German Nouns and Cases

Flashcards covering key concepts about German nouns and their grammatical cases.

What are the three genders in German nouns?

Masculine, feminine, and neuter.

How should you learn a noun in German?

Always learn a noun with its definite article.

What endings are usually associated with masculine nouns?

-ant, -ast, -ich, -ig, -ismus, -ling, -or, -us.

List one category of masculine nouns based on meaning.

Male humans and animals (e.g., der Junge, der Hahn).

List one category of neuter nouns based on meaning.

Young persons and animals (e.g., das Kind, das Baby).

What clue might indicate that a noun is feminine based on syllable count?

Nouns with two syllables ending in -e are over 90% feminine.

What is a common method for forming plurals in German?

There are seven ways to form plural nouns.

What is unique about weak masculine nouns?

They have the ending -n or -en in all singular cases except the nominative.

How do foreign words ending in -us typically change in the plural?

They replace -us with -en.

In which case does the noun mark the subject of the verb?

Nominative.

What role does the accusative case serve in a sentence?

It marks the direct object of a verb.

What does the dative case indicate in terms of relationships?

It marks the indirect object of the verb.

What is the main function of the genitive case?

It links nouns to show possession.

What gender is associated with the ending -a?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -anz/enz?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -ei?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -heit/keit?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -ie?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -in?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -schaft?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -sion/tion?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -tät?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -ung?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -ur?

Feminine

What gender is associated with the ending -chen?

Neuter

What gender is associated with the ending -lein?

Neuter

What gender is associated with the ending -ma?

Neuter

What gender is associated with the ending -ment?

Neuter

What gender is associated with the ending -el?

Neuter

What gender is associated with the ending -tum?

Neuter

What gender is associated with the ending -um?

Neuter