctions, like the masculine Accusative -en on articles and adjectives, are preserved due to their functional importance in maintaining clarity within the sentence structure. It's a linguistic 'fingerprint' of German's historical development.

Q: Can ein be used before an adjective?

Yes, absolutely. When an indefinite article precedes an adjective which then precedes a noun, the indefinite article still takes its required gender and case ending, and the adjective will also take a specific ending according to the rules of adjective declension (a topic typically covered at A2 or B1, but briefly:

  • Ich sehe einen schönen der Hund. (I see a beautiful dog.)
  • Sie hat eine neue die Tasche. (She has a new bag.)
The article ein or eine maintains its core function, and the adjective modifies the noun.
Q: Is there any difference between ein and eins?

Yes, a crucial difference. Ein, eine are indefinite articles ('a', 'an'). Eins is the cardinal number 'one'.

  • Ich habe ein das Auto. (I have a car.) – ein is the indefinite article for the neuter noun Auto.
  • Wie viele Äpfel möchten Sie? – Nur eins, danke. (How many apples would you like? – Just one, thanks.) – eins is the number 'one', referring to a quantity.
While ein and eins share a common linguistic root, their grammatical roles are distinct. Using eins when an article is required, or vice versa, is an error in both meaning and grammar. Eins is primarily used for counting or as a pronoun for 'one' (especially when the gender of the object is neuter or unspecified in direct answers).
Q: If I don't know the gender of a noun, what should I do?

The best approach is to consult a dictionary or a reliable online resource. Guessing gender is a common cause of errors that cascade into incorrect article and adjective endings. If you are in a live conversation and unsure, you can sometimes rephrase to avoid the article (e.g., use a plural noun with zero article, if appropriate) or simply use ein as a generic placeholder and accept that it might be incorrect. However, this is not a sustainable learning strategy. Prioritize learning nouns with their genders.

Indefinite Article Table (Nominative)

Gender Article Example
Masculine {der|m}
ein
ein Hund
Neuter {das|n}
ein
ein Kind
Feminine {die|f}
eine
eine Katze

Meanings

Indefinite articles are used to introduce a noun that is not specific or previously mentioned.

1

General reference

Referring to any one item of a category.

“Ich brauche ein Buch.”

“Er liest eine Zeitung.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Indefinite Articles: A and An (ein, eine)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
ein/eine + Noun
Ich habe ein Auto.
Negative
kein/keine + Noun
Ich habe kein Auto.
Question
Verb + ein/eine + Noun?
Ist das ein Auto?
Masculine
ein
ein Mann
Neuter
ein
ein Haus
Feminine
eine
eine Frau

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Ich besitze ein Fahrzeug.

Ich besitze ein Fahrzeug. (Daily life)

Neutral
Ich habe ein Auto.

Ich habe ein Auto. (Daily life)

Informal
Ich hab' ein Auto.

Ich hab' ein Auto. (Daily life)

Slang
Ich hab' 'ne Karre.

Ich hab' 'ne Karre. (Daily life)

Gender Mapping

Indefinite Article

Masculine

  • ein a

Neuter

  • ein a

Feminine

  • eine a
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Examples by Level

1

Das ist ein Tisch.

This is a table.

2

Ich habe eine Katze.

I have a cat.

3

Er ist ein Kind.

He is a child.

4

Sie ist eine Frau.

She is a woman.

1

Brauchst du ein Auto?

Do you need a car?

2

Ich möchte eine Pizza.

I would like a pizza.

3

Das ist kein Problem.

That is not a problem.

4

Hast du eine Idee?

Do you have an idea?

1

Ein guter Freund hilft immer.

A good friend always helps.

2

Sie sucht eine neue Wohnung.

She is looking for a new apartment.

3

Es ist ein interessantes Buch.

It is an interesting book.

4

Er hat eine wichtige Frage.

He has an important question.

1

Ein solches Verhalten ist inakzeptabel.

Such behavior is unacceptable.

2

Sie hat eine bemerkenswerte Karriere gemacht.

