Definite and Indefinite Articles in German
Possessive Adjectives-ein words

The Definite article -- all mean the
Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural
Nom der die das die
Acc den die das die
Dat dem der dem den, -n
Gen des, -(e)s die des, -(e)s der

The Indefinite article; all mean a, an, except for the plural. Since there is no indefinite article in the plural I have used the possessive adjective mein- as an example. Notice the similarities with definite article.
Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural
Nom ein eine ein meine
Acc einen eine ein meine
Dat einem einer einem meinen, -n
Gen eines, -(e)s einer eines, -(e)s meiner


Other "Ein" Words - they have the same exact endings as the indefinite articles above - are:
  • mein - "my"
  • dein - "your" (informal, 2nd per, sg)
  • sein - "his"
  • ihr - "her"
  • sein - "its"
  • unser - "our"
  • euer - "your" (informal, 2nd per, plural)
  • Ihr - "your" (formal, 2nd person, sg and plural)

Notice that the masculine nominative and the neuter nominative and accusative have no endings, and thus possessive adjectives that are in those grammatical situations will also have no endings.


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