A1 Case System 14 min read Easy

German Nominative Case After 'To Be' (sein)

After the verb sein, nouns always remain in the Nominative case because they identify the subject.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

When you use the verb 'sein' (to be), the noun following it stays in the Nominative case, just like the subject.

  • The subject is Nominative: {Der|m} Mann ist nett.
  • The noun after 'sein' is also Nominative: Das ist {der|m} Mann.
  • Never change the article to Accusative after 'sein': {Der|m} Hund ist {ein|m} Freund.
Subject (Nom) + sein + Noun (Nom)

Overview

The German language organizes its nouns and pronouns into four cases, each signaling a distinct grammatical role within a sentence. Among these, the Nominative case serves as the fundamental identifier, typically marking the subject—the entity performing the action or being described. While many German verbs dictate a shift in case for their objects, the verb sein (to be) operates uniquely.

It does not assign a new case to the noun or adjective that follows it. Instead, sein functions as an equivalence marker, asserting that the subject and the subsequent noun (known as the predicate nominative or subject complement) refer to the same entity or concept.

Consider sein not as a verb of action, but as a linguistic equals sign (=). When you state Ich bin ein Student, you are declaring an identity: Ich (I) is equivalent to ein Student (a student). Both sides of this equation must logically remain in the same grammatical state to reflect this identity.

In German, this default state is the Nominative case. Therefore, both the subject (Ich) and the noun complementing it (ein Student) will be in the Nominative. This principle simplifies sentence construction significantly, as you avoid the case changes associated with direct objects.

Mastering sein is crucial for constructing basic descriptive sentences and understanding fundamental identity statements in German.

How This Grammar Works

The Nominative case in German is primarily associated with the subject of a sentence. It answers the question "Who or what is performing the action?" or "Who or what is being described?". When sein is used, it connects the subject to another noun or adjective that further defines or describes that subject.
This second element is termed the predicate nominative or subject complement. The core linguistic principle here is that of identification or attribution.
Since the predicate nominative identifies or attributes a quality to the subject, it naturally maintains the same case as the subject: the Nominative. This phenomenon is common in many Indo-European languages, where verbs of being (copular verbs) link a subject to a complement without implying a transfer of action. Unlike transitive verbs, which exert an action upon a direct object (often triggering the Accusative case), sein merely establishes a state or identity.
For instance, in Ich sehe den(m) Mann, the verb sehen (to see) acts upon den Mann, making Mann an Accusative direct object. However, in Ich bin der Mann, sein establishes that Ich and der Mann are the same, thus both remain Nominative. This is not about one entity acting on another, but about two grammatical elements describing the same reality.
Understanding the function of sein as a copula clarifies why no case change occurs. It functions as a bridge of identity, demanding grammatical congruence between the subject and its complement. This structural consistency provides a reliable anchor within the German case system, making sentences with sein predictable regarding case assignment.
You will find this consistency applies whether the complement is a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective. For example, Er ist mein(m) Freund (He is my friend), Das bin ich (That is me), or Sie ist schön (She is beautiful) all exemplify this Nominative-Nominative relationship.

