Weak masculine nouns add -(e)n outside nominative singular. Compare der Student and den Studenten.
The idea
Change both article and noun: mit dem Studenten, für den Jungen. The ending is not just a plural marker.
| Case | Student | Junge | Herr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Student | der Junge | der Herr |
| Accusative | den Studenten | den Jungen | den Herrn |
| Dative | dem Studenten | dem Jungen | dem Herrn |
| Genitive | des Studenten | des Jungen | des Herrn |
Review accusative objects before adding noun endings. German accusative case: den, einen and direct objects
Look more closely
Herr has Herrn in oblique singular cases, but Herren in the plural. Name is mixed: des Namens, not des Namen.
Start with der Junge. In Ich sehe den Jungen, sehen requires an accusative object, so both der and Junge change. After mit, use dem Jungen: the article changes again, but the noun keeps -n. Compare mit dem Lehrer, where the noun does not gain -n.
Examples
- Der Student wartet.The student is waiting.
- Ich begrüße den Studenten.I greet the student.
- Wir helfen dem Jungen.We help the boy.
- Das ist die Tasche des Kunden.That is the customer’s bag.
- Ich spreche mit Herrn Wolf.I am speaking with Mr Wolf.
- Die Herren kommen später.The gentlemen are coming later.
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Watch out
Do not apply this to every masculine noun: der Lehrer stays den Lehrer. Learn the noun’s declension with it.
Try it yourself
Ich sehe den ___. (Student)
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Studenten
Ich sehe den Studenten. — Weak masculine nouns add -(e)n outside nominative singular. Compare der Student and den Studenten.
Mit dem ___ gehe ich los. (Junge)
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Jungen
Mit dem Jungen gehe ich los. — Change both article and noun: mit dem Studenten, für den Jungen. The ending is not just a plural marker.
Ich frage den ___. (Lehrer)
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Lehrer
Ich frage den Lehrer. — Do not apply this to every masculine noun: der Lehrer stays den Lehrer. Learn the noun’s declension with it.
Ich schreibe ___ Wolf. (Herr, Dativ)
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Herrn
Ich schreibe Herrn Wolf. — Herr has Herrn in oblique singular cases, but Herren in the plural. Name is mixed: des Namens, not des Namen.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Ich sehe den ___. (Student)
Mit dem ___ gehe ich los. (Junge)
Ich frage den ___. (Lehrer)
Ich schreibe ___ Wolf. (Herr, Dativ)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write three messages about a student: meeting him, helping him and asking about his course. Change the cases.