The idea
Use der Rucksack for the nominative singular, den Rucksack for the accusative, dem Rucksack for the dative, and des Rucksacks for the genitive. In the dative plural use den Rucksäcken.
| Kasus | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Rucksack | die Rucksäcke |
| Akkusativ | den Rucksack | die Rucksäcke |
| Dativ | dem Rucksack | den Rucksäcken |
| Genitiv | des Rucksacks | der Rucksäcke |
Meaning and useful combinations
Rucksack is masculine because Sack is the final element. The plural Rucksäcke changes a to ä.
Useful combinations: einen Rucksack packen; im Rucksack; ein leichter Rucksack. Practise each as a complete phrase; the article belongs to the noun even when an adjective comes between them.
Article check: nominative singular
die Rucksackder RucksackThis check asks for the nominative singular: der Rucksack. In the meaning taught here, Rucksack is masculine. The nominative plural is die Rucksäcke. Learn both forms together; an English translation does not determine German gender.
Examples
- Der Rucksack ist für die kurze Wanderung zu schwer.The backpack is too heavy for the short hike.
- Ich packe den Rucksack nach der Checkliste.I pack the backpack using the checklist.
- Im Rucksack bleibt Platz für eine Regenjacke.There is room left in the backpack for a rain jacket.
- Die Träger des Rucksacks lassen sich verstellen.The backpack's straps are adjustable.
- Die Rucksäcke bleiben während der Führung an der Garderobe.The backpacks stay at the cloakroom during the tour.
- Auf den Rucksäcken stehen die Namen unserer Gruppe.Our group's names are on the backpacks.
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Watch out
Do not transfer the gender of a translated word into German. The basic learning pair is der Rucksack — die Rucksäcke. Rucksack is masculine because Sack is the final element. The plural Rucksäcke changes a to ä.
Try it yourself
___ Rucksack (der / die / das)
Show answer or example answer
der
der: Rucksack is masculine.
Plural: der Rucksack → die ___
Show answer or example answer
Rucksäcke
Rucksäcke: the plural has the article die in the nominative and accusative.
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Rucksack (dem / der)
Show answer or example answer
dem
dem: mit takes the dative, giving mit dem Rucksack.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
___ Rucksack (der / die / das)
Plural: der Rucksack → die ___
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Rucksack (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 Rucksack and its forms, then complete the article, plural and dative checks without looking at the table.