She has made a remarkable career.

3

Es war ein langer Tag.

It was a long day.

4

Eine Entscheidung muss heute fallen.

A decision must be made today.

1

Ein jeder Mensch hat seine Träume.

Every person has their dreams.

2

Es ist eine Frage der Zeit.

It is a matter of time.

3

Ein solches Ereignis ist selten.

Such an event is rare.

4

Eine neue Ära beginnt.

A new era begins.

1

Ein wahres Genie erkennt man an seiner Bescheidenheit.

A true genius is recognized by their modesty.

2

Eine solche Nuance entgeht dem Laien.

Such a nuance escapes the layman.

3

Es ist ein Unterfangen von großer Tragweite.

It is an undertaking of great significance.

4

Eine jede Regel hat ihre Ausnahme.

Every rule has its exception.

Easily Confused

German Indefinite Articles: A and An (ein, eine) vs Definite vs Indefinite

Learners mix up 'a' and 'the'.

German Indefinite Articles: A and An (ein, eine) vs Nominative vs Accusative

Learners use 'ein' for everything.

German Indefinite Articles: A and An (ein, eine) vs Plural usage

Learners try to use 'ein' for plurals.

Common Mistakes

✗

eine Hund

✓

ein Hund

Hund is masculine, so it needs 'ein'.
✗

ein Frau

✓

eine Frau

Frau is feminine, so it needs 'eine'.
✗

ein Äpfel

✓

Äpfel

No indefinite article for plural.
✗

eine Kind

✓

ein Kind

Kind is neuter, so it needs 'ein'.
✗

kein Frau

✓

keine Frau

Feminine nouns need 'keine'.
✗

eine Auto

✓

ein Auto

Auto is neuter.
✗

keine Mann

✓

kein Mann

Masculine nouns need 'kein'.
✗

einen Frau

✓

eine Frau

Nominative vs Accusative confusion.
✗

eine Tisch

✓

ein Tisch

Gender error.
✗

ein Katze

✓

eine Katze

Gender error.
✗

ein jeder Frau

✓

eine jede Frau

Agreement error.
✗

eine solches

✓

ein solches

Gender agreement.
✗

ein jede

✓

eine jede

Gender agreement.

Sentence Patterns

Das ist ___ ___.

Ich habe ___ ___.

Ist das ___ ___?

Er braucht ___ ___.

Real World Usage

Ordering coffee constant

Ich hätte gerne ein Wasser.

Social media very common

Ich habe eine tolle Idee!

Job interview common

Ich habe eine Frage.

Travel common

Gibt es hier ein Hotel?

Texting very common

Hab' ein Problem.

Food delivery common

Ich möchte ein Pizza-Menü.

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🎯

The 'N' trick

Only masculine nouns change their article in the accusative (object) case. Think: 'MascN' for the '-en' ending.
⚠️

No Plural 'Ein'

Never use 'ein' with plural nouns. If you see two cats, just say 'Ich sehe Katzen' or 'Ich sehe zwei Katzen'.
💡

Feminine -e

Feminine articles almost always end in '-e' in A1 grammar. If the noun is {die|f}, reach for 'eine'.

Smart Tips

Always learn the article with the noun.

Hund → der Hund

It is often feminine.

Tisch → die Lampe

It is always neuter.

Hund → das Hündchen

Use 'ein' for masculine/neuter.

eine Tisch → ein Tisch

Pronunciation

/aɪn/

ein

Pronounced like 'eye-n'.

/ˈaɪnə/

eine

Pronounced like 'eye-nuh'.

Statement

Das ist ein Buch ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Ein is for the guys and the neutral things, Eine is for the girls with the extra 'e' rings.

Visual Association

Imagine a man (masculine) and a child (neuter) sharing a single 'ein' umbrella. Then imagine a woman (feminine) holding a separate 'eine' umbrella with an extra 'e' on the handle.

Rhyme

Masculine/Neuter take the ein, Feminine takes the eine, that's fine!

Story

Hans (masculine) and his toy (neuter) both share 'ein' apple. Anna (feminine) walks by and eats 'eine' orange. They are all happy.

