Learn each noun with its plural
German plurals do not all use one ending. Learn a noun with its article and plural: . Some add e, er, n or s; some also change a vowel. In the nominative and accusative, the definite plural article is , whatever the noun’s singular gender.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
Singular or plural?
A singular noun uses a singular verb; a plural noun uses a plural verb: , but . The same applies to other verbs: , but . The pronoun can mean she or they: the verb form helps you recognise which.
More than one, or none
Use no indefinite article before a plural: . A number makes the amount clear: . To say none, use : . The phrase stays unchanged: .
Hier ist ein Sessel.There is an armchair here.
Im Keller stehen viele Sessel.There are many armchairs in the cellar.
Wir haben keine Tassen.We do not have any cups.
The furniture is one collection
means furniture and is used as a plural in German: . One individual thing can be named instead, for example or .
Practice 1/5 · Finding words
Notice the useful forms
Tap the plural noun phrases.
.
There are two chairs here.
.
I have no cups.
.
The lamps are red.
.
There are many armchairs in the cellar.
Practice 2/5 · The right form
One or more?
Choose the right word for the gap.
Ein Stuhl, zwei .
One chair, two chairs.
Eine Tasse, drei .
One cup, three cups.
Ein Bett, zwei .
One bed, two beds.
Ein Tisch, zwei .
One table, two tables.
Eine Lampe, viele .
One lamp, many lamps.
Ein Sessel, drei .
One armchair, three armchairs.
Let the subject choose the verb
Choose the right word for the gap.
Die Möbel alt.
The furniture is old.
Der Koffer hier.
The suitcase is here.
Die Lampen dort.
The lamps are there.
Die Tasse weiß.
The cup is white.
haben keine Zeit, Frau Brandt.
You have no time, Mrs Brandt.
Lotte und Hilde helfen. bringen einen Sessel.
Lotte and Hilde help. They bring an armchair.
Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps
Complete the conversation
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Eine Lampe rot. Die Lampen grün.
One lamp is red. The lamps are green.
Ich habe Stühle, aber Tisch.
I have two chairs, but no table.
Die Tassen auf dem Tisch. Die Möbel alt.
The cups are on the table. The furniture is old.
Hier steht Sessel. Im Keller stehen viele .
There is an armchair here. There are many armchairs in the cellar.
Practice 4/5 · Building sentences
Put the message together
Put the words in order.
The chairs are not new.
We need two cups.
There is lots of furniture in the cellar.
I do not have any lamps.
There are many tables in the café.
There are two beds in the room.
Practice 5/5 · Matching
What does the message do?
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