Formation Pattern

1
Constructing sentences with sein and a predicate nominative follows a straightforward pattern. The essential components are the subject, the conjugated form of sein, and the predicate nominative, which must agree with the subject in case (always Nominative). The predicate nominative can be a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective.
2
The first step involves identifying the subject of your sentence and ensuring it is in the Nominative case. This is standard for any German sentence. Following this, you must correctly conjugate the verb sein to match the person and number of the subject. Incorrect conjugation is a frequent error at the A1 level, so memorizing these forms is essential.
3
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugated sein | English Translation |
4
| :-------------- | :---------------- | :------------------------ |
5
| ich | bin | I am |
6
| du | bist | you are (informal singular) |
7
| er/sie/es | ist | he/she/it is |
8
| wir | sind | we are |
9
| ihr | seid | you are (informal plural) |
10
| sie/Sie | sind | they/you are (formal singular/plural) |
11
The final component is the predicate nominative. If this is a noun, it will appear with its appropriate Nominative article (definite or indefinite). Crucially, the gender of the noun dictates the article form, but the case remains Nominative. Pay close attention to grammatical gender, as it is a fixed property of every German noun.
12
| Gender | Indefinite Article | Definite Article | Example (Nominative) |
13
| :-------- | :----------------- | :--------------- | :---------------------------------------------- |
14
| Masculine | ein | der | Das ist ein Mann(m). |
15
| Feminine | eine | die | Sie(pronoun) ist eine Frau(f). |
16
| Neuter | ein | das | Es(pronoun) ist ein Kind(n). |
17
| Plural | (no article) | die | Wir(pronoun) sind die Studenten(pl). |
18
Adjectives used as predicate nominatives are simpler, as they do not receive case endings when following sein. For example, Er ist intelligent (He is intelligent) or Das Haus ist groß (The house is big). They simply describe a quality of the Nominative subject without requiring additional grammatical modification. This direct attribution makes adjectives following sein particularly easy to use for beginners.
19
Example sentence construction:
20
Ich bin ein Koch. (I am a cook.) - Subject Ich (Nom), bin (conjugated sein), ein Koch (predicate Nom noun).
21
Du bist müde. (You are tired.) - Subject Du (Nom), bist (conjugated sein), müde (predicate Nom adjective).
22
Das ist die Wahrheit. (That is the truth.) - Subject Das (Nom), ist (conjugated sein), die Wahrheit (predicate Nom noun).

When To Use It

You will primarily use the Nominative case after sein to establish identity, define roles, attribute characteristics, or classify entities. This makes it indispensable for foundational communication in German, forming the backbone of descriptive language.
Key contexts for its application include:
  • Identifying people or objects: When you name something or someone. For instance, pointing out Das ist mein(m) Freund, Markus (That is my friend, Markus) or Das ist der Kölner Dom (That is the Cologne Cathedral).
  • Stating professions or roles: Describing what someone does for a living or their current position. For example, Ich bin ein Programmierer (I am a programmer) or Sie ist die Chefin (She is the boss). This is a common phrase in professional networking contexts in Germany, where direct identification of one's role is standard.
  • Declaring nationalities or origins: Defining where someone is from. Er ist ein Deutscher (He is a German) or Wir sind Amerikaner(pl) (We are Americans). Note that indefinite articles are often omitted before nationalities when used broadly, as in the latter example.
  • Attributing qualities or characteristics (with adjectives): While adjectives themselves don't change case after sein, they function as predicate nominatives by describing the Nominative subject. Das Wetter ist schön (The weather is beautiful) or Die Aufgabe ist schwierig (The task is difficult).
  • Defining concepts: Explaining what something is. Liebe ist ein Gefühl (Love is a feeling) or Demokratie ist eine Regierungsform (Democracy is a form of government).
This grammatical structure is pervasive in everyday German. From introducing yourself at a social gathering, Ich bin die neue Mitarbeiterin (I am the new employee), to commenting on your surroundings, Das ist eine tolle Idee (That is a great idea), the sein + Nominative construction underpins clear, declarative statements. In German communication, directness and clarity are often valued, and this grammatical pattern supports that ethos by unambiguously linking a subject to its descriptor without introducing extraneous grammatical complexity.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when employing sein with the Nominative case. The most pervasive error stems from an overgeneralization of the direct object concept, often termed the "Accusative Reflex".
  1. 1The Accusative Reflex: Many German verbs take a direct object in the Accusative case. For example, Ich habe einen Hund (I have a dog), where Hund becomes einen because haben is a transitive verb that directly affects Hund. Because learners are heavily trained to identify direct objects and apply the Accusative, they incorrectly extend this pattern to sein. You might hear or produce sentences like Ich bin einen Lehrer. This is grammatically incorrect. Sein does not act upon Lehrer; it declares Ich is* Lehrer. The relationship is one of identity, not direct object. Therefore, the predicate noun (Lehrer) must remain in the Nominative, meaning the indefinite article for masculine nouns stays ein, not einen. The correct form is Ich bin ein Lehrer.
  1. 1Incorrect sein Conjugation: At the A1 level, mastering the conjugations of irregular verbs like sein is fundamental. Errors such as Du ist instead of Du bist or Ihr sind instead of Ihr seid betray a lack of fundamental recall. These errors directly impede comprehension as they disrupt the subject-verb agreement essential for German sentence structure. Consistent memorization and practice of the conjugation table are critical to avoid such mistakes.
  1. 1Gender Disregard in Articles: German nouns carry inherent grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, neuter). The article accompanying a predicate nominative noun must reflect its correct gender, even though the case is Nominative. A common mistake is assigning the wrong article, for example, *Das ist eine Mädchen instead of Das ist ein Mädchen. Since das Mädchen is grammatically neuter, its indefinite article must be ein. Incorrect gender assignment not only signals a grammatical error but can sometimes subtly alter meaning or create awkwardness in native perception. Understanding and consistently applying the correct gender for each noun is paramount. There is no simple rule for determining a noun's gender; it must be learned with each noun.
  1. 1Confusion with Other Cases (beyond Accusative): While the Accusative Reflex is most common, some learners might erroneously apply Dative or Genitive endings, particularly with more complex noun phrases or in situations where other prepositions or verbs in adjacent clauses might trigger those cases. It is vital to remember that sein unilaterally guarantees Nominative for its complement, simplifying case determination in its direct context. Always revert to the Nominative for the predicate noun or adjective directly following sein.
To mitigate these mistakes, consistently ask yourself if sein functions as an "equals sign." If the subject and the following noun are fundamentally the same entity, then both remain Nominative. Practicing with flashcards that pair nouns with their correct articles and conjugating sein regularly can help embed the correct patterns, reducing the tendency to over-apply Accusative rules.

