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German Cases

German has four cases: nominative (subject), accusative (direct object), dative (indirect object), and genitive (possessive). They make each noun's role clear by changing it's article endings and sometimes the noun ending, which allows for a flexible word order.

Indefinite Article Declension

The indefinite articles (ein, eine) and negative article (kein) follow this pattern. Depending on the case, gender and number, the ending changes:

CaseMasculineFeminineNeuterPlural (kein only)
Nominative(k)ein(k)eine(k)einkeine
Accusative(k)einen(k)eine(k)einkeine
Dative(k)einem(k)einer(k)einemkeinen
Genitive(k)eines(k)einer(k)eineskeiner

Definite Article Declension

The definite articles (der, die, das) also change form according to case. The male accusative as well as all the dative and genitive declensions have the same endings as the indefinite articles.

CaseMasculineFeminineNeuterPlural
Nominativederdiedasdie
Accusativedendiedasdie
Dativedemderdemden
Genitivedesderdesder

Noun Endings in Different Cases

While articles show most case changes, nouns only change their endings in a few cases:

CaseMasculineFeminineNeuterPlural
Nominativeder Manndie Fraudas Kinddie Kinder
Accusativeden Manndie Fraudas Kinddie Kinder
Dativedem Mannder Fraudem Kindden Kindern
Genitivedes Mannesder Fraudes Kindesder Kinder

There is a small group of masculine nouns called weak nouns which add -n or -en to all forms except nominative. You can learn more about them here.

Examples by Gender and Number

Here are examples showing how declension works for each gender and number:

Masculine with Definite Articles

CaseGermanEnglish
NominativeDer Mann liest.The man reads.
AccusativeIch sehe den Mann.I see the man.
DativeIch helfe dem Mann.I help the man.
GenitiveDas Auto des Mannes.The man's car.

Masculine with Indefinite Articles

CaseGermanEnglish
NominativeEin Mann liest.A man reads.
AccusativeIch sehe einen Mann.I see a man.
DativeIch helfe einem Mann.I help a man.
GenitiveDas Auto eines Mannes.A man's car.

Feminine with Definite Articles

CaseGermanEnglish
NominativeDie Frau liest.The woman reads.
AccusativeIch sehe die Frau.I see the woman.
DativeIch helfe der Frau.I help the woman.
GenitiveDie Tasche der Frau.The woman's bag.

Feminine with Indefinite Articles

CaseGermanEnglish
NominativeEine Frau liest.A woman reads.
AccusativeIch sehe eine Frau.I see a woman.
DativeIch helfe einer Frau.I help a woman.
GenitiveDie Tasche einer Frau.A woman's bag.

Neuter with Definite Articles

CaseGermanEnglish
NominativeDas Kind spielt.The child plays.
AccusativeIch sehe das Kind.I see the child.
DativeIch helfe dem Kind.I help the child.
GenitiveDas Spielzeug des Kindes.The child's toy.

Neuter with Indefinite Articles

CaseGermanEnglish
NominativeEin Kind spielt.A child plays.
AccusativeIch sehe ein Kind.I see a child.
DativeIch helfe einem Kind.I help a child.
GenitiveDas Spielzeug eines Kindes.A child's toy.

Plural with Definite Articles

CaseGermanEnglish
NominativeDie Kinder spielen.The children play.
AccusativeIch sehe die Kinder.I see the children.
DativeIch helfe den Kindern.I help the children.
GenitiveDie Spielzeuge der Kinder.The children's toys.

Plural with Indefinite Articles (kein)

CaseGermanEnglish
NominativeKeine Kinder spielen.No children play.
AccusativeIch sehe keine Kinder.I see no children.
DativeIch helfe keinen Kindern.I help no children.
GenitiveDie Spielzeuge keiner Kinder.No children's toys.

Possessive Articles

Possessive articles (mein, dein, sein, ihr, etc.) follow the same declension pattern as ein/kein:

CaseMasculineFeminineNeuterPlural
Nominativemeinmeinemeinmeine
Accusativemeinenmeinemeinmeine
Dativemeinemmeinermeinemmeinen
Genitivemeinesmeinermeinesmeiner