Question about German articles (Die, Der, Das).
Ok, I'm just starting off learning German and have a question about articles. I keep reading that it's critical to use the correct article with a noun.
Why?
Asked another way. Let's say I'm speaking to a native German and I say "Der Katze" instead of "Die Katze". Will the person have no idea what I'm trying to say? In other words, what effect does it have on the listener if I use the wrong article?
I want to learn the words correctly, I'm just curious about the importance of the article.
6 Comments
If you say "der Katze", the listener will assume that you are talking about something that belongs to the cat. (Example: "Das Haus der Katze" = "The cat's house"): This would be the genitive case of "die Katze" (nominative).
Or that something is given/happening to the cat (Example: "Ich gebe der Katze Futter." = "I give food to the cat."): This would be the dative case of "die Katze" (nominative).
In one sentence, this may still be understandable, but if you keep confusing the articles, people will have more difficulties understanding what you mean.
Therefore, you should always learn the nouns together with their articles in the nominative case: Not "Baum", but "der Baum", not "Katze", but "die Katze" etc. As soon as you know the correct article in the nominative case, you can derive the forms for the other cases (genitive, dative, accusative). And you will sound like someone who actually learned the language.
It might seem daunting at first, but I've just gotten into a habit of always, always, always using the article with the word when I'm learning, and it's no big deal. Plus, there are many patterns, a great many of which that are spelled out here:
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/german/hmr/grammatik/gender/gender.html
The best way, in my opinion, is to learn each new word with its article. Usually words ending with an "e" are feminine. Eg. die Katze, die Ente. But there are exceptions such as der Name Since the article can change depending upon case, it's best to learn the article and word togethjer.
925
Hello! It is a simple thing: If you use the language as a medium for information (Exampel: you speak with chinese people over the weather) - then is it not so importent. But: You will learn the language "for the sake of language" - then is it very importent. One other way to learning this / (a) language - read books for children...
For an example:
"Hängen soll er, NICHT LEBEN LASSEN" - "Hängen soll er nicht, LEBEN LASSEN" The different is a simple sign: " , " on the right place.
Gretting from Saxonya - the place, where beautiful girls grow on the trees ;))
I habe to learn French i have the Same Problem with the french le la les i Would recommend to learn the Words with Artikels that the easyest way