Real Conversations

Understanding how sein + Nominative functions in authentic communication reveals its practical utility beyond textbook examples. It is a cornerstone for introductions, descriptions, and establishing facts in daily German interactions.

S

Scenario 1

At a University Orientation in Berlin
A

Anya

Hallo, ich bin Anya. Ich bin eine neue Studentin hier.

(Hello, I am Anya. I am a new student here.)

B

Ben

Servus Anya! Ich bin Ben. Ich bin ein Tutor für Germanistik.

(Hey Anya! I am Ben. I am a tutor for German Studies.)

A

Anya

Ah, sehr gut! Das ist eine gute Nachricht. Ich bin ein bisschen nervös.

(Ah, very good! That is good news. I am a bit nervous.)

B

Ben

Keine Sorge, das ist normal. Die Uni ist groß, aber die Leute sind nett.

(No worries, that is normal. The university is big, but the people are nice.)

In this exchange, Anya and Ben use sein to introduce themselves and state their roles. Anya identifies herself as eine neue Studentin, while Ben defines himself as ein Tutor. Anya then uses Das ist eine gute Nachricht to classify information, and Ben reassures her with Das ist normal and describes the people with die Leute sind nett. These are common, direct statements used in everyday social interaction in Germany.

S

Scenario 2

Discussing a New Project at Work
C

Clara

Guten Morgen, Thomas. Wie ist der Status des Projekts "Gemini"?

(Good morning, Thomas. What is the status of the project "Gemini"?)

T

Thomas

Guten Morgen, Clara. Der Status ist grün. Alles ist im Plan.

(Good morning, Clara. The status is green. Everything is on schedule.)

C

Clara

Das ist ausgezeichnet! Bist(verb) du(pronoun) zufrieden mit dem(n) Fortschritt?

(That is excellent! Are you satisfied with the progress?)

T

Thomas

Ja, ich bin sehr zufrieden. Mein(m) Kollege, Herr Schneider, ist auch dabei.

