The idea
Use die Birne for the nominative singular, die Birne for the accusative, der Birne for the dative, and der Birne for the genitive. In the dative plural use den Birnen.
| Kasus | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Birne | die Birnen |
| Akkusativ | die Birne | die Birnen |
| Dativ | der Birne | den Birnen |
| Genitiv | der Birne | der Birnen |
Meaning and useful combinations
Birne usually names the fruit; in Glühbirne it is part of the word for a light bulb.
Useful combinations: eine reife Birne; eine Birne schälen; der Birnenbaum. Practise each as a complete phrase; the article belongs to the noun even when an adjective comes between them.
Article check: nominative singular
das Birnedie BirneThis check asks for the nominative singular: die Birne. In the meaning taught here, Birne is feminine. The nominative plural is die Birnen. Learn both forms together; an English translation does not determine German gender.
Examples
- Die Birne auf dem Fensterbrett ist jetzt reif.The pear on the windowsill is ripe now.
- Ich teile die Birne mit meiner Schwester.I share the pear with my sister.
- Neben der Birne liegt eine kleine Pflaume.There is a small plum beside the pear.
- Der Stiel der Birne ist abgebrochen.The pear's stalk has broken off.
- Wir kochen die Birnen mit etwas Zimt.We cook the pears with a little cinnamon.
- Aus den Birnen wird ein dicker Saft gepresst.A thick juice is pressed from the pears.
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Watch out
Do not transfer the gender of a translated word into German. The basic learning pair is die Birne — die Birnen. Birne usually names the fruit; in Glühbirne it is part of the word for a light bulb.
Try it yourself
___ Birne (der / die / das)
Show answer or example answer
die
die: Birne is feminine.
Plural: die Birne → die ___
Show answer or example answer
Birnen
Birnen: the plural has the article die in the nominative and accusative.
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Birne (dem / der)
Show answer or example answer
der
der: mit takes the dative, giving mit der Birne.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
___ Birne (der / die / das)
Plural: die Birne → die ___
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Birne (dem / der)
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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Read the six situations, identify Birne and its forms, then complete the article, plural and dative checks without looking at the table.