Indefinite Articles

01

Nominative Case (Subject)

The nominative case is the basic form found in dictionaries. It is used when the noun is the subject of the sentence performing the action.

• Masculine: uses ein
• Neuter: uses ein
• Feminine: uses eine

Note that masculine and neuter nouns share the same article in the nominative case.

• Ein Mann wartet hier.

  A man is waiting here.

• Eine Katze schläft.

  A cat is sleeping.

• Ein Auto ist schnell.

  A car is fast.

02

Accusative Case (Direct Object)

The accusative case is used when the noun is the direct object receiving the action. This is where the masculine form changes distinctly.

• Masculine: changes to einen
• Neuter: remains ein
• Feminine: remains eine

Only the masculine article changes ending (adding -en). Feminine and neuter articles look exactly the same as they do in the nominative.

• Ich sehe einen Mann.

  I see a man.

• Er isst einen Apfel.

  He is eating an apple.

• Sie liest ein Buch.

  She is reading a book.

03

Dative Case (Indirect Object)

The dative case is used for the indirect object (to whom/for whom something is done) or after certain prepositions. In this case, all genders change their endings.

• Masculine: changes to einem
• Neuter: changes to einem
• Feminine: changes to einer

Masculine and neuter share the -em ending, while feminine takes an -er ending.

• Ich gebe einem Freund das Buch.

  I give a friend the book.

• Wir helfen einer Frau.

  We are helping a woman.

• Er wohnt in einem Haus.

  He lives in a house.

04

Genitive Case (Possession)

The genitive indicates possession or relationship ("of a").

• Masculine: changes to eines (the noun also usually adds -s or -es)
• Neuter: changes to eines (the noun also usually adds -s or -es)
• Feminine: changes to einer

• Das ist das Auto eines Mannes.

  That is a man's car.

• Die Tür eines Hauses.

  The door of a house.

• Die Farbe einer Blume.

  The color of a flower.

05

Plural Forms

There is no plural indefinite article. Just as English does not say "a cars," this language does not use ein in the plural. To express an indefinite quantity in the plural, use the noun without any article at all.

• Ich kaufe Äpfel.

  I am buying apples.

• Hier sind Stühle.

  Here are chairs.

06

Distinction from the Number "One"

The indefinite article ein is identical in form to the number "one". In spoken language, emphasis is often used to distinguish them. If the word is stressed, it usually means specifically "one" (quantity); if unstressed, it means "a/an" (article).

• Ich habe ein Kind.

  I have a child / I have one child.