German Articles
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Jana K.
32.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Petra H.
29.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Christina M.
23.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Our offer
This chapter deals with the German articles in general and additionally with difference between definite and indefinite articles. Then you will learn the articles in connection with prepositons and when you do not use any articles in German.
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.What are articles in German?
- 1.1.Chart of the German Articles (definite and indefinite articles)
- 2.Usage of definite and indefinite articles
- 2.1.Usage of the definite articles
- 2.2.Usage of indefinite articles
- 3.Articles + Prepositions
- 4.When do you not use articles in German?
- 5.Exercises
- 5.1.Fill in the blank exercises about definite or indefinite articles
- 5.2.Articles - yes or no?
- 5.3.Fill in the blank exercise about definite or indefinite articles
What are articles in German?
Articles always accompany and always stand before nouns. In German there are two types of articles: definite and indefinite articles. They help you to identify and determine gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular, plural) and cases (normative, accusative, dative, genitive).
Have a question?
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
- Native & verified teachers
- Free trial lesson
- Learning materials included
Amal E. 
26.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Astrid M. 
40.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Josanne V. 
34.50 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Ender A.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Celina S.
13.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Barbora Z. 
15.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Dirk F.
18.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Giulia M.
30.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Veronica P.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Leila Ikram B. 
15.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Chart of the German Articles (definite and indefinite articles)
In this chart you can find the definite and indefinite articles defined by gender.
| Gender | Definite Arcitles | Indefinite Articles |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der | ein |
| Feminine | die | eine |
| Neuter | das | ein |
The definite articles der, die, das are translated as the in English. The indefinite articles ein, eine are translated as a or an.
Usage of definite and indefinite articles
It is important to distinguish when to use definite and when to use indefinite articles.
Usage of the definite articles
The following table describes when you have to use the definite articles.
| Usage of definite Articles (der, die, das - the) | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| When we are talking about something specific | Der Hund bellt laut. Die Dame überquert die Straße. | The dogs barks loudly. The lady crosses the street. |
| When something has already been mentioned or you assume it to be generally known | Das Kolloseum in Rom ist atemberaubend. Das Mädchen schreibt einen Brief. | The Colosseum in Rom is breathtaking. The girl writes a letter. |
Usage of indefinite articles
This table describes when you have to use indefinite articles.
| Usage of indefinite articles (ein, eine- a or an) | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| When we are talking about something that is not specially defined. | Peter is ein Eis. Ich ziehe einen Mantel an. | Peter eats an ice-cream. I put on a coat. |
| When we we mention something for the first time or assume it not to be generally known. | Ein Pferd ist ein Säugetier. Maria hat einen Bruder. | A horse is a mammal. Maria has a brother. |
Articles + Prepositions
In some cases specific articles and prepostions are contracted. The articles that usually merge with prepostions are in the accusative or the dative case. This table below shows the most common contractions.
| Preposition | Preposition + Article | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| an | an + dem = am | Max steht am Bahnhof | Max is standing at the station. |
| bei | bei + dem = beim | Beim Lesen hat er die Zeit vergessen. | While reading, he forgot the time. |
| in | in + dem = im in + das = ins | Ich bin im Schwimmbad. Kommst du auch ins Schwimmbad? | I'm at the swimming pool. Do you also come to the swimming pool? |
| von | von + dem = vom | Ich komme gerade vom Theater. | I have just come from the theater. |
| zu | zu + dem = zum zu + der = zur | Maria muss zum Arzt gehen. | Maria has to go to the doctor. I'm going to the door. |
When do you not use articles in German?
There are certain situations in which the German language doesn't use articles. You can find these exceptions in this table below.
| Situation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Place names | Ich wohne in Hamburg. In London regnet es. | I live in Hamburg. It rains in London. |
| 2. Most of the country names | Ich mache Urlaub in Norwegen. Island ist eine schöne Insel.