(Yes, I am very satisfied. My colleague, Mr. Schneider, is also involved.)

C

Clara

Ist(verb) er(m) neu im Team?

(Is he new to the team?)

T

Thomas

Nein, er(m) ist ein erfahrener Entwickler. Er ist die Person, die die Schnittstellen programmiert.

(No, he is an experienced developer. He is the person who programs the interfaces.)

Here, sein is used to inquire about and state the status of a project (der Status ist grün, alles ist im Plan), express satisfaction (ich bin sehr zufrieden), and introduce a colleague's role and experience (er ist ein erfahrener Entwickler, er ist die Person). The phrase Das ist ausgezeichnet! is a common way to express approval or positive assessment in a professional context.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about using the Nominative case after sein.
  • Q: Does sein ever take the Accusative case?
  • A: No, never. Sein is a copular verb, meaning it connects the subject to a predicate nominative that describes or identifies the subject. It does not take a direct object, which is what would trigger the Accusative case. This is a fundamental characteristic of sein in German.
  • Q: Is the rule the same for plural nouns after sein?
  • A: Yes, absolutely. Both the subject and the predicate nominative remain in the Nominative case, regardless of whether they are singular or plural. For example, Wir sind die(pl) Studenten (We are the students) or Ihr seid meine(pl) Freunde (You are my friends). The Nominative plural articles die (definite) or no article (indefinite) are used as appropriate.
  • Q: What about adjectives after sein? Do they take endings?
  • A: When an adjective functions as a predicate nominative following sein, it does not receive any case endings. It remains in its base form. For instance, Das Buch ist interessant (The book is interesting) or Sie ist nett (She is kind). Adjectives only get endings when they precede a noun (attributive adjectives).
  • Q: Why is it called "Predicate Nominative"?
  • A: "Predicate" refers to the part of the sentence containing the verb and everything that follows it, which makes a statement about the subject. "Nominative" indicates that the noun or pronoun within this predicate that describes the subject is in the Nominative case. It’s a formal linguistic term for the "subject complement" that occurs with linking verbs like sein.
  • Q: Does word order change the case rule in questions or subordinate clauses?
  • A: The case rule remains constant: the subject is Nominative, and the predicate nominative following sein is also Nominative. While word order shifts in questions (Ist er(m) ein Arzt?) or subordinate clauses (Ich weiß, dass er(m) ein Arzt ist), the grammatical relationship and thus the case assignment are preserved. The core principle of identity holds irrespective of sentence structure.
  • Q: Can sein be used with a prepositional phrase that might typically take a different case?
  • A: Yes, sein can introduce prepositional phrases (e.g., Ich bin in Berlin). In such instances, the preposition itself dictates the case of the noun that follows it (in takes Dative for location). However, sein itself is not assigning a case to the object of the preposition; the preposition is. If a predicate nominative noun directly follows sein without a preposition, it is always Nominative. These are distinct grammatical structures and should not be confused. The phrase Ich bin in Berlin describes your location, whereas Ich bin ein Student states your identity.

Nominative Articles after 'sein'

Gender Definite (Nom) Indefinite (Nom)
Masculine
der
ein
Feminine
die
eine
Neuter
das
ein
Plural
die
-

Meanings

In German, the verb 'sein' acts like an equals sign. Because it equates two things, both the subject and the noun following the verb must be in the Nominative case.

1

Identification

Identifying a person or object.

“Das ist {der|m} Tisch.”

“Das ist {das|n} Kind.”

2

Profession/Role

Stating someone's job or identity.

“Er ist {der|m} Arzt.”

“Sie ist {die|f} Chefin.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Nominative Case After 'To Be' (sein)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + sein + Nom
Das ist {der|m} Hund.
Negative
Subj + sein + nicht/kein + Nom
Das ist {kein|m} Hund.
Question
sein + Subj + Nom?
Ist das {der|m} Hund?
Plural
Subj + sein + Nom
Das sind {die|f} Hunde.
Profession
Subj + sein + Nom
Er ist {der|m} Arzt.
Identity
Subj + sein + Nom
Ich bin {der|m} Chef.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Dies ist der Herr Müller.

