Determiners: Declension

01

The Two Main Categories

German determiners are generally divided into two groups based on how they decline: "Der-words" and "Ein-words".

1. Der-words (Definite-type)

These determiners follow the exact same pattern as the definite article (der, die, das). If you know how to decline der, you can decline these words. Common examples include:

• dieser (this)
• jeder (every/each)
• welcher (which)
• jener (that)
• mancher (some/many a)

Because the definite article usually has a strong ending indicating the case (like the -m in dem or the -s in des), these determiners also take these strong endings.

• Welcher Film gefällt dir?

  Which film do you like?

• Ich kenne diesen Mann nicht.

  I do not know this man.

• Jedes Kind spielt gern.

  Every child likes to play.

2. Ein-words (Indefinite-type)

These determiners follow the pattern of the indefinite article ein (a/an). This group includes the negative article kein (no/none) and all possessive determiners (mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer).

The distinct feature of this group is that they have no ending in three specific instances:

• Masculine Nominative (e.g., ein Mann)
• Neuter Nominative (e.g., ein Kind)
• Neuter Accusative (e.g., ein Kind)

In all other situations, they take the standard endings.

• Das ist mein Bruder.

  That is my brother.

• Ich habe kein Geld.

  I have no money.

• Sie sucht ihren Schlüssel.

  She is looking for her key.

02

Finding the Stem

To decline a determiner correctly, you must first identify its "stem" (the base form) and then add the appropriate ending. In dictionaries, determiners are usually listed in the Masculine Nominative Singular form (e.g., dieser or euer).

To find the stem, remove the ending of this dictionary form.

• dieser → stem is dies-. You add endings to this: diese, diesem, dieses.
• kein → stem is kein-. You add endings to this: keine, keinen, keiner.

Exception: The possessive euer (your, plural) often drops the internal -e- when an ending is added to make pronunciation easier.

• euer → eure (feminine/plural), euren (accusative masculine).

• Wo sind eure Schuhe?

  Where are your shoes?

03

Plural-Only Determiners

Some determiners are used primarily or exclusively in the plural because they refer to quantities or groups. These include alle (all), beide (both), einige (some), and viele (many).

These words generally follow the standard plural declension endings (usually -e for Nominative/Accusative and -en for Dative).

• Alle Menschen sind gleich.

  All humans are equal.

• Ich habe beide Bücher gelesen.

  I have read both books.

• Wir haben einige Fragen.

  We have some questions.