Word Web

eineinekeinkeinederdiedas

Challenge

Label 5 items in your room with 'ein' or 'eine' on sticky notes.

Cultural Notes

Germans are very precise about gender. Using the wrong article is the most common 'foreigner' mistake.

Austrians often use diminutives like '-chen' or '-lein' which are always neuter.

Swiss German speakers sometimes drop articles in very casual speech.

The German 'ein' comes from the Proto-Germanic 'ainaz', meaning 'one'.

Conversation Starters

“

Was ist das?

“

Hast du ein Haustier?

“

Brauchst du eine Hilfe?

“

Ist das eine gute Idee?

Journal Prompts

Describe your room using 'ein' and 'eine'.
What do you have in your bag?
Describe a dream you had.
Write about a new hobby.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Das ist ___ Hund.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ein
Hund is masculine.
Choose the correct article. Multiple Choice

Ich habe ___ Katze.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: eine
Katze is feminine.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Das ist eine Tisch.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist ein Tisch.
Tisch is masculine.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Ich habe ein Auto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe kein Auto.
Use 'kein' for neuter.
Match the noun with the article. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ein, eine, ein
Gender match.
Select the correct form. Multiple Choice

___ Frau ist hier.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eine
Frau is feminine.
Fill in the blank.

Er ist ___ Kind.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ein
Kind is neuter.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ein / ist / das / Buch

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist ein Buch.
Correct word order.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Das ist ___ Hund.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ein
Hund is masculine.
Choose the correct article. Multiple Choice

Ich habe ___ Katze.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: eine
Katze is feminine.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Das ist eine Tisch.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist ein Tisch.
Tisch is masculine.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Ich habe ein Auto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe kein Auto.
Use 'kein' for neuter.
Match the noun with the article. Match Pairs

Hund, Katze, Kind

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ein, eine, ein
Gender match.
Select the correct form. Multiple Choice

___ Frau ist hier.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eine
Frau is feminine.
Fill in the blank.

Er ist ___ Kind.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ein
Kind is neuter.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ein / ist / das / Buch

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist ein Buch.
Correct word order.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Put the words in the correct order Sentence Reorder

eine / habe / Ich / Schwester

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe eine Schwester
Translate 'I am eating an apple' into German. Translation

I am eating an apple. ({der|m} Apfel)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich esse einen Apfel.
Match the noun to its correct indefinite article (Nominative) Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {der|m} Mann:ein, {die|f} Frau:eine, {das|n} Kind:ein
Which one is plural? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct plural form for 'a book':

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bücher
Fill in the blank (Accusative) Fill in the Blank

Suchst du ___ {die|f} Brille?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: eine
Fix the mistake Error Correction

Das ist ein E-Mail.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist eine E-Mail.
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Ich kaufe ___ {das|n} Ticket.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ein
Translate 'A dog is playing' into German. Translation

A dog is playing. ({der|m} Hund)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ein Hund spielt.
Put the words in order Sentence Reorder

ein / Buch / Das / ist

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist ein Buch
Which is correct for a neuter object? Multiple Choice

I see a house. ({das|n} Haus)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich sehe ein Haus.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It's a historical feature of German. They share the same form in the nominative case.

You have to memorize it. Use flashcards!

No, never. Use zero article.

Yes, in the nominative case.

Guess! You'll be right 33% of the time.

It's the negative indefinite article.

Yes, but focus on nominative first.

It's the foundation for all German noun phrases.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

un/una

German has three genders, Spanish has two.

French high

un/une

French has two genders.

Japanese low

None

Japanese uses particles or context.

Arabic low

Tanween/None

Arabic is a Semitic language.

Chinese low

yī + measure word

Chinese has no articles.

English moderate

a/an

English is gender-neutral.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
German Articles (der, die, das): Which 'The' to Use?
Next
German Nominative Case After 'To Be' (sein)

Learn These First

A1 Requires

German Articles (der, die, das): Which 'The' to Use?

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