Dies ist der Herr Müller. (Introduction)

Neutral
Das ist Herr Müller.

Das ist Herr Müller. (Introduction)

Informal
Das ist der Müller.

Das ist der Müller. (Introduction)

Slang
Das ist der Typ da.

Das ist der Typ da. (Introduction)

The 'sein' Equals Sign

sein

Left Side

  • Subject Nominative

Right Side

  • Complement Nominative

Nominative vs Accusative

After 'sein'
der Nominative
After 'sehen'
den Accusative

Case Decision Tree

1

Is the verb 'sein'?

YES
Use Nominative
NO
Check for Accusative

Gendered Nominative Articles

👨

Masculine

  • • der
  • • ein
👩

Feminine

  • • die
  • • eine
🏠

Neuter

  • • das
  • • ein
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Examples by Level

1

Das ist {der|m} Lehrer.

This is the teacher.

2

Sie ist {die|f} Chefin.

She is the boss.

3

Das ist {das|n} Auto.

That is the car.

4

Er ist {ein|m} Freund.

He is a friend.

1

Ist das {der|m} neue Nachbar?

Is that the new neighbor?

2

Das ist nicht {die|f} richtige Antwort.

That is not the right answer.

3

Mein Vater ist {der|m} beste Koch.

My father is the best cook.

4

Das ist {ein|n} schönes Haus.

That is a beautiful house.

1

Er wird {der|m} neue Manager.

He will become the new manager.

2

Sie bleibt {die|f} einzige Hoffnung.

She remains the only hope.

3

Das ist {der|m} Grund für den Streit.

That is the reason for the argument.

4

Es ist {ein|n} schwieriges Problem.

It is a difficult problem.

1

Man sagt, er sei {der|m} wahre Erbe.

They say he is the true heir.

2

Das ist {die|f} Konsequenz aus seinem Handeln.

That is the consequence of his actions.

3

Er ist {der|m}jenige, der das gesagt hat.

He is the one who said that.

4

Das ist {ein|n} unumstößliches Gesetz.

That is an immutable law.

1

Er gilt als {der|m} Experte auf diesem Gebiet.

He is considered the expert in this field.

2

Das ist {die|f} Quintessenz der Debatte.

That is the quintessence of the debate.

3

Es ist {ein|n} Paradoxon, das wir lösen müssen.

It is a paradox that we must solve.

4

Sie ist {die|f} Verkörperung von Eleganz.

She is the embodiment of elegance.

1

Das ist {der|m} Inbegriff deutscher Präzision.

That is the epitome of German precision.

2

Es ist {die|f} conditio sine qua non für den Erfolg.

It is the condition sine qua non for success.

3

Er ist {der|m} Architekt seines eigenen Schicksals.

He is the architect of his own fate.

4

Das ist {ein|n} Novum in der Geschichte.

That is a novelty in history.

Easily Confused

German Nominative Case After 'To Be' (sein) vs Sein vs. Haben

Learners use Accusative with 'sein' because they think it's an object.

German Nominative Case After 'To Be' (sein) vs Sein vs. Werden

Both take Nominative, but 'werden' implies change.

German Nominative Case After 'To Be' (sein) vs Sein vs. Für

Learners see 'für' and think it's a copula.

Common Mistakes

✗

Ich bin den Lehrer.

✓

Ich bin der Lehrer.

Learners assume all nouns after verbs are Accusative.
✗

Das ist einen Hund.

✓

Das ist ein Hund.

Adding '-en' to the indefinite article.
✗

Sie ist die Chefin.

✓

Sie ist die Chefin.

Actually correct, but learners often doubt it.
✗

Das sind den Autos.

