The idea
Use die Hose for the nominative singular, die Hose for the accusative, der Hose for the dative, and der Hose for the genitive. In the dative plural use den Hosen.
| Kasus | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Hose | die Hosen |
| Akkusativ | die Hose | die Hosen |
| Dativ | der Hose | den Hosen |
| Genitiv | der Hose | der Hosen |
Meaning and useful combinations
German normally counts eine Hose as singular even though English uses the plural word trousers.
Useful combinations: eine Hose kürzen; eine bequeme Hose; die Hosentasche. Practise each as a complete phrase; the article belongs to the noun even when an adjective comes between them.
Article check: nominative singular
das Hosedie HoseThis check asks for the nominative singular: die Hose. In the meaning taught here, Hose is feminine. The nominative plural is die Hosen. Learn both forms together; an English translation does not determine German gender.
Examples
- Die Hose ist am Bund etwas eng.The trousers are a little tight at the waist.
- Ich lasse die Hose um zwei Zentimeter kürzen.I have the trousers shortened by two centimeters.
- Mit dieser Hose kann ich bequem Rad fahren.I can cycle comfortably in these trousers.
- Der Stoff der Hose ist elastisch.The fabric of the trousers is stretchy.
- Für die Reise packe ich zwei leichte Hosen ein.I pack two light pairs of trousers for the trip.
- Bei diesen Hosen fehlen die Gesäßtaschen.These trousers have no back pockets.
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Watch out
Do not transfer the gender of a translated word into German. The basic learning pair is die Hose — die Hosen. German normally counts eine Hose as singular even though English uses the plural word trousers.
Try it yourself
___ Hose (der / die / das)
Show answer or example answer
die
die: Hose is feminine.
Plural: die Hose → die ___
Show answer or example answer
Hosen
Hosen: the plural has the article die in the nominative and accusative.
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Hose (dem / der)
Show answer or example answer
der
der: mit takes the dative, giving mit der Hose.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
___ Hose (der / die / das)
Plural: die Hose → die ___
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Hose (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 Hose and its forms, then complete the article, plural and dative checks without looking at the table.