The articles

There are two articles, known in English as the definite article and the indefinite article.

The Definite Article

In English, the definite article is 'the', and it is invariable (does not change!). In German, however, the definite article changes to show the gender of the noun and also the case.

Some forms of the definitive article are usually contracted when used with certain prepositions.

Der, das,dem contract as follows:

an das becomes ans

an dem becomes am

auf das become aufs

bei dem becomes beim

durch das becomes durchs

für das becomes fürs

in das becomes ins

in dem becomes im

um das becomes ums

von dem becomes vom

zu der becomes zur

zu dem becomes zum

There are some special uses of the definitive article which should be noted:

(a) The definitive article is used in German with names of days, months and seasons. It is usually omitted in English.

            am Montag, on Monday        am Dienstag, on Tuesday

            im August, in August              im Januar, in January

            im Sommer, in summer          im Winter, in winter

(b) The definite article is also used in German with masculine and feminine names of countries, rivers and streets. Remember most countries are neuter in gender.

            Wir fahren in die Schweiz. We are going to Switzerland.

            Er wohnt in der Bayernstraße. He lives in Bayern Street.

            London liegt auf der Themse. London is on the Thames.

(c) The defintive article is used with proper names when they are preceded by an adjective:

            der kleine Peter, little Peter

            das heutige Deutschland, present-day Germany

(d) It is also used in expressions with parts of the body and clothes where in English we would usually use the possessive adjective:

            Er hob den Arm. He raised his arm.

            Sie zog den Mantel aus. She took off her coat.

            Er wäscht sich die Hände. He washed his hands.

            Ich putze mir die Zähne. I clean my teeth.

(e) It is also used when talking about meals and in common phrases of transport, where in English it is omitted:

            in die Stadt gehen, to go to town

            nach dem Mittagessen, after lunch

            mit dem Zug, by train

(f) An important use is in phrases where the indefinite article 'a' or 'an' is used in English:

            zwei Euro das Kilo, two Euros a kilo

            dreimal in der Woche, three times a week

Omission of the definitive article

(a) Where pairs of nouns are used which are closely linked in one idea:

            Wind und Wetter, wind and weather

            Hand in Hand, hand in hand

            Mit Auto und Zug, by train and car

(b) With weder and noch, meaning 'neither.....nor'

            Er hat weder Bargeld noch Kreditkarte. He has neither cash nor credit card.

The Indefinite Article

This ('a' or 'an' in English) indicates that no particular one is meant. There is no plural form of the indefinite article. So ein Buch, a book, becomes Bücher, books, in the plural.

The indefinite article is omitted in the following kinds of phrase or construction where we might expect to use the article in English:

(a) With nationalities or professions:

                Er ist Arzt. He is a doctor

                Sie ist Französin. She is a Frenchwoman.

(b) Before a noun in apposition after als (as):

                Er sprach als Freund. He spoke as a friend.

(c) With some prepositional phrases. Here are a few common examples:

                Ein Land ohne König, a country without a king.

                mit lauter Stimme, in a loud voice.

Kein

Be careful when using 'not a' or 'not any' in German. Nicht ein means 'not one'; 'not a' is klein. The endings of kein are exactly the same as for ein. There is also a plural form, meaning 'not any'.

Er hat keine Tomaten gegessen. He has not eaten any tomatoes.

Er hat keine Lust, nach Hause zu gehen. He has no desire to go home.