✓

Das sind die Autos.

Applying Accusative to plural.
✗

Er wird den Arzt.

✓

Er wird der Arzt.

Applying Accusative to 'werden'.
✗

Das ist nicht den Tisch.

✓

Das ist nicht der Tisch.

Negation doesn't change the case.
✗

Ist das den Mann?

✓

Ist das der Mann?

Question structure doesn't change the case.
✗

Er bleibt den Freund.

✓

Er bleibt der Freund.

Applying Accusative to 'bleiben'.
✗

Das ist den Grund.

✓

Das ist der Grund.

Confusing 'sein' with 'haben'.
✗

Es ist den Fehler.

✓

Es ist der Fehler.

Over-applying Accusative.
✗

Man hält ihn für den Experten.

✓

Man hält ihn für den Experten.

Wait, 'für' takes Accusative! This is a trap.
✗

Das ist den Inbegriff.

✓

Das ist der Inbegriff.

Advanced noun confusion.
✗

Er ist den Architekten.

✓

Er ist der Architekt.

Applying weak noun declension incorrectly.

Sentence Patterns

Das ist ___.

Er ist ___.

___ ist der Grund.

Sie bleibt ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Das ist mein neuer Hund!

Job Interview very common

Ich bin der richtige Kandidat.

Travel common

Das ist der Bahnhof.

Food Delivery occasional

Das ist die Bestellung für Müller.

Texting constant

Das ist der Plan.

Academic Writing common

Dies ist die Schlussfolgerung.

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💡

The Equals Sign

Always think of 'sein' as an equals sign. If it's equal, it's Nominative.
⚠️

Don't over-Accusative

Just because a noun follows a verb doesn't mean it's Accusative.
🎯

Check the Subject

If the subject is Nominative, the complement is Nominative.
💬

Titles matter

In formal settings, use titles like 'Herr Doktor' after 'sein'.

Smart Tips

Think 'equals sign'.

Ich bin den Lehrer. → Ich bin der Lehrer.

You can drop the article.

Er ist der Arzt. → Er ist Arzt.

Check if the verb is stative.

Das ist den Plan. → Das ist der Plan.

Treat it like 'sein'.

Er wird den Manager. → Er wird der Manager.

Pronunciation

/zaɪn/

Vowel length

The 'ei' in 'sein' is a long 'eye' sound.

/n/

Final 'n'

The 'n' is soft and nasal.

Statement

Das ist der Mann ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

Question

Ist das der Mann ↗

Rising intonation for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Sein is a mirror, what you see on the left is what you see on the right.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant equals sign (=) made of neon lights. On the left is a person, on the right is their name tag. Both are wearing the same 'Nominative' hat.

Rhyme

After 'sein' the case is clear, the Nominative is always here!

Story

Hans looks in the mirror. He says 'Ich bin {der|m} Hans'. He is the subject, and he is also the complement. Because he is the same person, he stays in the Nominative case.

Word Web

seinNominativeGleichsetzungsnominativSubjektPrädikatsnomenIdentität

Challenge

Point to 5 objects in your room and say 'Das ist {der/die/das} [object]'.

Cultural Notes

Germans are very direct. Using 'Das ist...' is the standard way to introduce people.

Austrians often use titles. 'Das ist der Herr Doktor'.

Swiss German often drops articles in casual speech, but standard German is used in writing.

The verb 'sein' comes from Proto-Germanic *wesaną.

Conversation Starters

“

Wer ist das?

“

Ist das dein Auto?

“

Was ist der Grund für die Verspätung?

“

Wer ist der Architekt dieses Gebäudes?

Journal Prompts

Introduce your family members.
Describe your dream job.
Explain why you are learning German.
Analyze a famous historical figure.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct article.

