Nominativ
The first German case - identifies the subject of the sentence. Learn how articles change.
German has four grammatical cases. The Nominativ (nominative) is the most basic - it marks the subject of a sentence: the person or thing performing the action. The question to find the subject is 'Wer?' (who?) or 'Was?' (what?).
The subject tells you who or what is doing the action, and it also tells you how to conjugate the verb.
Nominativ articles:
• Masculine: der / ein
• Feminine: die / eine
• Neuter: das / ein
• Plural: die / - (no indefinite article)
We also use the Nominativ after the verbs sein, werden, and bleiben.
Definite Articles - Nominativ
der Vater (m.)
the father (masculine)
die Mutter (f.)
the mother (feminine)
das Mädchen (n.)
the girl (neuter)
die Eltern (pl.)
the parents (plural)
Nominativ - Example Sentences
Die Frau lebt in Deutschland.
The woman lives in Germany.
Der Mann arbeitet in der Bäckerei.
The man works in the bakery.
Das Kind geht in die Schule.
The child goes to school.
Der Tourist besucht Sri Lanka.
The (male) tourist visits Sri Lanka.
Das Mädchen spielt Volleyball.
The girl plays volleyball.
Indefinite Articles - ein/eine/ein
Ein Student lernt Russisch.
A (male) student learns Russian.
Eine Frau lebt in Deutschland.
A woman lives in Germany.
Ein Hotel ist da.
A hotel is there.
Check your understanding
Which question identifies the Nominativ?