27 Section 3-3
3-3: Der-words vs. ein-words
In Chapter 1, you learned how to distinguish between the definite article (der/die/das) and the indefinite article (ein/eine).
Masculine: der Pulli→ein Pulli
Feminine: die Bluse→eine Bluse
Neuter: das T-shirt→ein T-shirt
Note that neither masculine nor neuter add any endings for ein-words. This also applies to possessive adjectives.
Masculine: Ich habe einen Cousin.
Feminine: Wir besuchen unsere Nichte.
Neuter: Er kennt mein Kind.
You have learned all of the ein-words so far, i.e., words that have the same pattern of endings as “ein/eine.”
⇒NEU: There are a few more words that follow the same pattern as the definite article (der/die/das/den). They are listed below with a dash after them to show where the new ending will go.
HOW TO USE THESE DER-WORDS:
- Look at the definite article. Ex. der See (the lake)
- Put the letters you see at the end of it on the new der-word.
- dieser See (this lake)
Examples with dies– in the nominative case:
Masculine: der Anzug→dieser Anzug (this suit)
Feminine: die Jacke→diese Jacke (this jacket)
Neuter: das Kleid→dieses Kleid (this dress)
Plural: die Kleider→diese Kleider (these dresses)
Examples with jed– in the nominative case:
Masculine: der Baum→jeder Baum (every tree)
Feminine: die Universität→jede Universität (every university)
Neuter: das Dorf→jedes Dorf (every village)
Examples with welch– in the nominative case:
Masculine: der Hut→welcher Hut (which hat)
Feminine: die Jeans→welche Jeans (which jeans)
Neuter: das Kino→welches Kino (which movie theater)
Plural: die Zeitungen→welche Zeitungen (which newspapers)
In short, dies-, jed-, welch-, and all– will have the exact same ending as whatever der/die/das/den has.
HOWEVER…all– will usually be plural.
Beispiel: Alle Studenten haben Hausaufgaben.
WHY? Because it would sound really strange to say, “All Student have homework.”
Video. Click to see me reteaching der-words vs. ein-words.
Ex. A: Welcher Anzug ist lila? Using the pictures below, ask a partner several questions.
Beispiel: Pulli, gelb
A: Welcher Anzug ist lila?
B: Dieser Anzug ist lila. →
Ex. B: Welches Buch ist mein Buch? With your classmates, practice switching between der-words and ein-words by pointing out which items belong to you.
A: Welches Buch ist dein Buch?
B: Dieses Buch ist mein Buch. (Pointing to book.)
When you run out of your own items, swap to classroom items and ask what belongs to us.
A: Welcher Tisch ist unser Tisch?
B: Dieser Tisch ist unser Tisch?
(Yes, I realize this exercise sounds sort of like two toddlers learning to talk, but we have to start simple!)
Ex. C: Welche Studentin studiert Geschichte? Who among your classmates is mentioned in these questions? If more than one student satisfies the answers, feel free to answer in the plural.
Beispiel: Welche Studentin studiert Geschichte?
→Diese Studentin studiert Geschichte. (point to student)
ODER
→Diese Studentinnen studieren Geschichte.
- Welcher Student lernt Spanisch?
- Welcher Studen