Das ist ___ (der) Mann.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: der
Nominative after 'sein'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich bin der Lehrer.
Nominative is required.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Das ist den Frau.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist die Frau.
Nominative feminine is 'die'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ist / der / das / Hund

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist der Hund.
Standard structure.
Conjugate 'sein'. Conjugation Drill

Ich ___ der Chef.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bin
First person singular.
Match the gender to the article. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: der
Standard Nominative article.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Das ist der Mann. -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist nicht der Mann.
Negation of specific noun.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Wer ist das? B: Das ist ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: der Arzt
Nominative complement.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct article.

Das ist ___ (der) Mann.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: der
Nominative after 'sein'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich bin der Lehrer.
Nominative is required.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Das ist den Frau.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist die Frau.
Nominative feminine is 'die'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ist / der / das / Hund

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist der Hund.
Standard structure.
Conjugate 'sein'. Conjugation Drill

Ich ___ der Chef.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bin
First person singular.
Match the gender to the article. Match Pairs

Masculine -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: der
Standard Nominative article.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Das ist der Mann. -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist nicht der Mann.
Negation of specific noun.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Wer ist das? B: Das ist ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: der Arzt
Nominative complement.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence Fill in the Blank

Du bist ___ {f} Legende!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: eine
Put the words in the correct order Sentence Reorder

ist / das / ein / Auto / neues

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist ein neues Auto.
Translate to German Translation

I am a programmer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich bin ein Programmierer.
Identify the Nominative usage Multiple Choice

Which of these uses the Predicate Nominative?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich bin ein Apfel.
Match the subject to the correct verb form Match Pairs

Match them:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich : bin, Du : bist, Wir : sind, Ihr : seid
Correct the case Error Correction

Sind Sie einen Arzt?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sind Sie ein Arzt?
Choose the right article Fill in the Blank

Das ist ___ {n} Geschenk für dich.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ein
Order the question Sentence Reorder

ein / bist / Fan / du / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bist du ein Fan?
Profession check Multiple Choice

How do you say 'She is a doctor'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie ist eine Ärztin.
Translate 'We are a team' Translation

We are a team.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wir sind ein Team.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Because 'sein' equates the subject and the object, so they share the same case.

No, the plural Nominative is also 'die'.

Yes, 'werden' also takes the Nominative.

No, the rule is universal.

Only with transitive verbs like 'sehen' or 'haben'.

Names don't have articles, so they stay the same.

No, 'es gibt' takes the Accusative.

For professions, it's common to drop the article, but if you keep it, it must be Nominative.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Ser + Nominativo

Spanish lacks the case endings that German requires.

French high

Être + Nominatif

French relies on word order, not case endings.

Japanese moderate

Desu

Japanese is agglutinative, German is inflectional.

Arabic moderate

Jumla ismiyya

Arabic has a complex case system (I'rab) that differs from German.

Chinese low

Shi

Chinese is an isolating language.

English high

To be

English case system is almost entirely gone.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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

Learn These First

A1 Requires

German Nominative Case: Subjects Explained (Nominativ)

Ever noticed how German sentences seem like a high-stakes puzzle where the word for "the" changes every five seconds? Yo...
A1 Requires

Sein: To Be (Present Tense)

Overview The verb `sein` in German is the direct equivalent of "to be" in English. It is arguably the most fundamental v...

Continue With

A2 Builds On

The 'Mirror' Verb: Becoming Someone (Predicate Nominative after 'werden')

Overview The German verb `werden` is a foundational element for expressing change, development, and future states. While...

Related Videos

Learn German | German Grammar | Nominative case | Nominativ | A1 6:07 YouTube

Learn German | German Grammar | Nominative case | Nominativ | A1

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Understand the GERMAN CASES - Accusative, Dative, Nominative, Genitive 16:42 YouTube

Understand the GERMAN CASES - Accusative, Dative, Nominative, Genitive

Learn German with Anja
THIS MIGHT HELP | The GERMAN CASES | Bausteine zwei 11:47 YouTube

THIS MIGHT HELP | The GERMAN CASES | Bausteine zwei

Bausteine eins

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