The idea
Use sein plus a nominative profession noun. An added descriptive adjective or a special classification can introduce an article, so the no-article pattern is not universal.
One contrast, not a prediction about every learner
Polish profession descriptions with być commonly use instrumental noun forms. German profession predicates after sein normally use nominative and often no article when stating someone's occupation.
Individual experience, dialect and other languages you know can change which comparisons help. Use the contrast to notice a German choice; do not treat it as a label for a whole group of people.
Repair the transfer
Er ist einem Lehrer.Er ist Lehrer.Use sein plus a nominative profession noun. An added descriptive adjective or a special classification can introduce an article, so the no-article pattern is not universal.
Examples
- Mein Nachbar ist Lehrer an einer kleinen Schule.My neighbor is a teacher at a small school.
- Nora ist Ärztin in einer Gemeinschaftspraxis.Nora is a doctor in a group practice.
- Der neue Teilnehmer ist Koch von Beruf.The new participant is a cook by profession.
- Meine Schwester ist eine erfahrene Architektin.My sister is an experienced architect.
- Tom ist Elektriker und arbeitet oft unterwegs.Tom is an electrician and often works away from home.
- Die Gastgeberin ist Musikerin im örtlichen Orchester.The host is a musician in the local orchestra.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No German device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not generalize a source-language pattern to every German sentence. Use sein plus a nominative profession noun. An added descriptive adjective or a special classification can introduce an article, so the no-article pattern is not universal.
Try it yourself
Korrigiere: Er ist einem Lehrer.
Show answer or example answer
Er ist Lehrer.
Er ist Lehrer. Use sein plus a nominative profession noun. An added descriptive adjective or a special classification can introduce an article, so the no-article pattern is not universal.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: My neighbor is a teacher at a small school.
Show answer or example answer
Mein Nachbar ist Lehrer an einer kleinen Schule.
Mein Nachbar ist Lehrer an einer kleinen Schule. Use sein plus a nominative profession noun. An added descriptive adjective or a special classification can introduce an article, so the no-article pattern is not universal.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: Tom is an electrician and often works away from home.
Show answer or example answer
Tom ist Elektriker und arbeitet oft unterwegs.
Tom ist Elektriker und arbeitet oft unterwegs. Keep the meaning of the whole sentence while using the German pattern.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Korrigiere: Er ist einem Lehrer.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: My neighbor is a teacher at a small school.
Mein Nachbar ist Lehrer an einer kleinen Schule.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: Tom is an electrician and often works away from home.
Tom ist Elektriker und arbeitet oft unterwegs.
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 German sentences of your own that follow the pattern of “Er ist Lehrer.”. Check each one for the Polish habit this lesson corrects, then read them aloud.