Instructions first: how to use this trainer
Goal: do not memorize isolated endings. Train the full phrase: article, adjective, and noun ending together. Example: wegen des neuen Projekts, not just des or -en.
Step 1: Identify case
- Nominative: subject
- Accusative: direct object
- Dative: indirect object or dative preposition
- Genitive: possession, formal written style, or genitive preposition
Step 2: Identify gender/number
Masculineder Mann
Femininedie Frau
Neuterdas Kind
Pluraldie Bücher
Step 3: Choose article and adjective ending
- Definite article → weak adjective ending
- ein/kein/possessive → mixed adjective ending
- No article → strong adjective ending
Step 4: Check noun ending
- Dative plural: often add -n
- Genitive masculine/neuter: often add -s/-es
- N-Deklination: weak masculine nouns add -n/-en in non-nominative forms
Keyboard shortcuts in the quiz
← and → move through answer options. Space selects the highlighted answer. After answering, Space or Enter gives the next question. R reveals the answer.
Noun endings, including the annoying ones
| Situation | Rule | Examples | Important exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dative plural | Add -n to the noun if possible. | mit den Büchern, mit den Kindern, zu den Freunden | No extra -n if the plural already ends in -n or -s: mit den Frauen, mit den Autos |
| Genitive masculine | Usually add -s or -es. | des Mannes, des Hundes, des Wagens | Weak masculine nouns follow N-Deklination instead: des Studenten |
| Genitive neuter | Usually add -s or -es. | des Kindes, des Buches, des Projekts, des Autos | Many short one-syllable nouns prefer -es; many longer or foreign nouns often use -s |
| N-Deklination | Weak masculine nouns add -n/-en in accusative, dative, and genitive. | den Studenten, dem Kollegen, des Kunden, des Herrn | Nominative stays base form: der Student, der Kollege, der Kunde, der Herr |
Exam shortcut: In every dative plural phrase, check the noun. In every genitive masculine/neuter phrase, check the noun. These are exactly the small details that make advanced writing sound correct.
Matrices
All article columns are ordered: Masculine, Feminine, Neuter, Plural.
Practice in the standalone quiz
This information page is kept as a grammar reference only. The interactive practice is now separated into its own focused quiz page.
Open the quiz: Use the standalone Article & Ending Quiz to practise articles, adjective endings, dative plural noun endings, genitive nouns, and N-Deklination with keyboard shortcuts.
Reference notes
- Predicate adjectives do not decline: Der Mann ist groß. But attributive adjectives do: der große Mann.
- Plural indefinite article: German has no plural of ein. For plural practice, this app uses definite, negative, possessive, or zero-article phrases.
- Dative plural: add -n where possible. No extra -n after plurals already ending in -n or -s.
- Genitive: masculine and neuter singular commonly take -(e)s. Feminine and plural nouns normally do not add a genitive noun ending.
- N-Deklination: common weak masculine nouns include Student, Kollege, Kunde, Mensch, Herr, Junge, Name. They need extra attention.
Single-file offline HTML app. Designed for German phrase accuracy practice. v7 keeps this page as an information reference and moves the interactive practice to a standalone quiz page.