Different types of declensions
In German, nouns can be declined using three different declensions:
Weak
Strong
Mixed
The basic declensions are the strong and weak declensions.
Those nouns that have some characteristics of the strong and some of the weak are referred to as the mixed declension.
You can work out which declension each noun belongs to by examining the noun's endings.
The strong declension
Neuter, masculine and feminine nouns belong to the strong declension.
The endings of the genitive singular: s / o without ending
The endings of the nominative plural: e / er / s
Here are some examples:
Sg. |
Nom. |
der Schrank (m.) |
|
Gen. |
des Schrankes |
|
Dat. |
dem Schrank |
|
Acc. |
den Schrank |
Pl. |
Nom. |
die Schränke |
|
Gen. |
der Schränke |
|
Dat. |
den Schränken |
|
Acc. |
die Schränke |
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
Sg. |
Nom. |
die Frucht (f.) |
|
Gen. |
der Frucht |
|
Dat. |
der Frucht |
|
Acc. |
die Frucht |
Pl. |
Nom. |
die Früchte |
|
Gen. |
der Früchte |
|
Dat. |
den Früchten |
|
Acc. |
die Früchte |
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
Sg. |
Nom. |
das Buch (n) |
|
Gen. |
des Buches |
|
Dat. |
dem Buch |
|
Acc. |
das Buch |
Pl. |
Nom. |
die Bücher |
|
Gen. |
der Bücher |
|
Dat. |
den Büchern |
|
Acc. |
die Bücher |
---------------- oooo O oooo ----------------
Exercises
Decline the following nouns which follow the model of the strong declension:
der Freund / die Kraft / das Schicksal
(Click on the box to see the answers; double click to return to the original position)