| I'm going on holiday to Norway. Iceland is a beautiful island. In switzerland there a many mountains. |
| 3. Title (in newspapers,...) | Grünflächen wurden geschaffen Städte fassen gemeinsam einen Beschluss | Green spaces werde created Cities jointly take a decision |
| 4. Indefinite article in plural | Dort stehen Stühle. Jungs spielen gerne Fußball. | There are chairs. Boys like to play soccer. |
| 5. Certain concrete skills | Laura spielt Klavier. Meine Mutter spielt Tennis. | Laura plays the piano. My mother plays tennis. |
| 6. Creating lists | Packliste: Zahnbürste, Schlafsack | Packing list: toothbrush, sleeping bag |
| 7. Equate with the verb werden or sein | Mein Bruder ist Lehrer. Ich werde Arzt. | My brother is a teacher. I am going to be a doctor. |
| 8. Exclamation | Hilfe! Mist! | Help! Crap! |
| 9. Materials/Liquids | Wir müssen noch Milch kaufen. Benzin wird knapp. | We still have to buy milk. Gasoline is scarce. |
In order to deepen the knowledge of the German articles, you can do the exercise on the following pages.
Exercises
- Fill in the blank exercises about definite or indefinite articles
- Articles - yes or no?
- Fill in the blank exercise about definite or indefinite articles
Fill in the blank exercises about definite or indefinite articles
Articles - yes or no?
Fill in the blank exercise about definite or indefinite articles
Exercises
- Fill in the blank exercises about definite or indefinite articles
- Articles - yes or no?
- Fill in the blank exercise about definite or indefinite articles
Fill in the blank exercises about definite or indefinite articles
Articles - yes or no?
Fill in the blank exercise about definite or indefinite articles
What our students say
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Hi, everyone! I'm Marissa. I'm a native speaker of English from the United States. I'm currently living in Istanbul, Turkey and I can speak Turkish. I can also understand basic Spanish. I received my teaching certification in 2011 and I've been teaching ever since. I have experience working with students from all over the world, in language schools, kindergarten, exam preparation centers, and online, not only as a teacher but also as an education coordinator.
I offer my students a very structured program to help them improve their overall English level. In our trial lesson, I will evaluate your level and we will discuss your goals. I will then provide you with a coursebook and supplementary materials suitable for your level and needs. We will use these both together in class and outside of class for homework. We will cover all necessary skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation) but we will give special attention to whatever your weaknesses may be.
Alternatively, if you are not looking for such an intensive program, I also offer guided conversation practice. I am flexible! Just write me and we can start working on a plan for you. I'm looking forward to meeting you soon. :)
V. F.
Marissa is a very friendly teacher. She adapts her lessons to her students and helps them reach their goals.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Marissa M.
German lesson
C. T.
Micaela is an excellent teacher, prepared and above all organized and awake. My lerning experience has been more than positive!
Micaela C.
My interest in learning foreign languages has arisen since I was a young girl. At 13 I made up my mind to attend the foreign language high school where I graduaded with proficiency. After a few years I got my University degree.
I have been teaching for a few years privately via Skype Italian mainly to German adult students. My method is based to consolidate the grammar knowledge if previuosly done or to base it by catching their attention on interesting topics. I provide my students all material needed to plan a valuable lesson and for this reason I have gathered fulfilling reviews on other teaching platforms
About Italian students studying German with me, most of them are interested in deeping topics dealt at school or being prepared to get a certification.
I look forward to hearing from you
Maria Grazia
A. M.
Very interesting and useful lessons. Maria Grazia always punctual and precise, we worked very well and she was always very kind
Maria Grazia L.
Italian teacher. 32 years of experience in face-to-face classes with adults and adolescents. Bachelor's degree in linguistics. The classes are adapted to the needs of the student. We do the program together when we walk, we have fun and you learn well. I am very didactic and clear when explaining. I have experience in different branches of pedagogy and glutodidactics.
A. S.
Marta is an Argentinean teacher who has had experience teaching Italian to adult audiences. She has a great variety of high-quality learning materials and various teaching methods.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Marta T.
Hello =)
My name is Karolin and since the beginning of 2017, while I was still living in Chile, I've been giving online classes. I really enjoy my work and it gives me the privilage to get to know people from all around the world, which is amazing.
Both in English and in German, I teach classes for beginners and advanced students. I speak Spanish fluently, but as I lived in Chile for around 5 years, both my pronounciation and my choice of words are influenced by that. I learned and teach the european Spanish but only for beginners (A1/A2). But if you don't mind the chilenean influence, I do teach to a higher level as well.
If you'd like to get to know me and my teaching methods, just contact me and we will do a free trial lesson (please do NOT by a lesson before the trial lesson, not every teacher is good for every student).
