"One man is eating an egg."

Translation: Ein Mann isst ein Ei.

[indigorune_]

Why is this not "Ein Mann isst einen Ei" ? Isn't this accusative? Why does "The man is eating the apple" use "einen" but this doesn't?

[kyky]

That is because "Apfel" is masculine and "Ei" is neuter.

[indigorune_]

Ohhh! Thank you.

[felicity.shruti]

Why is it not "ein Eier"?

[kyky]

"Eier" is plural.

[zimator]

Why not: "Ein Mann isst einem Ei"

[kyky]

That would be dative but here we need accusative.

[Bbyggx]

why is not "Einen Mann

[aldocristino]

Why not "Eine Mann isst eine Ei"?

[utku.gulcek]

1. "Eine" is for femine nouns
2. "Ei" is neutral

[Zillion_23]

Is there anyone can translate this in chinese ?

[oqughuchi]

一个人吃一个鸡蛋 is one possible translation.

[What_the_Hale]

Before I had a neuter Noun that was a Das so I used ein and it was wrong, and now this is a neuter noun that i used eine for and it is ein.

[rehamalassily]

Das & Der Means "(the) ..so, We use ein to mean (a) while if i am using Die i should use eine (a)

[redfirepeng1]

Isn't Eine supposed to mean One?

[oqughuchi]

'Mann' and 'Ei' are both neuter, so they have 'ein' preceding them.

[kyky]

Yes and no. In nominative case it is "ein" for both but "Mann" is masculine and "Ei" is neuter.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ein#Article_4

[oqughuchi]

I was going for a simpler answer, as this is an early lesson. If we're getting specific, 'ein' is the indefinite article for masculine and neuter in the nominative case.

EDITED: so as not to confuse anyone. kyky knows best.

[kyky]

It depends on case and gender. Nominative: "ein Mann / ein Ei / eine Frau" but accusative: "einen Mann / ein Ei / eine Frau"