54 Comments
"Ei" is neuter and "Apfel" is masculine.
Give this a thorough read: http://german.about.com/library/blcase_sum.htm
The apple = Der Apfer ... The egg = Das Ei ... Der change into den in the general case as ein change into einen (muscoline). Das and die stay unchanged as ein and eine.
Well, I don't know how your English is , but I will assume it's average/good (or even great xD). Remember that "an" is used for vowels (a; e; i; o; u), and "a" for consonants (everything that isn't a vowel).
That said, if you have: - Ein Apfel - An apple, but Ein Käse - A cheese;
The same applies to feminine names: - Eine Orange - An orange, but Eine Erdbeere - A strawberry.
If you know the corresponding names in the english language, just keep "an" eye to the vowels, or pay close attention, because you might need to use "a" consonant :p
Hope this help, good studies!
What is the difference between " an egg" and "one egg" ?? I am confused to why I am getting the sentences wrong when I answer with "a" or "an" instead of "one"
When in English would you say "the wife"? "The woman" makes more sense.
Wife and woman are not the same thing, and in this case it was asking for the woman.
I have reason to believe that the direct translation of lady is Damen. But you would probably not cause confusion in actual conversation. Peace out :]
"Isst" and "Esst" are conjugations of the verb "Essen". Isst is used for er/sie/es (he/she/it).
"a" is when the first sound of the next word is a consonant sound. "an" is when the first sound of the next word is a vowel sound. "A dog," dog starts with a consonant sound. "An apple," apple starts with a vowel sound.
Just the other way around! Look at this: Masculine: der, des, dem, den - ein, eines, einem, einen Feminine: die, der, der, die - eine, einer, einer, eine Neutral: das, des, dem, das - ein, eines, einem, ein Plural (m/f/n): die, der, den, die - keine, keiner, keinen, keine
Why is it that "The woman is eating an egg" correct and "The woman's eating an egg" wrong? :x
Please help
Duo is a computer. Not all correct answers are programmed into the system, so you have to report alternate answers.
Your sentence The woman's eating an egg is technically correct in casual conversation. However, the word woman's is a possessive construction in other contexts, so perhaps that is why Duo doesn't accept your sentence.
Contractions between a noun subject and the verb is can be ambigous or cause confusion. Grammar Girl has a helpful discussion about troublesome contractions:
Careful. Women is the plurar of woman, not womans. Nevertheless, awefulwaffle is right about Duo. It's not the first time that I insert an answer, and it didn't accept it. Just go with it :p
There is no continuous present tense in German, therefore the is/are isn't needed with the action verb (it is already implied).
Be a whole lot easier if DUO WOULD JUST STICK TO GERMAN. AND LEAVE OTHER LANGUAGES OUT. LEARN GERMAN. I DON'T NEED ANOTHER VOURSE IN ENGLISH. I NEVER WAS VERY GOOD AT ENGLISH BECAUSE I HATED MR GAROULGH. CREEP.
No. 'a' is used when the following word starts with a consonant sound; 'an' is used when the following word starts with a vowel sound. Eg. 'a cat', 'an apple'. 'ein' and 'einen' are gender related and have nothing to do with beginning sound. Eg. 'ein Mann', 'eine Frau'
For choosing between ein ,eine , einen I think it is better to pay attention to its pronounce , which of them is eazier for saying with the noun... ein Ei , eine Ei or Einen Ei ? I think ein Ei is eazier ... so i choosed it.
This has nothing to do with pronunciation. You need to know the gender of the noun to pick the right article.
Masculine: der, des, dem, den - ein, eines, einem, einen Feminine: die, der, der, die - eine, einer, einer, eine Neutral: das, des, dem, das - ein, eines, einem, ein
"an egg" should be "Eine Ei", because is the same for both accusative and nominative. Is it right? Why is it "ein Ei"?