See you soon!
G. B.
Karolin has been an awesome teacher. She has been very flexible with our scheduling, while the lessons have been a great combination of being structured and fun. I would highly recommend Karolin to anyone looking to learn a new language or improve their language ability. Thanks again Karolin.
Karolin G.
Thanks to many years of experience, I offer you professional language instruction via Skype.
I am a native speaker (bilingual German and English) and have been working with Skype for over 9 years. The courses are optimally tailored to your language level and job description. Arrange a trial lesson.
Proficient handling of everyday German, leading to various certificates (Goethe Certificates, DaF etc.), specific courses for the professional field (hotel, tourism, law, medicine - FACHSPRACHENPRÜFUNG MEDIZIN, technology, business.....).
B. J.
Belinda is an excellent teacher. The learning materials are great and I'm learning lots speaking to a native German speaker. 100% would recommend!
Belinda W.
Hi, I am Christin!
After training as a pastry chef and studying business administration, I traveled a lot and discovered my interest in languages. To find out more about teaching languages, I decided on further training at the Goethe Institute and completed it. During the Goethe Institute "Learn to teach German" course I was able to give individual language lessons and actively support the examination preparation for the Goethe certificate.
My lessons are needs-oriented. That means that learning goals are discussed with you and based on your level of knowledge. Whether grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation, expression or the practice of communication situations: German as a foreign and second language classes are flexible and take place in a group or one-to-one lessons with individual support and are based on your wishes and requirements. The teaching of content and topics takes place according to the respective language level. Building vocabulary, grammar and means of speaking are structured and conveyed logically building on each other. Let's get to know each other in a free trial class. I am looking forward to meeting you!
C. R.
Christin is a great teacher. We are talking about very interesting and different topics. Lots of material to learn. She is also very flexible. I'm very satisfied.
Christin E.
Hello German learner! I am a dedicated teacher for DaF (German as a foreign language) studying and working in Germany. I have already gained teaching experience with different age groups and nationalities while teaching German in various language schools.
Currently, I'm doing my second studies in German, English, and Teaching at the University of Bonn. (I already got my Master's Degree in German and Literature). Besides, I teach in a local language school as well as tutor students online on Colanguage.
In my free time, I learn French and Dutch and hope to become a true polyglot one day :)
So as you can see, I'm all into languages and love my profession as a teacher!
I can help you learn general German, develop your communicational skills as well as prepare you for language tests (Goethe Zertifikat, Telc, etc).
Just book a trial lesson with me and we'll find out which course is right for you.
See you soon
Anush
PS. IMPORTANT! Currently, I only work with adults aged 18 and over - so NO courses for children, sorry.
M. V.
Anush is a great teacher! Her advices and corrections are to the point and very helpful. My demands were high enough and sie could provide the necessary solutions and the necessary help , that I needed.
Anush H.
Hello =)
My name is Karolin and since the beginning of 2017, while I was still living in Chile, I've been giving online classes. I really enjoy my work and it gives me the privilage to get to know people from all around the world, which is amazing.
Both in English and in German, I teach classes for beginners and advanced students. I speak Spanish fluently, but as I lived in Chile for around 5 years, both my pronounciation and my choice of words are influenced by that. I learned and teach the european Spanish but only for beginners (A1/A2). But if you don't mind the chilenean influence, I do teach to a higher level as well.
If you'd like to get to know me and my teaching methods, just contact me and we will do a free trial lesson (please do NOT by a lesson before the trial lesson, not every teacher is good for every student).
See you soon!
R. D.
I am so happy to be taking German lessons with Karolin. She is an amazing teacher, I honestly cannot believe how much I have improved in the 6 months I have been taking lessons with her. She made me feel confortable from the very beginning, she is always on time and somehow makes me look forward to every lesson. Thanks for everything Karo!
Karolin G.
Hello everyone and a big warm welcome to all the fellow language learners,
My name is Katerina, I’m a native Russian speaker and a foreign language teacher from St Petersburg, Russia. I’ve always been addicted to learning foreign languages, be it English, German, Spanish, Turkish or Arabic, so turning my passion into my job was just a matter of time. I have a Master’s degree in linguistics which taught me to understand the way the mechanism of a language works and thus to help my students see the logics behind the grammar rules. Being a constant language learner enables me to see the process from both sides and to predict the difficulties my students might face. The fact that I’m not a native speaker of English or German means I’ve been through exactly the same language-learning journey you’re about to take, and thanks to my personal experience as a student, I can make this road smooth for you.
I've had students of all ages, from pre-school kids to senior generation, and I feel comfortable working with both beginners and those who are eager to take their learning process to a new level. In my classes I encourage you to talk in the language we’re studying as much as possible, putting every single bit of knowledge into practice right away. If you’re a Russian-learner, I’d be glad to prove it to you that you can absolutely nail my mother-tongue - and yes, you’ll be able to make a small talk in Russian by the end of the first class even if you’re an absolute beginner! We’ll be focusing on the topics that are most relevant to your goals, while discovering the language and getting to know more about the culture of people who speak it.
I offer a short free trial class, for us to give each other a smile and discuss our teaching pattern, in order to ajust it to your goals and make our lessons the bee's knees :) See you soon!
M. G.
Katja is a great teacher! She really pushes her students to speak in as much German as they can and the materials she provides are perfectly suited for her students learning goals! I enjoy working with her very much and look forward to our weekly lessons! She has helped me learn many German phrases and vocabulary that I can use immediately.
Ekaterina V.
I am a German native speaker who loves languages and am passionate about teaching others. I work as language teacher in a school, teach adults at the German Culture Center and prepare my students for all types of official language exams. I love my job and always seek to make it as much fun as possible.
A. .
Melanie gave me a three week German crash course in preparation for a A2+/B1 exam. She is well organised, patient, very knowledgeable and pedagogic. In addition to clear explanations, she has a wide variety of resources at her disposal to explain different grammar rules and concepts. I highly recommend using her services.
Melanie A.
Thanks to many years of experience, I offer you professional language instruction via Skype.
I am a native speaker (bilingual German and English) and have been working with Skype for over 9 years. The courses are optimally tailored to your language level and job description. Arrange a trial lesson.
Proficient handling of everyday German, leading to various certificates (Goethe Certificates, DaF etc.), specific courses for the professional field (hotel, tourism, law, medicine - FACHSPRACHENPRÜFUNG MEDIZIN, technology, business.....).
S. B.
I'm learning German with Belinda (currently B1) and I am trying to do a final push, so i can finally start speaking. Classes are very well prepared and structured. The book/ books used in the class have exercises that actually make your brain work and are not always easy to do ( this is for people who had experience with easy and boring grammar materials). We play dialogues, we have conversations through which the teacher understands where I am with my level and is trying to make adjustments to the program. And there's a lot of homework (when you ask for it) !!! : )
Belinda W.
Hello,
my name is Nina, I'm from Austria and I also lived for one year and a half in Canada. I worked there as a German Teacher for adults, so I speak German, English and French.
I also teach English for beginners and advanced beginners.
My teaching methodes are totally based on the level of my student. If somebody is already advanced, I focus on communication and pronunciation. We will arrange on a topic and talk and discuss in the lesson about it.
If my student is a beginner, I'm gonna start with the basics of the German language. (the articles, the verb "to be", the pronouns...)
The learning material is all made by myself, because I'm a German teacher, so that means, I already got lots of working sheets for many topics. I send these to my student via e-mail or put it directly on the coLanguage homepage.
I'm available from Monday to Thursday between 5pm and 08:00 pm. For the weekend it's the best to just send me a request.
Of course is a free trial lesson (it's about 20 minutes) possible.
I'm happy to teach you :-)
See you soon! Nina
R. G.
Today Nina helped me to fill out a couple of papers. Thank you Nina for your help and patience :)
Nina V.
INSEGNANTE DI TEDESCO
S. B.
Always a sheer pleasure to learn from Fiorina: full of positive energy, well prepared, full of resources... and with a smile!
Fiorina D.
Being a native English speaker with a 120-hour premier TEFL certificate and a double major in communications, my lessons deliver value that help you reach your language goals.
Having worked in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, my classes come with an international flavor. My students have described my teaching style as being nurturing and effective.
Sign up for your trial lesson today!
V. F.
Gaurav is an experienced and professional teacher. He always customize the lesson and the teaching material according to the student's needs. He is very available and friendly. Highly recommended!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Gaurav H.
